Natural Beauty Tips

Posted by Andrea Beaman on August 28, 2007 9:49 AM PDT

Tags: Andrea Beaman, antioxidants, beauty, fiber, healthy, minerals, natural, organic, story, vitamins, water, Skin Care

Recommend this? YES NO

If you observe a polluted body of water you would notice a few things; it's murky, usually has an offensive odor, and not much, if anything, can healthfully survive in it.
The human body is made up of 70% water (more or less). It is literally a body of water. And, a very similar thing happens when we pollute our internal body of water. Our cells and skin become murky, dull and lifeless too. Eeek!
To help retain a beautiful glow, it's imperative to start filling the body with foods that are free of pollutants, toxic waste, chemicals (pesiticides, herbicides), heavy metals (found in large predatory fish), aluminum, and other garbage. Below are helpful tips for achieving natural beauty:
1. Drink water! Water is literally the fountain of youth. Water hydrates all of our cells keeping them moist and plump, and it acts as an internal moisturizier. Water helps flush waste out of the body. Drink 4-8 glasses of water (or more) per day. Chug a lug! With every glass of water you are becoming more beautiful.
2. Buy organic, naturally raised produce and animal products. These foods are free from pesticide and other chemicals that pollute your internal body of water. Scientific testing proves these foods contain higher concentrations of all vitamins, minerals and antioxidants.1 Antioxidants are the free radical scavengers that help slow the aging process.
3. Keep your system running smoothly with high fiber foods. A back-up of waste (constipation) contributes to toxic overload. Whole grains, beans, vegetables and fruits contain both soluble and insoluble fiber to help move waste out of the body in a timely manner.
4. According to the wrinkle cure guru, Nicholas Perricone, "Protein is absolutely essential for repairing free radical damage.2" Adequate protein is needed for cellular repair - eat naturally raised or wild animal products.
5. Essential fatty acids (EFA's) that help to reduce inflammation are found in fish, nuts and seeds, grass-fed/naturally raised animal meats, olive oil, sunflower oil, walnut oil and nut butters. So many EFA's to choose from! Eat some.
6. Reduce stress! According to studies there is a direct link between long-term emotional stress and premature aging.3,4 To help alleviate stress, reduce or eliminate the food sources that directly contribute to it: sugar, chemicals, caffeine, nicotine, drugs and other stimulants.

1.http://www.newstarget.com/001408.html
2. The Wrinkle Cure, Nicholas Perricone, M.D., Warner Books 2000, p. 107
3. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/a20394-2004Nov29.html
4. http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/08/25/60II/main796002.shtml

Enhancing beauty can be an inside job.

Add To:

If you enjoyed this article, subscribe to our newsletter and we'll keep you updated with fresh new content.

2 Comments

We've all heard of in some form or another, but we can't hear it enough. Thanks for reminding me that I don't need anymore Diet Coke! I hate the stuff, but it's all over the new office that I'm in and for some bizarre reason, I find myself reaching for it.

I'd like to try eating only raw-foods for 2 weeks as an experiment. Any ideas on how to begin and not get so consumed by hunger that I'm gobbling chocolate cake while sleep-walking?

Thanks for the invaluable advice!

Posted by Amanda on September 10, 2007 1:40 PM PDT

Hi Amanda - I think raw foods for two weeks is a great way to cleanse the body. There are a couple of things to take into consideration before beginning a raw foods diet/cleanse.
1. Do you have a tendency toward cold hands, cold feet, or are generally cold? If yes, than a raw foods diet would make you feel even colder, and could make you more susceptible to colds, flus, or overall lack of energy. Raw foods have a "cooling" effect on the body. Raw foods can be GREAT for someone that has a "hot" condition (heart disease, some cancers, hypertension, etc.). Raw foods can be detrimental to someone with a "cold" condition (anemia, hypothyroid, leukemia).

2. Do you live in a hot or cold climate? If you live in a hot climate (tropics, Florida, CA), raw foods can be ideal for your system for a specific amount of time. If you live in a cold climate raw foods may not work too well. For example... Alaska and Canada may not be the ideal environment for raw foods!

There are many factors to take into consideration before starting any cleanse. Try it, see how it feels inside your body, then make your own assessment. I know many clients that get onto a specific "diet", feel great in the beginning and after a while their body doesn't feel so well or begins to break down, but they are stuck in the "ideaology" of the diet.
The key is to try everything and see how it feels. Keep a journal.
Believe it or not, I encourage you to stop drinking diet soda for 1 entire week, and then drink it again. Jot down your body's physical reaction to the soda. You may be very surprised to discover your tummy feels bloated, you may get a headache, or just an odd feeling in your head/behind your eyes, or strange taste at the back of your throat. If your body does not feel rejuvenated or "healthy" after drinking it, I would remove it from the diet.

Your body will tell you everything you need to know. Listen to it.