If we take surgery off the table (and please, let’s take surgery off the table) there are certain things about your appearance that you can do very little about. Your basic facial symmetry, eye colour, the shape of your nose, the prominence of your cheekbones or chin….these are all simple accidents of genetics, and you have to learn to make peace with them.
But the rest is really up to you. Your hair, skin, nails, overall health and energy levels – these are all things you can look after and enhance simply by following a healthy and nutritionally sound eating regime.
We spend billions every year on beauty products, all of which claim to halt the inevitable aging process and give us a glowing, youthful appearance. Yet there are no lotions or potions – no matter how expensive – that can reverse the long-term damage that poor lifestyle choices can have on the way you look.
At the end of the day, beauty is less about what you put on your face and more about what you put in your body.
All the external indicators of beauty are directly reliant on your internal health. A balanced diet that includes the right kinds of carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins and minerals will nurture and sustain your outward beauty while also helping to strengthen your immune system. Protecting yourself against illness and disease also helps to preserve your looks.
Your skin is probably the most telling outward indicator of your overall health. As you biggest organ, your skin’s main function is to act as a protective barrier for your internal organs, shielding them from toxins, bacteria, pollution and other environmental irritants.
Numerous studies show the indisputable connection between the condition of our skin and the food we eat. Diets that are nutritionally lacking can cause acne, dry skin and wrinkles, to name a few. Research also shows that diets rich in legumes, vegetables, olive oil and fish help to protect skin against sun damage, while high consumption of butter, margarine, meat, diary products and sugar increased the likelihood of wrinkles. Other studies indicate that women over 40 with lower intakes of phosphorus, potassium, vitamin A and vitamin C tend to have a more wrinkled appearance.
The bottom line is this – the secret to your long-term health and beauty can be found in your kitchen, and not in a pot, tube or jar.