Eating for Beauty: Herbs and Spices

As a woman,  I am  always striving to be healthier – that means working out when I can get my candy ass to the gym and a diet that is rich in vitamin and nutrients. While feeling better is certainly high on the agenda, I cannot tell a lie - I want to look better, too. The thing is, I am broke. So instead of splurging on creams and gels and  endless varieties of skin clearing lotions, consider this fact: what you eat can offer the same results as what you buy in the drug store.

That’s right, ladies – food does more than just feed the body. The choices we make for dinner can have a direct impact on the way we look, and I am not just talking about fitting into your skinny jeans.

                                            

Natural fruits and vegetables are full of antioxidants — natural chemicals found in plants. Antioxidants help protect the body from free radical damage, also known as the damaging substances in our bodies caused by chemical food additives, pollution, stress and UV rays. Some familiar damaging effects include wrinkles, premature aging of the skin and dark sunspots. Thanks to antioxidants, we can work to reverse that damage.

So my focus today is on herbs and spices for beauty!

Herbs and Spices: Nothing make a mediocre dish instantly delicious than fresh herbs and spices. A basic omelet can be turned exotic with the addition of some fresh parsley or tarragon, and tofu and veggie burgers can only benefit with the added mix in sautéed fennel seed or garlic, cayenne pepper or spicy Indian curry like turmeric, or maybe an Italian seasoning blend off oregano and basil – sinful when matched with fresh olive oil and tomatoes. In addition to kicking things up a notch in the kitchen, herbs and spices will benefit your health as well. Bitter herbs, like artichoke or dandelion, can also aid in digestion since bitter tasting things help the glands to salivate. When those salivary glands are working in full speed, the stomach will begin to secrete digestive juices that will alert your liver and intestines to the fact that they better start their engines. Ginger also has a soothing effect on the stomach and can help to relieve nausea and also to breakdown high fat foods and proteins.

I used to carry a little shake jar of cinnamon  and another of cayenne pepper in my bag to add not just extra kick to food, but for the health benefits, too. Both stimulate blood circulation and aid in digestion so I felt like my little trick was making me healthier. And it was. I should start doing that again.

So should you!