Water. We all know that it is important for so many reasons, but do we really drink enough? Probably not. We all could drink a little more water, and now there are five reasons why you should be drinking water first thing in the morning. You may find some advantages that you never knew of, and that can possibly convince you to down that glass of water before you do anything else. I may have to listen to my mom for once and have a glass next to my bed each night so it is ready for me when I wake up. I think these 5 reasons will convince me. Mom would be so proud!
While using the latest and greatest beauty products may help you achieve clear, glowing skin, an inside-out approach to beauty is truly the root of perfect skin. Natural beauty comes from what we put into our bodies, not just what we put on the outside.
And what better way to do that than to drink your way to gorgeous skin. Detox water is the perfect way to get all the necessary nutrients required for clear, glowing skin. Water alone is key to great skin as it flushes out toxins, delivers nutrients to your cells and keeps your cells hydrated and hydrated skin = glowing skin.
But plain water can be pretty boring, so why not add some tasty fruits and vegetables to your water? Adding the right fruits, vegetables and herbs to your water can begin to improve your skin on a cellular level and help you achieve the clear, glowing skin you’re after.
For your detox water, focus on the fruits and vegetables with the most skin-enhancing ingredients:
Citrus fruits (lemons, oranges, grapefruits) – Citrus fruits play a key role in the formation of collagen due to their high Vitamin C content and are considered an anti-oxidant.
Strawberry – Strawberries are rich in ellagic acid, folate, and vitamin C, each of which works to neutralize cell damage caused by free radicals. Ellagic acid also helps to protect the skin against UV damage.
Apple – Apples are rich in malic acid, which helps to cleanse and soften the skin by renewing skin cells.
Cucumber – Cucumbers are full of anti-oxidants, including vitamin C, beta-carotene, and manganese. They are also hydrating which is essential for soft, supple skin.
Mint – Mint is rich in anti-oxidants and flavonoids. Mint is known for soothing and healing inflammation and keeping acne at bay.
Watermelon – Watermelon helps to flush the body of toxins and is full of anti-oxidants, which help to fight free radicals.
Apple cider vinegar – Apple cider vinegar is rich in enzymes which help to balance bacteria in your gut. It also helps to promote weight loss by helping with digestion.
Aloe vera – Aloe Vera is known for its healing properties when used topically on the skin. However, it can also be used internally to treat gut issues and can also help to promote clearer, brighter skin.
Ginger – Ginger has plenty of anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial qualities. It can be effective in keeping skin beautiful and glowing by reducing inflammation and keeping skin hydrated.
Tropical Fruit (papaya, pineapple, kiwi, guava) – Tropical fruits are chock full of vitamin C that helps to defend skin against free radicals. Vitamin C also helps the body produce collagen. Papaya contains a large amount of vitamin A; an important enzyme that helps heal damaged skin by speeding up cell regeneration.
Combining these ingredients with water creates a drink that not only hydrates your body but also works to cleanse and detox your system from the inside out. Each combination helps to remove impurities from your body, that in turn, help to encourage clear, glowing skin.
In today’s world, we are inundated with all the latest diet and food trends no matter where we look or go. Gluten-free this, paleo that, keto friendly, the list goes on and on. But there is one hot “trend” that is actually not a trend at all. We’re talking about intermittent fasting. (You might see it as “IF” in some places.) There are many religious people who use this in accordance to certain religious holidays, etc., but intermittent fasting has been practiced since the beginning of time. And no, cave women weren’t trying to watch their weight. They did this because that’s usually the amount of time it took them to score their next meal, and they also didn’t have refrigerators way back when.
The idea is this: it’s not so much what you eat, but more so when you eat.
Now, that’s not to say that you should go and gorge yourself on McDonald’s during your eating window. Focus on real foods that are packed with vitamins and minerals, and don’t overdo it with the carbohydrates, starchy foods, and sweets.
Here we’ll break down for you the tips and tricks to master intermittent fasting so you can reap its powerful benefits.
Plan Ahead
Okay, so this goes without saying. I discovered intermittent fasting about 6 months ago, and I’ve sworn by it ever since. Traditionally speaking, most people practice intermittent fasting two days per week. I personally do it more, but that is entirely your personal preference. But when I know that I am going to fast, I plan ahead! For myself, I have never been a breakfast eater, ever. When I eat breakfast, I will often feel sluggish and instantly tired. Which makes it hard to focus while sitting in front of a monitor typing for hours on end. When I know I am going to fast, I will be conscientious about exactly what time I’m eating dinner. For example, if I know that I am fasting until noon the next day, I will not eat a single thing past 8 PM the evening before. The 16-hour fasting window is standard, although some deviate slightly and might go just 14 hours or longer with 18 hours, though a 16-hour window is ideal for me. The standard “8-hour window of eating” recommendation for intermittent fasting is really the sweet spot. See, it’s when you eat, not what you eat.
I’ve practiced keto successfully for 4 weeks, and I will tell you that personally it’s not for me. When intermittent fasting on keto, I really felt my energy depleted due to the lack of carbohydrates in my body. I’m a mother of 3, I work out often and stay active, and living in the south, I sweat a often, so I think my body needs just a bit more carbohydrates than 20g a day. But to each their own, if it works for you, fantastic! I am only mentioning keto because many keto advocates swear by intermittent fasting. And if you’re going to do keto, that’s a WHOLE lot more planning ahead.
Do this for your intermittent fasting plan: know that you will have a meal/snack ready once your fasting window is over. I go for something with a good protein, fat (avocado usually), and some light carbs. You’ll honestly be surprised because you won’t be as hungry as you think, I promise! Remember, mind over matter goes a long way.
The 16/8 method: Also called the Leangains protocol, it involves skipping breakfast and restricting your daily eating period to 8 hours, such as 1–9 p.m. Then you fast for 16 hours in between.
Eat-Stop-Eat: This involves fasting for 24 hours, once or twice a week, for example by not eating from dinner one day until dinner the next day.
The 5:2 diet: With this methods, you consume only 500–600 calories on two non-consecutive days of the week, but eat normally the other 5 days.
