Winter is the season of rest and rejuvenation for mind, body, and beauty. This winter, appreciate the season of slowing down and look for these foods that will support the rejuvenation of your beauty and health using Jolene Hart’s acronym: CRAFTS.
C: Colorful
Colors represent the spectrum of plant chemicals which each take on a specific role in your body. Some colors indicate foods that can repair DNA damage or act as an antihistamine, reducing inflammation. Others can reduce wrinkles or boost your immune system. For example, red foods tend to contain nutrients that can protect against UV damage, while greens are often detoxifying. Be sure to include a spectrum of colors in your diet to account for as many nutrients and healing benefits as you can!
R: Rich in nutrients
Eating nutrient-dense foods allows you to feel satisfied with smaller amounts. Your body receives the nutrients it needs by having such concentrated nutrient-dense foods.
A: Anti-inflammatory
Inflammation is often a precursor to any beauty concerns you may have such as redness, sensitivity, wrinkles, or blemishes. Foods that are processed or high in sugar can promote inflammation. However, there are healthy choices you can make to reverse this. Herbs and spices such as ginger and turmeric are known to help ease inflammation in the body.
F: Fresh
Food you see at the grocery store is often packaged to withstand months or longer on the shelf. Foods that seem fresh like apples, carrots and other produce may truly hang out in a warehouse for weeks, followed by your fridge. By the time it makes it to your body, there may not be much nutritional value left. There are many benefits to knowing exactly where your food comes from. If you are able, try shopping at a nearby farm or store that receives food fresh overnight. Or, you can opt to purchase frozen produce. Unlike “fresh” produce at the store, frozen foods are harvested at peak ripeness and flash frozen to lock in nutrients until you are ready to use.
T: Tailored
Keep in mind that everybody is different – because no body is the same. Tips and tricks can be helpful, but you can pinpoint specific foods that may be upsetting to your unique body by keeping a food diary. By recording what you eat and how it makes you feel, you can identify patterns and therefore build a better nutrition plan for YOU!
S: Seasonal
In each season, the needs of your body will change, just like the cycling seasons of life. As the seasons change, so does your skin’s needs as well as nature’s produce. Nature produces the nutrients our bodies crave depending on the season. In the summer we seek hydration from in season fruit, peppers, and tomatoes. The following autumn provides produce that helps repair the damage our skin may have accumulated from the summer sun, giving us skin smoothing nutrients from squash, sweet potatoes, and other root vegetables. In the winter, our skin’s cell turnover naturally slows down. This is something we may experience as we age, along with redness, sensitivity, or inflammation. Changes in weather and temperature extremes can also contribute to breakouts and cause stress on our skin, resulting in dryness. In order to feel our best in the spring, our bodies require more rest and nutrients in the winter time. Treat this season as a restorative time for your body to balance out the heat and activity that comes with the summer months.
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