Tagged chia seeds
5 Foods For Glowing Skin
Want health, glowing, youthful skin? Yes – me too! I’ve noticed that what I eat plays a huge role in the health of my hair, nails and skin. When I’m eating loads of fruits, veggies and healthy fats I find my skin is dewy and I feel like I even look younger. The opposite is also true -when I’m dehydrated and not eating as I normally would my skin pays the price. It’s dry, dull and not at all youthful.
That’s no coincidence. Enjoying fresh, whole foods offers the nutrients needed for clearer, more youthful looking and glowing skin. With that in mind here are my top 5 faves for glowing skin:
1. Spinach
Leafy greens like my fave, spinach, are an excellent source of antioxidant vitamins such as vitamin A. These vitamins are beneficial for cellular repair and regeneration which can show in the look and feel of your skin. Smoothies are a great way to get more greens into your day. One of my faves is this glowing skin green smoothie!
2. Pineapple
Pineapple is a great source of an enzyme, called bromelain, which can help reduce inflammation. Inflammation can be caused by a number of things from what we eat to stress to not getting enough sleep. Inflammation isn’t a bad thing, in fact it is a wonderful thing for helping the body heal, short term. What we want want to stay away from is chronic inflammation which can show in the skin as acne and wrinkles. The skin is offers us clues as to how we are doing on the inside. When we see signs of inflammation in the skin that could be a sign that not only or skin but our whole body could use a bit more love. Good news though – the foods that can help beautify the skin are working from the inside out and can help support overall health!
As we age skin loses some of its elasticity and firmness which is partly due to loss of collagen. This loss can lead to fine lines and wrinkles! You can boost your collagen production with nutrients such as vitamin C, found in pineapple. Try adding pineapple to your fave smoothies, salads and salsas.
3. Coconut Oil
The healthy fats in coconut oil are important for youthful, soft and dewy (aka glowing) looking skin. Coconut also has antioxidant vitamin E, which is important for healthy skin. Find ways to incorporate coconut oil into your routine here.
4. Nuts
My fave nuts for skin health are Brazil nuts and walnuts. Brazil nuts contain antioxidant mineral selenium which is beneficial for healthy skin because selenium can aid in supporting skin that has been exposed to sun damage. Walnuts are another fave because of their healthy fats. I keep these nuts around for snacks and for adding to smoothies and salads.
5. Chia Seeds
These little seeds are full of healthy Omega-3 fats that help keep your skin soft and dewy; giving you a glow from the inside out. I add chia seeds to overnight oats, smoothies and more. Try making a chia seed pudding like this one!
Bonus: Water
While water isn’t a food we can’t talk about beauty without talking about water. When you are dehydrated it shows in your skin. Stay hydrated with leafy green veggies such as spinach and chard and fruits such as pineapple and watermelon and by drinking water all throughout the day.
What are your fave foods for beautiful, glowing skin? Let me know!
Coconut photo cred here
Acai Bowls
My love affair with acai bowls started earlier this year when I happened upon a Pinterest post. My love continued to grow with a trip to Maui in April where I was met with the greatest acai bowl of my life. If you are on Maui please go to Choice Health Bar so you can experience it for yourself. Good news – if you aren’t going to Maui anytime soon you can still fall in love with an acai bowl at home.
Here’s how:
Ingredients
1-2 frozen acai packs (you can use juice or powder but I prefer the frozen packs for convenience)
1/2 cup frozen berries
1/4 cup almond milk
Optional: spinach, Chlorella or you other fave greens
Topping
1/4 cup granola (crunchier the better) 2 tbsp hemp hearts
1 tsp shredded coconut
1 tbsp cocoa nibs
Sliced fresh fruit (strawberries, banana, etc)
1 tbsp honey
Directions
Blend all ingredients (except topping) in a high powered blender on low/med scape sides as required Add more liquid as required (use sparingly – you want this thick) Blend until thick & smooth Serve in chilled bowl Top with any of the toppings above (I usually use them all) Enjoy (and share – this will make 1 large or 2 small bowls)
For more superfruit breakfast inspiration check out my acai bowl recipe as originally posted on MyVega.com
Overnight Oats
If you find that there’s never enough time in the morning to get in a nutritious breakfast, give these overnight oats a try! All the prep is done the night before, so all you have to do is grab it before you head out the door.
Ingredients
1 cup oats
1 cup almond milk
2 Tbsp Coconut oil
1 serving of Vega One (French Vanilla, or Chocolate)
Toppings
½ sliced banana
your favorite nuts
shredded coconut
dried fruit of your choice
Directions
Mix your oats and milk together in a bowl and store in an airtight container in the fridge overnight
In the morning, add coconut oil and Vega One stir vigorously (the friction with help melt the coconut oil) until combined
Add your favorite toppings and enjoy!
As originally published MyVega.com.
Protein Bites
Quick and easy, these protein bites are perfect for snack time or for a boost of protein. I enjoy these post-workout too (~1 hour post-workout).
Ingredients
1 serving Vega One (French Vanilla Flavor) or Vega Sport Performance Protein (Vanilla Flavor)
½ cup nut butter (peanut, almond, or cashew)
½ cup ground chia seeds (or oats)
2 tsp chia seeds
½ tsp vanilla
Pinch of salt
Optional: maple syrup, or agave nectar to taste
Directions
Combine all ingredients in a medium bowl and roll into balls. If the mixture feels too dry, add a teaspoon of water and adjust until you reach a rollable dough-like consistency.
Store ball in an air tight container in the freezer for up to two weeks
Mainly Bridgette 