Beauty Treatments Good Enough to Eat!

Beauty Treatments Good Enough to Eat!

In the UK, this Sunday is Mother’s Day! (Non-UK readers still read on though as these beauty treatments and breakfasts can be enjoyed any time of year!). Every mum wants to look and feel at her best, and so I’ve listed some wonderful natural treatments that you, or your mum can use to make the day a little bit more extra special. And if ‘breakfast in bed’ is on the cards, then why not use the foods as a delicious way to start the day. The wonders of food... beauty treatments that are literally good enough to eat! 

‘Oat-Based’ Face Masks

Oats are a natural exfoliator on the skin. To make your own facial scrub simply mix two heaped tablespoons of oats and one teaspoon of baking soda into a paste and scrub onto the face in circular motions.
Mother’s Day Breakfast Idea: Make a delicious bowl of porridge oats with milk and top with a sprinkle of cinnamon and a few blueberries.
Nutrition Facts: Oats are a wholegrain, which means they are a fantastic source of slow release energy to keep you fuelled throughout the day. Oats are also a source of soluble fibre which helps to keep digestive systems moving.
 

‘Egg-Based’ Hair Masks

Egg-based hair masks are said to make hair smooth and shiny, and you can make your own by mixing one egg with one tablespoon of water, working it through the hair and leaving it on for 10 to 15 minutes.
Mother’s Day Breakfast Idea: Poached or scrambled eggs on wholegrain toast.
Nutrition Facts: Eggs are a good source of protein, as well as vitamins A, D and B2.

‘Cucumber’ Eye Patches

Cucumbers can help to reduce puffiness around the eyes. Simply cool, slice, place onto the eyes and relax for 10 minutes!

Mother’s Day Breakfast Idea: Cucumber water. Peel half a cucumber, slice length ways and pop into a jug of (covered) water overnight in a fridge. The longer the water cools for, the more flavour you will have. Super hydrating!!
Nutrition Facts: Cucumbers are not only hydrating but provide us with a range of nutrients including, potassium, and vitamin C and K. Cucumbers are also extremely low in calories so feast away and enjoy their goodness guilt-free!

‘Honey & Olive-Oil’ Hair Masks

‘Honey & olive oil’ hair masks are ideal for dry or frizzy hair. To add moisture to your hair, just mix five tablespoons of olive oil to four tablespoons of honey and mix well before leaving on the hair for 15 to 20 minutes.
Mother’s Day Breakfast Idea: Add honey to porridge/fresh fruit/natural yoghurt for a sweeter start to the day (best to leave the olive oil for later on in the day!)
Nutrition Facts: Honey is natural energy source and sweetener, and has a slightly lower glycaemic index than sugar (it releases its energy more slowly). Olive oil is high in mono-unsaturated fatty acids (the good fats) and so is beneficial to both heart and skin health alike.

‘Banana & Yoghurt’ Face Smoothie

Banana and yoghurt face packs are said to make your skin feel smoother, to make your own, mash two tablespoons of natural yoghurt, half a banana and one tablespoon of honey together and then apply to the face for 15-20 minutes.

Mother’s Day Breakfast Idea: Banana & Yoghurt Smoothie. Simply blend a banana with yoghurt and add milk. Why not add a few frozen berries and a handful of oats too.
Nutrition Facts: Bananas are a delicious, naturally pre-packaged fruit that can be easily eaten on the go and are full of fibre, vitamins and minerals. Yoghurts are a fantastic source of calcium and protein and the probiotic yoghurts can even help to improve digestive health.

Have a beautiful and scrumptious Mother’s Day, what ever you do!

Nichola x

Hydration

Hydration

I get asked a lot of questions about keeping hydrated and so I thought I'd share with you my top 'Questions & Answers' to help you to be as healthy as you can be (from an hydration point of view!). Bottoms up!

Why is keeping hydrated so important?

Keeping hydrated is possibly one of the easiest and most beneficial things you can do for your body. Drinking enough fluids helps to: keep hair and nails in good condition, keep bowels moving, maintain bodily functions and physical performance, and prevents headaches and urinary tract infections (cystitis). Drinking enough fluids can also help to keep hunger at bay and prevent excessive eating - this is because the body can often confuse hunger/thirst signals.. so next time you're hungry try having a glass of water first to check that you don't just need more fluids!

How much water should I drink?

It is generally recommended to drink 8 x 240ml glasses or 1.5 to 2 litres of fluid a day. These values are however only estimates and you will need to drink more if you are exercising or if it's hot (i.e. if you are sweating more).

How can I tell if I'm drinking enough?

An easy way to tell if you're drinking enough is to see if you're thirsty or not! Thirst is unfortunately however a sign that you are already dehydrated.. which means you need to up your daily fluid intake. Another way to tell is by checking the colour of your urine (sorry to have to mention this...!) - the darker it is the more dehydrated you are (and so you need to drink more to flush out your body's toxins that are naturally produced).

How can I drink more water?

Now, I have to admit that I am not a big fan of water (on its own)... sometimes if it's really hot I will be forced to drink bottled water but other than that it just doesn't seem to agree with me! I.e. I have no passion for drinking plain water.. that's why I like to encourage the use of 'no added sugar' squash or cordial to flavour water and sugar-free flavoured waters (still or sparkling). An easy way to keep your fluid levels topped up is to carry a 500ml bottle of water with you.. aim to drink and refill it 3-4 times a day.. in the morning, afternoon and evening (adding squash if desired!). Keeping water in the fridge can also help you to drink more if you prefer chilled water.. and you could make it more interesting by adding cucumber pieces or lemon slices for flavour. Food can also be hydrating and do count towards your fluid intake e.g. fruits such as watermelon, soups and jelly.

Do tea and coffee count towards my fluid intake?

The simple answer is yes! It's a myth that moderate amounts of tea and coffee de-hydrate you.. and that's a fact. It is true that caffeine has a slight diuretic effect however overall there is always a net fluid gain. I like to encourage people to have a mixture of different types of teas and coffees.. e.g. alternating decaffeinated with caffeinated and trying different herbal teas (I do love my honey and lemon green teas and of course chai tea - lovely!). All teas are a fantastic source of anti-oxidants... so what are you waiting for, put the kettle on :)

Hummm, maybe I should edit the above picture to say.. 'Drink water, tea, coffee, squash, sugar-free fizzy water... and feel AND look great!'.. not quite as catchy though!

Have a lovely weekend.. bottles at the ready!

Nic x

Food for Skin

Food for Skin

You may have heard the phrase 'you are what you eat' and although literally it may not be true, it is true that what you eat affects how you look massively!

I often get asked about what to eat for a 'healthy glow' and for 'healthy skin' and wanted to share with you my top 5 tips for looking at your best..

1) Eat a Rainbow..
What I mean by this is eat a variety of (natural!) colours in your diet. Feast on fruits & vegetables (your 5 a day) and aim to keep your plate colourful. A colourful diet will not only make it more interesting for you to eat but it will ensure that you are eating a variety of vitamins and minerals without having to read any labels! So next time you're making a salad don't just add leaves.. add tomatoes, mushrooms, beetroot, peppers.. if it has colour (and you like it) pop it in!

2) Keep Hydrated..
Water is good for you. Water is not only FREE but it helps to keep your body hydrated, flushes out nasty toxins and keeps you looking good. Aim to drink around 8 glasses of water a day, however if it's hot or you're exercising then you may need to drink more. An easy way to see if you're drinking enough it to check the colour of your urine (sorry to be crude).. if it's dark in colour then you are probably dehydrated and need to drink more.

If you find water boring then you can add 'no added sugar' squash to it, have it hot with herbal teas or choose 'no added sugar' carbonated drinks. Caffeinated drinks do count towards your fluid intake but keep these to no more than 5-6 cups a day as more than this can act as a diuretic (dehydrate you).

3) Vitamin A..

Vitamin A is essential for healthy skin. It is found in low-fat diary products (such as milk, yoghurts and cheese), eggs, oily fish and also sweet potatoes. A perfect evening meal therefore could be: A spinach & mushroom omlette (eggs & milk) served with home-made sweet potato wedges & yoghurt for dessert.. if desired you could also add smoked salmon (oily fish) to the omlette too. Yum.

4) Don't be afraid of Fat..

Fats in the diet are essential for healthy skin, however be sure to choose the healthy ones. The fats found in foods such as nuts, seeds and avocados are fantastic for a healthy complexion as they contain anti-oxidants such as Vitamin E and Selenium. Anti-oxidants protect against free-radicals (pollutants) which can have a damaging/ageing effect on the skin.

About the bad fats (saturated fats).. try to reduce these as they can not only lead to weight gain but can cause increased cholesterol levels. Saturated fats are found in processed foods such as cakes, biscuits and pastries as well as fatty meats and full-fat dairy products.

5) Increase your Zinc intake..

Zinc is a mineral that helps to promote skin healing and repair. It is found in red meat (choose the lean varieties as well as healthy cooking methods such as grilling) and wholegrains (such as wholemeal bread and oats). Aim to have red meat about once a week as it is also a good source of iron (for energy) and have wholegrains with your meals.

So there you have it.. how to eat your way to healthy skin. Please remember though that although a good diet helps to promote a healthy complexion it is also important to get enough sleep (at least 7 hours a night) and to have a good skin care regime (wash and moisturise your skin morning and night).

Have a good weekend!

Nichola x