The Christmas party season is here and it’s the time of year everyone likes to look their best. No matter the occasion though, it’s always good to incorporate healthy beauty products into your diet early to reap the benefits later.
Here I talk about the beauty benefits of two products from the Udo’s Choice range that we like to say, works on beauty from within!
Udo’s Choice Ultimate Oil Blend is an organic seed oil rich in the essential fatty acids (EFA’s) Omega 3 (Alpha-linolenic acid) and Omega 6 (Linoleic acid). Essential fatty acids are “essential” because our body cannot make that particular form of fatty acid; therefore we need to consume them from food and they only come from plant based food sources, such as flaxseed, sesame and sunflower seeds and their oils.
Healthy fats Omega 3 and Omega 6 are often missing from our diets and can have a dramatic effect on the look and feel of our skin, hair and nails. These “good fats” are vital for maintaining a healthy, glowing complexion. Essential fatty acids work at the cellular level, they form a water barrier on our skin cells, preventing moisture loss and hydrating the skin from the inside out. Skin properly nourished with EFA’s is smoother, feels softer and looks radiant. While healthy fats can strengthen hair follicles and give a more shiny appearance. They are especially therapeutic for dry flaky skin, cracked heels and inflammatory skin conditions such as acne, eczema and psoriasis. EFA’s also help keep the proteins in our pores soft and help our skins cells to retain water, stopping them from drying out and flaking off – essentially moisturising the skin from the inside out.
It’s worth clarifying that your essential fatty acids ALA and LA are part of the foundation of your diet that includes other healthy fats, such as avocado, olive oil, nuts and seeds. So for example, eat the whole foods of raw nuts, seeds, dark green leafy vegetables like broccoli and spinach and also incorporate a high quality cold-pressed organic seed oil into your daily diet. Essential fats ALA and LA are not found in Omega 3 supplements. The Omega 3 that is found in supplement capsules is the long chain form of Omega 3 which is EPA and DHA. Organic cold-pressed seed oils should always be kept refrigerated and never used for cooking as EFA’s are very fragile and can spoil easily to light, heat and oxygen.
Udo’s Choice Ultimate Oil Blend is fast becoming the ultimate beauty must-have and the best way to hydrate the skin is from within, so you would take Udo’s Choice Ultimate Oil Blend internally rather than applying it to the surface of your skin.
For optimal results, it is best to take 20-30ml per day for a minimum of 3 months to start to see the benefits. Udo’s Oil easily mixes into smoothies, can be stirred into your breakfast of porridge, yoghurt and drizzle it over salads, soups or steamed veggies.
The Udo’s Choice range also has a superfoods green powder called Beyond Greens. Beyond Greens can be taken alongside the Omega 3 oil on a daily basis as they compliment each other – Udo’s oil is a high quality essential omega fat while Beyond Greens is packed full of antioxidants, vitamins and minerals.
Udo’s Choice Beyond Greens is a revitalising blend of certified organic greens, which includes fermented grasses, green vegetables and the superfood algae & seaweeds of spirulina, dulse and chlorella. A variety of digestive herbs such as alfalfa herb, ginger root, cinnamon bark and liquorice root have been added, as well as fibre from flax, sunflower and sesame seeds. The grasses (barley, oat, wheat and alfalfa) have been fermented with Lactobacillus Plantarum and Saccharomyces Boulardii; this fermentation process is like pre-digestion along with nutrient enhancement and shelf-life preservation to the formula. The 'good' bacteria help to break down the fibrous cell walls of the greens and vegetables leading to less chance of indigestion, gas and bloating as well as better bioavailability of nutrients. Each 8g scoop provides 3g of fibre, 3.4mg of iron, 48mg of calcium, 2g of protein provided from the seeds and greens. Beyond Greens is also a natural source of B12 and iodine which contributes to normal healthy skin.
Green vegetables are our greatest source of vitamins and minerals, as well as, antioxidants due to its chlorophyll content and benefit our health in areas of skin health and complexion. Antioxidants are excellent at fighting free radicals and protecting the skin from oxidative stress; giving you a more youthful complexion, slowing the formation of wrinkles and help with skin cell regeneration. Antioxidants also help with the clearance of toxins that can lead to fine lines and hyperpigmentation on the skin. Vitamins and minerals are needed for hair and nail growth, as well as, to keep them strong. Weak brittle nails can be a sign of low levels of B vitamins in the diet.
The EatWell Guide recommends 7-10 servings of fruit and vegetables per day for optimal health which includes hair, skin and nails.
Plant based foods provide the gut with the fibre it needs to feed and keep it healthy. Diversification is key, as like anything, if you keep on having the same foods the body will get lazy and bored! Having a rotation of different fruits, cruciferous veggies, fibrous vegetables, wholefoods, seeds and nuts will go a long way giving your body the nutrients it requires. Try foods like, carrots, broccoli, pumpkin, squashes, cauliflower, cabbage, aubergine, radishes, sweet peppers, apples, pears, berries, basil, parsley, dill, ginger, cinnamon, lettuce, brazil nuts, almonds, walnuts, cashew nuts, sunflower seeds, flaxseeds, sesame seeds are a great starting point, then you can add on top an easy to use greens powder for the additional nutrients – go and explore your local market and see what foods are in season!
