We usually talk about beauty in terms of skin and hair care.  The truth is what we put into our bodies can actually make more of a difference than anything else.  No matter how many amazing natural skin and hair care products we use, if we’re eating processed foods, not drinking pure water or exercising, we can’t be our best natural beauty.  Please do educate yourself on cosmetic ingredients to avoid since what we put on our body is still very important.  Because our skin is our largest organ, it absorbs everything.  If this were not true, nicotine skin patches wouldn’t be effective.

Beauty ailments can be inflicted by chemical ingredients and synthetic preservatives, or possibly be caused by prescription medications or medical conditions.  Many cleansers and shampoos strip the skin and scalp with harsh cleansing agents which then have you "needing" a bunch of other products to build back what was depleted.  Other chemical cosmetic ingredients can actually be skin irritants and create allergy related issues.

If you have skin ailments or very dry brittle hair, it usually is your body telling you that there’s an imbalance.  You may not be getting enough rest and/or proper nutrients that your body needs.  Acne, eczema, roseasca, dandruff, psoriasis, dry hair and excess hair shedding, etc. are all signs of physical imbalance.  Proper nutrition with whole natural foods including lots of raw fruits and vegetables can make a huge difference.

We have heard more than we need to that "we are what we eat."  I’ll start by saying that processed food isn't the way to go.  Any food item in a can, bag, or box needs questioning.  Whole foods that you actually have to prepare are the best way to go.  Here are three amazing beauty foods that you can easily incorporate into your diet… hemp seeds, green papaya, and spinach.

Hemp Seeds

Hemp seeds are extremely rich in protein with all the essential amino acids and fatty acids necessary for our highest health.  Raw hemp seeds contain 20 amino acids, 9 essential fatty acids not naturally produced in our bodies, 40 percent fiber, and 33 percent easily digestible protein.  Hemp seeds have been used to treat nutritional deficiency, and those suffering with immune disorders, while promoting overall heart health.  Healthy fatty acids, amino acids, and protein also improve the texture and moisture in skin and provide strength and shine to hair.

There are a few simple ways to incorporate hemp seeds into your diet.  You can add ground or whole hemp seeds to your cereal, yogurt, soups, salads, or baked goods.  I personally love making morning smoothies, so adding hemp seeds to my smoothies are the perfect combination of protein, essential fatty acids, and nutritious amino acids.  Hemp seeds can also be ground and made into a milk.  You can add hemp seed oil to salad dressings or on top of steamed vegetables.  I don’t suggest cooking in hemp seed oil as you will loose its raw nutrients.

Green Papaya

Papaya is one of my favorite fruits.  I love that it has digestive enzymes that can soothe an upset stomach.  Green papaya is unripe papaya.  I've ordered a green papaya salad at Thai restaurants, never really understanding the benefits of green papaya.

Green papaya contains vitamins A, C, E, and B as well as potassium, magnesium, and the most powerful plant enzymes papain and chymopapain.  Our natural digestive enzyme pepsin can only digest food in an acidic environment.  Papain can digest even proteins in a acidic or alkaline environment.  Green papaya improves digestive health and the immune system, increases energy, soothes problematic skin conditions, fights infections, and accelerates the healing and regeneration of burns, sores, wounds, and muscle tissue.

Our entire body is fed through the digestive system.  When our stomach is happy, and healthy nutritious food is being assimilated properly, glowing skin and shiny luscious hair are inevitable.  You can easily incorporate more green papaya salads into your diet, or even pick up a green papaya supplement from the health food store.

Spinach

I have a new love for spinach.  Spinach is nutrition packed and a wonderful source of lutein, protein, fiber, antioxidants, and chlorophyll, as well as vitamin C, A, and K, folic acid, manganese, calcium, iron, phosphorus, beta-carotene, potassium, thiamine, riboflavin, carotenoids, niacin, and lipoic acid.  Spinach supports our cardiovascular and digestive system, balances sugar levels, cleanses the liver, improves skin, while combating allergies and asthma.

I've been eating more salads daily. My new easy way to incorporate spinach in my diet is with green smoothies.  In healthy food combining, you are not to mix fruits and vegetables in a meal.  Leafy greens are the only vegetables suitable to mix with fruits.  Spinach is a fabulous option.  When you add it to a smoothie you can put in as much as you want and not have it overpower the taste.  I love to add spinach to a smoothie with almond or hemp milk, a banana, and frozen mango.  You can find more smoothie recipes here.

True beauty begins from the inside out.  When you feel good inside, you’ll also enjoy your life more.  Take some time today to count your blessings and think of something that makes you laugh really hard.

Much love!

Image by Dawn Michelle