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Beauty Is Wellness

by Jolene Hart

Welcome to Beauty Is Wellness, a new column about the link between nutrition, lifestyle and beauty based on my website of the same name. I’m thrilled to share information about my favorite beauty foods, original recipes for beautiful skin, hair and nails and nutritional tips for beautifying from the inside out in the months to come. If you have specific questions about the beauty and nutrition connection that you’d like to have answered in this column, contact me at jolene@beautyiswellness.com.

Avocado: the Fat that Fuels Your Beauty

When you hear the term “green beauty,” your mind goes directly to natural beauty products. But there’s another green beauty that deserves a regular role in your beauty regimen— the avocado. Avocados promote supple skin, strong yet elastic hair and nails, balanced hormones and a steady stream of energy. Yes, avocados are delicious, but maybe you’ve been telling yourself to limit them to special occasions to avoid packing on the pounds. Take note: avocados will not expand your waistline when you eat them in moderation— they can actually help you shed pounds, among other amazing health and beauty benefits. I love quoting integrative physician Dr. Frank Lipman on this subject: “You don’t get fat from good fats—you get fat from sugar.” Avocados, of course, top the list of ‘good fats’ that your body burns quickly and easily for fuel and sustained energy.

These green beauties (they’re fruits, not vegetables) contain the powerful mega-antioxidant glutathione, which aids the body in detoxification, reduces age-advancing inflammation, and preserves the beautifying antioxidants C and E. Glutathione is made by the body, but production naturally declines as we age, so getting it from your diet is essential, and inherently anti-aging. Avocados also contain several carotenoids, which convert to vitamin A, a key beauty vitamin for a smooth complexion, and ALL amino acids necessary to form a complete protein (a building block of new collagen!).

Adding a little fat to your meals leaves you feeling full and satisfied, and helps you absorb other fat-soluble beauty vitamins like A, D, E, and K. According to nutritionist Cynthia Sass, adding just two tablespoons of avocado to your meal can boost your absorption of the antioxidants in your meal by 13 times! It’s also important to remember that avocado, a plant-based, monounsaturated fat, has the potential to raise good HDL cholesterol and lower bad LDL cholesterol.

Avocados add amazing texture and flavor to dressings, dips and creamy desserts, so start looking for places to swap them for mayonnaise and dairy products in your recipes. I created this Cool Avocado Pear Soup, a sweet and savory anti-aging dish, as a filling lunch or an appetizer to serve whenever you want a refreshing, anti-aging beauty boost. Each serving is just over 100 calories, and has powerful anti-aging, anti-inflammatory properties that truly feed your beauty from the inside out.

 

Cool Avocado Pear Soup

Makes 4 appetizer servings

1 medium, ripe avocado, peel and pit removed

1 ripe pear, cored and cut into quarters

1 1/3 cup unsweetened almond milk

½ tsp powdered ginger

¾ tsp minced fresh sage (about 7 leaves)

pinch of sea salt

In a food processor or high-powered blender, pulse avocado, pear and almond milk until creamy. Add ginger, sage and sea salt and blend until all ingredients are liquefied. If necessary, add a few more tablespoons of almond milk to thin the soup and blend once more. Chill 30 minutes and serve topped with sage leaves and another sprinkle of powdered ginger.

For more beauty nutrition news and recipes, check out beautyiswellness.com.

©2012 Jolene Hart. All rights reserved.

 

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