By Hello, summer! It’s time to glow and show our natural beauty. Ladies, did you know that the state of our skin speaks volumes? Clear, healthy, glowing summer skin is usually a direct reflection of inner health. On the other hand, signs of imbalances may tell us that we need to nourish our beautiful bodies more. These imbalances can be seen in rashes, dryness, acne, skin tone, inflammation, and skin disorders.
As we spring into summer, the things that we implement to nourish our bodies can also do wonders for the skin we are in. The foods we eat and lifestyle choices we make can impact our glow. The sweet summer season offers us a bounty of hydration, fruits, and veggies loaded with antioxidants to support health and wellbeing.
Your Summer Skin Detox
As a health coach and advocate for women’s health, I run seasonal detoxes to help women flourish and nourish themselves through each season. Following a traditional Chinese Medicine approach and considering the specific organ systems and energetic meridians that should be focused on. Summer focuses on heart health and the small intestines. Nourishing these parts of the body will help prepare you and your immune system for colder seasons ahead. Boosting immunity, getting rid of belly bloat, and helping you soar with more energy. Supporting our bodies through the season of summer will reduce any burdens on these organs and restore our natural vitality so we glow from the inside out.
Detox Your Body AND Mind
Energetically, focusing on JOY and FUN will help us to support our bodies. Celebrate and embrace the things that bring you joy every day. Connect with friends and family or forge new relationships. Connect with others in your community. Soak up nature and all of its beauty. Dance, sing, and embrace the inner child within you. Set a healthy summer routine that supports you and your lifestyle. Self-care is also important during the summer. I love (and often share with clients) tools such as dry skin brushing, sauna, Epsom salt baths, and nourishing summer foods.
The top five enemies of skin are sun damage, stress, hormone imbalance, inflammation, dehydration, and trapped toxins. To help keep them at bay or eliminate, it’s important to hydrate, eat balanced meals, protect your skin from the sun, and choose seasonal, anti-inflammatory foods.
As mentioned, hydration is extremely important for skin health and glow. Some things that can dehydrate your skin are sweating, certain medications, caffeine, and alcohol, lack of proper nutrition, smoking, certain skincare products, environmental conditions, and a sedentary lifestyle. Stress can impact skin health as well.
Nourish Your Body With Summer Foods
By now you’re probably asking what foods can help support you and your sexy summer glow. Ladies, let me tell ya, eating for sexy skin couldn’t be tastier or more colorful! Summer foods are bursting with antioxidants, hydrating juices, vitamins, and minerals. Keeping you healthy in hot weather and providing your skin (and body) the nourishment it craves. Getting back to the basics, adding in some skin-supporting superstars.
Greens, Fats, Proteins, and Fermented Foods
Sexy summer foods to include are greens (lots of greens), summer fruits and veggies, healthy fats like coconut oil, flaxseed oil, seeds, nuts, and avocado. Healthy protein sources (promote tissue repair) such as organic chicken, turkey, bison, salmon, and plant-based protein. Superfoods are your body’s super friend! I also add in fermented foods like sauerkraut, kombucha, and kimchi. Bone broth is great for nourishing your gut and reducing inflammation. A healthy microbiome helps keep the body healthy.
When it comes to greens, dark leafy greens are one of the most concentrated sources of nutrition. These greens pack a powerhouse of health benefits and lutein has the ability to decrease the risk of wrinkles. Kale, collard greens, spinach, and swiss chard top the list. Lutein is also plentiful in chicory, mustard greens, beet greens, romaine, and parsley.
Additional “glowing veggies” include sweet potatoes, beets and sprouts. Fruits to support growing your glow include citrus (lemons, limes, oranges, etc), pineapple and kiwi. Almost all berries are considered superfoods because they are a source of concentrated micronutrients. Vitamins C, A and E can help to restore your skin cells, leaving a more youthful glow.
Go The Extra Mile For Your Summer Skin
Superchargers for skin support incredible health and healthy skin, making it more youthful and resilient. Incorporating chlorophyll, collagen, flax oil, coconut water, aloe, probiotic drinks, and charcoal are all great options.
Between the foods we eat, the sleep we get, the products we use, self-care, and the lifestyle we live, we can make simple changes this summer to bring more sexy into our skin and inner beauty.
Complexion Boosters
- Juice 2 slices of pineapple, 2 green apples and take a quercetin supplement to add more bioflavanoid support
- Pure watermelon juice (rich in silica)
- Juice 1 cucumber, a handful of parsley, 4-oz pea sprouts, a sprig of mint
- Coconut water with chlorella
- Juice 2 carrots, 1 green apple and a knob of ginger
- Potassium broth (for minerals and electrolytes)
- Green tea with pineapple and aloe juice
Summer Recipes for Glowing Skin
RAW GLOW SALAD
Serves 4
- 3 cups mixed greens
- 2 cups spinach
- 2 celery ribs, chopped
- 1 cup peas
- 1⁄2 cup cherry tomatoes, halved OR 1 peach, diced
- 1 cucumber, chopped
- 1⁄2 bunch parsley, finely chopped
- 1⁄2 bunch basil, finely chopped
- 1 avocado, cubed
Combine all ingredients except avocado in a large bowl. Top your salad with avocado and serve with dressing below.
GREEN VINIAGRETTE
Makes 1 cup
- 3 tablespoons raw apple cider vinegar
- 1 lemon, juiced
- 1 handful basil
- 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil or flax oil
- 1 large garlic clove, minced
- 1⁄4 tablespoon sea salt
- 1⁄4 tablespoon black pepper
Combine ingredients in a small bowl and mix well. Add a few tablespoons of water, if the dressing is too thick. Store refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
Mantra – I support and nourish my body and my body supports and nourishes my life.
Kim Wilson
Kim is an integrative life coach, trauma informed yoga teacher and reiki practitioner. Through a holistic and bio-individual approach, she helps women reinvent themselves after a tragedy, trial or trauma.
http://www.kimwilson.me/
Arun
July 16, 2020Summer could be harsh on the skin. I use sunscreen lotions whenever I go out. The tips given here are apt. There are different skincare routines for different skin types. I have oily skin, and I always use only water-based cosmetics that have a cooling effect. It is quite effective.