We talked to a nutritionist about the best plants and foods for beauty
We all have the friend who eats nonstop junk and still manages to have great skin and metabolism, while others practically forage their food from freshly-sourced gardens and still get sick all the time. So, what gives?
What foods and supplements can help boost our immune system and physical beauty, despite all our genetic predispositions? Unfortunately, there is no magic bushel of berries that will transform us into a reincarnation of Cleopatra and permanently immunize us from cancer. However, there are key natural foods and plants for beauty that will boost our health while affirming our sweet, sweet vanity.
In order to get an expert’s opinion, HelloGiggles talked with the author and nutritionist Jonny Bowden, who has a PhD in holistic nutrition and has written books specifically tailored to smarter eating.
During our conversation, he emphasized the most effective beauty ritual: eating an anti-inflammatory diet,
"I strongly believe in beauty from the inside out. Usually when the skin starts to look aged or wrinkled it's a sign of something going on inside. The first order of business is to eat an anti-inflammatory diet, which will calm all of your skin problems."
While chatting with us, Bowden had plenty of useful snack and supplements for fighting inflammation and promoting the regeneration of cells, including the tropical-sounding plant, Ahiflower. He said,
"Apples and onions are particularly good for anti-inflammatory purposes, also Omega-3s are crucial for improving your skin and your hair. There's Ahiflower, which is grown in England, it's full of Omega 3s and I think it will be one of the biggest botanicals in coming years. The preliminary evidence is that it's completely anti-inflammatory, it doesn't replace the Omega 3s in Fish Oil, but it boosts it in the body."
You’ll feel as majestic as this beautiful dog when you start taking Ahiflower.
But what about those of us carnivores who love a juicy steak? Is there hope? In short, yes. The world of spices is full of antimicrobial properties that help boost our immune system and keep our skin and metabolism effervescent (we’re reaching for the stars here).
Bowden shared which spices are best for beauty, so you know what to grab from the spice rack next time you’re cooking,
"The standard thing that you can do to reduce carcinogens from barbecue is to marinate it in a sauce of spices. If we're talking about spices for beauty, I would include Ginger, and Fennel is particularly good for sensitive skin, as it can decrease redness and irritation. Clove is great, it can be applied to the skin and has antimicrobial properties.
He continues: “Pepper is great in oils and scrubs because it increases blood flow. My favorite is Turmeric, which is actually such an amazing spice, the only thing about Turmeric is it’s really hard to absorb. You’d have to use a ton, so for that, I use a supplement to get the anti-inflammatory values and the one I like is Terry Naturally.”
You heard the man, it’s time to let the spices rain down on your beautiful body.
If you’re as into your beverages as we are, Bowden shared that green tea is not only a top-shelf option for drinking, but it can also be made into a face mask.
He said:
"Green Tea is anti-inflammatory and has so many helpful properties. If you want a mask, you can even cut open the bag, mix the contents with a little lemon juice and raw honey and make a mask out of it. Also, Coconut Oil, Barlene's, is good for everything, for hair, for skin, just overnight as a sun protector."
Now you can brew up a pot with the knowledge that you’re becoming even dreamier.
While all of these foods, spices and supplements boast great health and beauty benefits, Bowden made sure to remind us how important it is to sleep, manage stress, and drink enough water.
He said, “We don’t get enough deep restorative sleep in this country, and that will age your skin faster than anything else I can think of. Also, stress hormones add belly fat, they inflame our bodies, not managing or reducing our stress is our biggest beauty problem. Even deep breathing for four or five minutes a day, or taking a short walk in greenery, or anywhere you can see some greens will lower your stress hormones and get you back in metabolic balance. People don’t spend enough time addressing sleep and stress and WATER. No one is drinking enough water, and your skin is going to look horrible if you don’t drink enough water.”
FINE, we’ll drink some water and go to bed, eventually.
