It’s St. Patrick’s day, and we are all donning our green finery.
How about wearing your green from the inside out?
Most of us know that eating green vegetables helps us stay healthy but did you know that eating your greens everyday help you stay youthful and beautiful? It’s true! There are minerals and phytochemicals in green vegetables that help make your skin dewy, your hair thicker and more lustrous, help your nails grow stronger and make your pearly whites more pearly and white.
Here are just a few of these beautifying nutrients:
Silicon: Silicon helps strengthen the connective tissue in our bodies. This helps make our hair thicker, our nails stronger and our skin healthy and glowy (my word). When the latticework of the skin is strong, and the texture is supple, it decreases the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, this will also reduce the formation of new wrinkles.
Good Sources: Cucumbers, Bell Peppers, Radishes, Light-leafy greens (cabbage, romaine lettuce), and Onions.
Zinc: Zinc plays an essential role in cell growth and division. Zinc allows cells in our skin to rejuvenate beautifully with fewer imperfections and to heal and repair itself after damage from cuts, burns, dehydration and oxidative stress from the environment. Zinc also helps in immune function, which will reduce and heal blemishes and breakouts. Eating loads of vegetables high in Zinc will decrease skin discoloration, wrinkles, and improve overall skin smoothness and texture.
Good Sources: Spinach, Nuts, Seeds, Edamame, Green Peas, Lima Beans, Brussels Sprouts and Green Beans.
Iron: Iron is needed for our body to manufacture hemoglobin (the oxygen-carrying part of our blood). A lack of iron will leave us feeling fatigued and leave our skin flat and dull. Also, Iron is an essential building blocks to protein synthesis. This means that we need it to grow beautiful new skin, hair and strong nails.
Foods: Broccoli, Spinach, Kale, Collards Greens, Asparagus, and Dandelion Greens
Magnesium: Magnesium is one of my favorite minerals. Oh, how I love Magnesium, let me count the ways! It is crucial to more than 300 enzyme-driven biochemical reactions occurring in the body. Magnesium is vital in the formation of many hormones that are necessary in regulating normal blood circulation, blood sugar control, normal DNA and RNA synthesis, and mood regulation (to name just a few). Also, many of the detoxifying functions of the liver, kidneys, and colon need magnesium to work properly. One of my favorite functions of Magnesium is that it is a cofactor in the formation of serotonin, which helps regulate mood and makes us feel happy.. And I don’t know of anything more beautiful than happiness!
Good Sources: Broccoli, Spinach, Artichokes, Sea Vegetables, Avocados, Squash, Arugula, and Swiss chard.
Calcium: Calcium helps us form and maintain healthy teeth and bones. Having strong bones promotes good posture and poise. And who doesn’t want that? Calcium also plays a role in hormone regulation, which promotes circulation and muscle health, both important in lovely skin and eyes.
Good Sources: Collard greens, Turnips, Kale, Dandelion Greens, Spinach, Dried herbs, Chia seeds (I know, not green but I had to include them because I adore them!!)
Potassium: One of the beautifying functions of Potassium is the role it plays in regulating fluid balance in the body. This will help maintain good hydration in our skin and hair, along with decreasing puffiness and skin fatigue. Potassium also helps with cell growth and cell turnover, decreasing discoloration and imperfections.
Foods: Spinach, Swiss chard, Kale, Zucchini, Green Beans, Asparagus
As you can see, green veggies can have a huge positive impact on your skin, hair, nails, teeth and overall health. Nothing is more beautiful than radiating health from the inside out!
Try to think of new and different ways to get your green veggies. Most people think of salads and vegetables with lunch or dinner. But have you ever thought about having them at breakfast? How about a super delicious and very simple Green smoothie?
Green smoothies are a great way to get an abundance of leafy greens like spinach and collard greens in a fun and delicious way. Kiddos love them too!
Try my super simple and easy green smoothie recipe.
Simply Green Smoothie
Ingredients
– 1/2 cup fresh Kale
– 1/2 cup fresh Spinach
– 1/2 ripe banana
– 1 apple
– 1/2 cucumber
– 1/2 cup vanilla Greek yogurt
– 1/2 cup unsweetened almond milk(or whatever milk you like or have in your fridge or water)
– 2 Tbsp Chia Seeds
Direction:
- Put fruits and veggies into the blender add almond milk and blend.
- Add remaining ingredients and blend well.
- Enjoy!
*You can add the chia seeds before blending or after. Blending them up changes the texture and some research suggests you are able to absorb a greater amount of the Omega-3 from ground Chia seeds versus whole seeds. Either way they are beneficial and super yummy!
** Also try adding other fruits like blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, peaches, coconut, mango, pineapple, apple, grapes, really everything is delicious in this fantastic smoothie!
Hope you enjoy it and Happy St. Patrick’s Day!!
