The Beauty Nest ... transform yourself!

Welcome to a late March Edition...

There are two beverages that you should include in your quest for skin health:

Water - to deliver nutrients to the skin cells, to keep the kidneys functioning properly and to get rid of all those wastes and toxins. You might need to constantly remind yourself to drink your six to eight glasses of pure. You know when you are taking in enough water if your urine is the palest of yellow.

Green tea - is another crucial beverage as it contains a potent antioxidant known as EGCG or epigallocatechin-gallate which smoothes and rejuvenates the skin by preventing the formation of those inflammatory chemicals found in acne (and in ageing caused by too much sun on the face). 
You are safe to drink several cups of green tea each day but of course minus the sugar (which is considered to be one of the main causes of premature ageing).  If you must sweeten your green tea, add a dash of raw honey.
An added bonus to drinking green tea is the presence of amino acids, helping to slow the release of the stress hormone cortisol.You will not go wrong in looking after your skin if you avoid the “processed and refined foods” and concentrate on real whole food that is living, fresh and organic, giving maximum nutritional support to your body and especially your skin.

Walking – If the weather is nice, it’s wonderful to get outside and enjoy the scenery around you while you exercise. If you have a flight of stairs, go up and down them a few times. This will help to tone up your legs, while getting some low impact aerobic exercise as well. If you don’t have any stairs available, just walk around the house a few times.

Jumping – These are always fun, they are also great cardio exercises, and good for warming up, too.

Pushups – These are probably not the most favorite exercise of many people, but while they can be hard to do, you can find easier ways to do them. Do them on your knees, instead of keeping your legs straight. Or, do them standing up against a wall. You will be building up arm strength and working out muscles in your chest area.

Leg Lifts – These are great for building up strength and muscles in your legs. If you find it hard to do the exercises with your legs straight, try bending them slightly.
Crunches – The best exercise for building up and strengthening abdominal muscles. When you’re just getting started, don’t worry about getting your head all the way up. So long as you’re going up until you feel the stretching of the muscles, you will see some benefit.

Jogging – Jogging is a great exercise for your heart. You can jog at home while watching TV or listening to music. Wear a good pair of shoes, to eliminate any stress to your legs.

Squats – These are wonderful exercises for your legs and buttocks. You can even just try these by sitting and standing up again from a regular chair, if you’re finding them to be too difficult.

Light Weight Lifting – No, you don’t need to go out and buy expensive weights for this! Just use whatever you can find in your house. Start out with something lighter, such as a can of peas, and work yourself up to heavier items. You can use milk jugs, laundry detergent bottles or even water jugs.

Dancing – Dancing is a wonderful exercise, which is great for your heart. Not only that, but it can lift your spirits as well, and give your overall feeling a boost.

Step Exercises – Using the steps in your home, you can do repetitions which will tone your leg muscles. (Be careful though!)

Smoothie drinks are great for breakfast, lunch, or a nutritious between-meal snack. If you want to know the secret to making a great smoothie, it is pulpy fruit. 

1. Pulpy and fibrous fruits like oranges and apples make a good base for the juice and result in a creamier smoothie.

2. Cut fresh fruit like mangos, bananas, strawberries or peaches into small pieces. You can also add some vegetables such as spinach, broccoli, celery to your smoothie. Raw veggies add loads of nutrition to your smoothie.

3. Juice the oranges, apples or similar pulpy fruit. Take the desired combination of fruit and put into a blender. 

4. Fill the blender with enough juice to just cover the fruit. 

5. For an extra healthy smoothie, add your daily vitamins, flax seed oil, vitamin C, protein powder, or a pinch of wheat germ for extra vitamin B complex.