Sunday, September 30, 2012

Taking advantage of the Fall HARVEST!


Remember the old saying - "You are what you eat"? Recent research is now supporting what our grandmothers have known for years. All of your organs, including your skin are best served by eating a healthy diet. 
To keep it simple avoid all processed foods and refined sugars; eat a diet that is rich in fresh fruits and vegetables (especially the leafy green vegetables), low fat meat and seafood, and green or red tea. 
To keep your complexion looking especially radiant choose foods that are rich in these top beautiful skin nutrients: 
1.     Vitamin A – a powerful antioxidant that protects the skin from free radicals, and helps to reduce the production of sebum (oil)
2.     Vitamin E – another powerful antioxidant that helps protect cells from free radicals. It works along with vitamin A for numerous skin benefits.
3.     Vitamin B Complex - B Complex consists of eight vitamins that are essential to cell reproduction.
4.     Vitamin C – an essential compound of collagen, a protein found in the skin that gives it elasticity.
5.     Silica - (silicon dioxide) is a trace mineral found in the connective tissues (like the hair and skin) and is required in the body to keep nails, hair and skin in good health. It is also needed by the body to make collagen.
6.     Zinc - prevent inflammation and flare-ups in the skin. It is also needed to help skin heal and also reduces the effects of scarring.
  1. Beta-carotene - protects against free radical damage and is converted to vitamin A in the body.
Take advantage of everything that farmers markets have to offer!  Even if you really hate vegetables, do what the “godfather” of fitness, Jack Lalanne did over 30 years ago. Buy a juicer and combine your leafy green vegetables with your favorite fruits and drink them! (Lalanne was an American fitness and nutritional expert and who died recently at the age of 96!).
Get healthy inside and out with these popular combos!  
Berry special (Vitamins A, C and E, manganese)
Mix equal quantities of blackberries, blueberries, raspberries and strawberries in a juicer.  Juice all the ingredients. 
Crazy for Carrots (Vitamins A, beta-carotene, C, E, magnesium, manganese, iron, chlorophyll, potassium, folic acid, and B vitamins)
2 large carrots (tops and tails removed)
1 cup of spinach (or kale)
½ apple (cored)
1 celery stalk
1 cup of broccoli florets
Juice all the ingredients but alternate the soft ingredients with firmer ones.
Skin smoothing shake (Silica, Vitamin A, beta-carotene, potassium)
  1. 2 large carrots
  2. l celery stalk
  3. 1 apple
  4. l cucumber (do not peel)
  5. Juice all the ingredients.

Garden Greens (Chorophyll, silicon, B-complex, Vitamins A, C,  E and K, calcium, folate, iron and potassium)
  1. 8 romaine leaves
  2. 4 celery stalks
  3. 2 green apples (you can use a sweeter apple variety)
  4. 1 small bunch of baby spinach
  5. 1 small bunch of kale
  6. 1 small bunch of parsley
  7. 1 lemon (peeled)
  8. 1-inch piece fresh ginger

Juice ingredients.
Orange & Spice is Very Nice (Vitamin C, potassium, manganese) 
1-inch piece of fresh ginger root
2 oranges
½ cup of berries (any kind)
Juice ingredients. 
Anti-Aging Maven (Beta-carotene, Vitamins A, C and K, calcium, iron and selenium)
4 large or 8 small cabbage leaves
6 carrots
½ - 1–inch piece of ginger
Juice ingredients. 
Hydration Special (Vitamin A, C and K, iron, and potassium)
6 stalks of celery
1 cucumber
A handful of spinach or other leafy green 
1 apple
Juice ingredients. 
After trying these recipes, why don't you buy some new vegetable you have never seen before, throw it in with your favorite fruit and see what happens. Who knows, you may start liking veggies after all! 
Happy Fall!