Winter weather can cause a myriad of beauty woes.  Even the most well intentioned beauty aficionado can get caught easily with hat head, static cling and parched skin.  While updating your beauty routine for the cold weather is a necessity in many parts of the world, you may also want to consider adding in a few nutritional beauty busters to help maintain your glow all year long.  As I have mentioned (many times) before, I love to eat for skin health.  Here are a few of the food that I reach for when the temperature drops:

Miso

Beauty and good health begin in the belly and miso is a perfect winter warming food.  Made from soy beans, this fermented food is very popular for it’s many benefits.  Miso has been consumed for centuries in Japan and China and many regard it as the secret to the luminous skin that many Japanese women are known for.  It is jam packed with antioxidants that help to address the signs of aging and bacteria (the good kind) which helps to balance the gut flora.  Packed with antioxidants such as isoflavones helps to address the signs of aging and contains beneficial bacteria that helps to balance the gut and in turn aids in keeping the skin clear.  Miso is alkalizing for the body and also helps to strengthen the immune system making it the perfect food to indulge in during flu season.

Tips:

• Make sure that you use hot but not boiling water when making your own miso soup as you don’t want to kill the good bacteria
• In a rush?  Enjoy a simple cup of miso soup by creaming a teaspoon of miso in a 1/4 cup of hot water until completely dissolved.  Top with 3/4 of hot water and a few drops of chilli oil if you like it spicy and enjoy!

Mushrooms

I love mushrooms so I don’t need an excuse to indulge but, knowing that they are a fabulous beauty booster makes them taste even better.  Mushrooms are the only vegetables that make Vitamin D from sunlight which is essential for healthy skin and bones.  Vitamin D also helps to regulate the turnover of skin cells which will keep you looking beautiful.  Mushrooms are also a source of zinc which is well known as a acne fighting mineral.  Mushrooms are a total skin clearing winner in my book!

Tip:

• Try showing mushrooms in to stir fries, pastas, curries and anything else you can think of.  The subtle earthy flavour will add a new tasty dimension to most dishes

Red Cabbage

Most people reach for Vitamin C during the winter months, especially when they feel a cold going on.  While oranges are a great source of it, there are other foods that are rich in Vitamin C as well and red cabbage is definitely on that list.

Red cabbage is said to have twice the amount of Vitamin C then green cabbage making it a smarter vegetable to reach for.  Rich in fibre and antioxidants and low in calories, red cabbage is an amazing but underrated vegetable.  The collagen boosting properties of Vitamin C will help to keep your skin smooth and clear while red cabbage’s anti-inflammatory properties (the carotenoids) help to fight inflammation based skin problems like eczema and psoriasis.

Tip:

• Roasted red cabbage is simple to make and seriously delicious.  Drizzle thick slices or wedges of red cabbage with olive oil (on both sides), sea salt, pepper and minced garlic and roast for 15 – 20 mins at 450F for an easy vegetable dish

Rosemary

I read a study a few years ago that touted the longevity benefits of rosemary.  Since then I frequently reach for this fragrant herb.  Naturally astringent and filled chockfull of anti-inflammatory properties, rosemary is a powerhouse in the world of herbs.  Helpful in reducing redness and puffiness, rosemary even works to address breakouts due to excess sebum.  Rosemary’s ability to help stimulate the body’s circulation make it a great warming herb that helps you to achieve beautiful glowing skin.

Rosemary’s scent is said to help improve one’s mood, enhance brain function and boost energy – perfect for jump starting those sluggish winter days.  Many people swear by rosemary oil – applying it topically is said to help with indigestion and mental disorders.

Tip:

• Not sure what to cook with rosemary?  Try a simple rosemary tea, simply steep a sprig or two of rosemary in hot water for 5 mins.  Remove sprigs and add honey to taste, and sip your way to a glowing complexion!

I hope that you have a beautiful winter season!  XXS