Date: 04/08/2013

Author: Ingrid Katz (Pure Aesthetics)

We have all heard the saying "you are what you eat". Whilst it is sometimes difficult to abide by the many clean living rules presented to us, making a few small changes in our diet could make a big difference to our skins and general well-being.

We have made a list of some simple and small tips you could incorporate into your daily living.

Having recently visited the Body Worlds Exhibition, I was in awe of our bodies' internal workings – all of which I have studied before – but to see the actual organs and fully appreciate how they are interlinked, held in our bodies and ultimately sensitive to so many influences, made my appreciation for the term "you are what you eat" increase tenfold!

If you can for one moment appreciate that the body needs to digest whatever we ingest. And to do so, we use a certain amount of energy. Some foods, like animal meat and dairy, are more difficult for the body to digest and require more energy to do so. So ideally, we want to feed our bodies with more fresh fruit and vegetables that are easier for the body to digest, allowing the body to focus its energy on other important bodily functions, like cell repair, collagen production etc.

These tips are aimed at helping your body as well as your skin:

• Start the day with a glass of hot water and fresh lemon juice. Lemons, although acidic, have a strong alkalising effect on our internal workings. This amazing fruit increases the bile production of the liver and so helps to detoxify our bodies of waste. Rocket (Arugula) is another strong acid neutraliser and is full of Vitamin A so excellent for preventing skin breakouts and acne.
• Increasing your antioxidants – Vitamin C is one of the strongest antioxidants. Increasing your consumption of cabbage (which has more Vitamin C than oranges), berries, red bell peppers, sweet potatoes, onions and citrus fruit, will supply this vital nutrient needed for keeping our cellular activity in check.
• Increasing your water intake - Our bodies are made up of 70% water and so keeping ourselves hydrated is vital to our internal cellular workings and help promote a clear skin.
• Improving or aiding your body's digestion process will increase energy levels and create a healthy colon. Pineapple has the enzyme, Bromelin, which is great at aiding digestion and ultimately detoxing the colon. Pears (with their skin on) and raw apple cider vinegar are both strong digestives.
• Eating your vegetables/ salad before the rest of your meal is a great way to getting your digestive process going and allowing the body to start processing those wonderful nutrients before it's overloaded with the other heavier components of your meal.

The list of tips for a healthier you are endless. Making small changes is a start in the right direction.