Ray of Sunshine Nutrition Talks to Cherwell Magazine
We here at Ray of Sunshine Nutrition met up recently with talented young Journalist Helen Tatlow, a student at the famous University of Oxford, and writer for the respected University magazine Cherwell, to discuss Healthy diets, Superfoods, student excesses and how Nutrition and diet can help our skin and plays an important role in the Beauty Industry.
Check out the Full Article here at source: http://www.cherwell.org/fashion/news/2012/04/18/beauty-inside-out-
We here at Ray of Sunshine Nutrition met up recently with talented young Journalist Helen Tatlow, a student at the famous University of Oxford, and writer for the respected University magazine Cherwell, to discuss Healthy diets, Superfoods, student excesses and how Nutrition and diet can help our skin and plays an important role in the Beauty Industry.
Check out the Full Article here at source: http://www.cherwell.org/fashion/news/2012/04/18/beauty-inside-out-
Beauty, inside-out!
We interview nutritional therapist Matthew Reay on a natural approach to beauty.
Sometimes
applying the latest miracle moisturiser just doesn’t seem to be enough.
We talked to nutritional therapist Matthew Reay about the basis for
outer beauty - a healthy inside!
Cherwell: Is there a perfect diet for a clear complexion?
Matthew: A perfect diet?
Well, l don’t really promote specific diets as such, but rather general
sensible daily eating ideas which promote the benefits of blood sugar
balance and sustained energy release. It’s important to understand what
our bodies want instead of what we think we want, and hopefully this
will put pay to overeating. Overeating can lead to an imbalance in blood
sugar levels and the potential for too much fat; too much sugar, salt,
alcohol or high energy foods can make the body overwork itself and leave
digestion struggling to cope, whilst dehydration, extra stress or poor
sleep all take their toll on the body. What’s going on in the inside
will be reflected in how we look on the outside in the body’s biggest
organ, the skin.
C: Can you recommend any ‘superfoods’ for fabulous skin?
M: One of mine would be
cucumber. Cucumber contains phytonutrients such as caffeic acid which
help reduce inflamed skin. Cucumber also contains the essential skin
mineral, silica, the key component of collagen in the skin. I usually
add mine to a smoothie with frozen berries, spinach and grape or
beetroot juice. I would also choose avocado: they are great sources of
vitamins C, B6 and K, as well as potassium, folate and copper. They
provide large amounts of dietary fibre, which is good for digestion, and
also contain biotin. Involved in the process of sugar and fat
metabolism, biotin processes sugar into energy and acts as a precursor
for fat production in the body, which is crucial for short-living skin
cells which need to be replaced quickly and often for skin to replenish
and restore itself. Finally, essential fatty acids contained in flax
seed and nuts such as walnuts are important in our diets, the
alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) they contain playing an important role in the
structure and function of skin cells. ALA enables and controls water
permeability, important for strength and elasticity of the skin. The
omega 3 fatty acids found in many nuts inhibit inflammation, whilst ALA
helps reduce the visible manifestations of various skin conditions by
keeping skin cells functioning normally.
C: Is taking a 'Hair Skin and Nails' supplement really worth it?
M: Personally, I don’t
think so - l tend to stay clear of such supplements if l am getting lots
of good vitamins and minerals in my diet, keeping well hydrated with
fluids, getting the sleep l need and getting out to do some exercise. So
many of these supplements contain fillers, binders and preservatives
that a good diet doesn’t contain, so l make my diet work for me, as we
all should. The key is to listen to your body, gain some insight and
knowledge and then act accordingly.
C: Are there any natural beauty brands you would particularly recommend?
M: As someone who overcame
eczema as a child and frequently deals with patients with skin
complaints, l am a firm believer that what you put on your skin ends up
in your body, so l avoid skin care products which include chemicals and
toxins - watch out for parabens, sodium lauryl/laureth sulphate (SLS),
DEET and aluminium, among others. These chemicals have been linked to
harmful effects on the body and can be found in many of the products we
use on a daily basis. I like the skin care range at Neal’s Yard Remedies, and would also recommend the eco-conscious German company Weleda,
who do fantastic natural skin products at very good prices. Top tip:
companies who specialise in natural skin care for babies and young
children tend to offer high quality products containing nice essential
oils and creams - check out Earth Friendly Baby or the Cardiff based company, Pur Babies.
C: Do you have any recipes for homemade beauty products which anyone can make with ingredients found in their kitchen?
M: Well, given that l
sport a beard sometimes, I’m not one to often be found wearing a face
mask with cucumbers on my eyes - it could get a bit messy! However, some
friends of mine have had success with homemade face masks made from
ingredients such as avocado or egg. I’ve also heard good things about
James Wong’s book, Grow Your Own Drugs, which contains recipes
such as a yogurt, lime and strawberry face pack, and a honey and yogurt
face mask - so that might be something to look into, even for me,
especially if l shave off my beard!
C: Students have a reputation of
being rather over-enthusiastic when it comes to alcohol. What natural
solutions would you suggest for getting over a hangover?
M: Well, stick to your
alcohol limit, know your numbers in terms of alcohol units to avoid
long-term health issues, and the short-term embarrassment of missing an
exam or finding yourself waking up with someone you never expected to!
If you do end up feeling worse for wear, keeping well hydrated is
important, so get plenty of water into the system. Herbal teas such as
nettle, dandelion and milk thistle will help the liver do its job better
after a ‘session or three’! I always like some banana to boost my
potassium levels, so maybe include it in a reviving, healthy smoothie
with frozen berries and cucumber to top up your body’s supply of
valuable nutrients, vitamins and minerals which may have been affected
by consumption of too much alcohol. If you can eat, stick to smaller,
lighter meals after a heavy night; healthy snacking that helps with
balancing those all-important blood sugar levels should be better than
heavy meals. Eggs are a good option, as they contain the chemical
cysteine, which may have an effect counteracting the damaging
by-products left by alcohol. A boiled or poached egg with mushrooms and
toast sounds like an ideal hangover cure to me! And when you get the
chance, get back to bed and make up for any lost sleep!
Ray of Sunshine Nutrition
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