Foods that boost beauty and all-round health

Beauty may be in the eyes of the beholder but it can never be hidden. It is a God-given gift. Beauty, as it manifests in physical form is an asset of great value. Everyone cherishes it. Though some are born with it, others have acquired it through a carefully chosen lifestyle that assists to enhance its valuable attributes (shape, size and colour).

Firstly, they appreciate and then take good care of what they have. To the human eye, beauty is in that glowing skin, that pure white, well-set teeth, that comely, beautiful smile with the twin dimples, the starry eyes, the well-tended hair, nails and even the poise; the way one carries his/her body.

The truth however, is that most of the physical attributes that contribute to beauty could be enhanced and sustained in the wise choice of the food we eat. And in the stress-free lifestyles we live; devoid of excesses in the taking of alcohol, cigarettes and even food itself. Even quality sleep could improve on beauty. All these, combined with regular exercise would guarantee all-round health.

Foods that enhance your beauty

To maintain your great shape and avoid adding excess weight, take honey as it uses and burns fat for energy instead of getting it stored. Forglowing skin: Sweet potatoes possess anti-oxidants such as Vitamins A, C, E which mop up skin-aging, free radicals.Vitamin C produces collagen that enhances elasticity to keep the skin supple. Vitamin D controls your body’s use of calcium. About 15 minutes exposure to sunlight every day normally produces all the Vitamin D you need.

To look forever young, rub your face with coconut oil just before going to bed. Or make a paste of raw carrots, apply to your face and wash it off after an hour. Cook oat meal and apply on your face for 15 minutes, then wash. This helps to remove pimples.

You can also rub orange peels and garlic to remove acne and pimples. Apply orange juice to your face regularly to get rid of marks and for making your skin smooth. To prevent wrinkles and soften your skin, use pure castor oil; it is known to slow the ageing process of the skin. Regular sex also assists.

In addition, olive oil helps in preventing wrinkles. It removes the oil from the skin and takes away the stress in your face or body. Take 50ml of raw milk. Mix a pinch of salt and two tea spoonful of lime to it. It helps to clean the deep pores of the skin. Drink carrot juice every day to prevent wrinkles. It will show after three weeks. Apply left-over white of egg against acne and wrinkles. Also apply 30ml of cabbage juice with 1 teaspoon of honey to the face to keep the wrinkles away.

Dried orange peels mixed with curd help reduce blemishes and scars. Wash off this mixture with cold water after 15 minutes. Drink at least 6-8 glasses of water every day to plump up the skin cells. It assists to flush out toxins and prevent spots.

Drink a mixture of lettuce juice and spinach juice to induce hair growth. Juice of carrot mixed with lettuce is good. To reduce hair loss, boil 1 cup of water, add a teaspoon of mustard seeds, cook for 5 minutes, cool and drink. Avocado pear prevents hair loss and promotes smooth skin.

For bright eyes and clear vision, the intake of Vitamin A-rich foods such as milk, butter, tomatoes, red palm oil, cod liver oil and carrots would improve vision.

For clear, shiny skin, eat foods rich in Vitamins A, C, E such as sweet potatoes, red-ball peppers and eggs. Best foods for smooth, shiny skin include oily fish such as salmon and mackerel, walnut, dark chocolate, sweet potatoes, soybeans, red and yellow-ball pepper, avocados and tomatoes. Almonds, avocados, dark, leafy vegetables are also recommended. Drink lemon grass tea. Consume milk and honey daily in the morning for a smooth, glowing skin. For smooth face, mash banana, mix with honey and apply to your face.

Facial mask for dry skin: Also mix 1 egg, 1 teaspoon of honey and a drop of rose water as a facial mask. Facial mask for oily skin. 1 teaspoon of milk powder, ¼ mashed avocado pear. Leave till it dries.

Facial mask for normal skin: Mix ½ teaspoon of milk powder, ¼ teaspoon of egg white, ½ teaspoon of lemon juice. Leave on the face till it dries. Facial mask to remove pimple marks. Mix ½ peeled cucumber, 1 egg white, ½ cup of vinegar, 2 cups of dry oat meal, 3 teaspoon of honey and ½ cup of flour. Wash your face before applying. Leave this to dry.

Read also: Foods that lower blood sugar level

Foods that enhance the functions of your digestive system are yoghurt, apple, avocado, pawpaw and wheat. Go for them. Best foods for old people are sweet potatoes, fruits, vegetables, nuts, honey, milk, yogurt, salmon, tuna fish, wheat, brown bread and brown rice.

Food handling for your all-round health is most important. Go for fresh, organic food than fried, fatty foods. Boil the eggs, meat, fish, yam, bananas and plantains instead of frying them so as to benefit from their rich nutrients.

Foods for blood cell production. Food items that boost blood cells production are organ meat such as liver and kidney, egg yolk, beans, legumes, dry nuts and dark green, leafy vegetables. Folate-rich foods such as dark-green vegetables, wheat, rice, nuts and grapes produce and maintain new blood cells. Also, eat sugar cane because its juice contains most essential minerals. Beet roots are also recommended because they contain several minerals such as potassium, phosphorous, iodine, iron and vitamins B1,B2, B6.

To boost blood supply, splash plain cold water over closed eyes. Take soya beans, fish and eggs. Also consider diets that cleanse the blood vessels. For instance, garlic combined with onion is a natural antibiotic, effective blood cleanser, reduces HBP and cholesterol, antifungal and aphrodisiac.Toreduce high blood cholesterol, choose chicken or fish over red meat.

Foods that protect the liver: It is important to know that the liver assists to break down carbohydrates to glucose, the simple sugar which the body uses for energy. The liver also helps in detoxifying the body and its health could prevent Type-2diabetes. Therefore, it needs to be protected at all times.

Amongst the protective foods and drinks are coffee, green tea, oatmeal, garlic, banana, watermelon, avocado and grapes. Now you know why fruits are useful to your overall health. Don’t ever say that fruits are costly!

Now you know that your beauty and all-round health are made possible by the wise choice of the food items you take combined with regular exercise.