Ethical Omnivores

So apparently us compassionate foodie types have been assigned a label. We are known as “ethical omnivores”. I haven’t decided yet whether I like this or not. One one hand, it seems like just another attempt to homogenise a group of people with diverse opinions so that they can be categorised, and hence marketed to. On the other hand, if I believe in the principles of ethical omnivorism, perhaps having it well defined will make it easier for others to get involved.

There are various definitions around, but I’d like to present my own, beginning with what we’re not: ethical omnivores are not failed vegetarians trying to appease their guilty consciences. Most of us believe the best way to make a difference to the welfare of animals is to support those farms who are treating animals with compassion and respect. If you’re of the more fundamentalist view that it is inherently evil to kill animals, you’re never going to accept this philosophy; but those who are vegetarian simply because they feel they can’t source meat which is produced ethically, could perhaps try a little harder.

I quite like the fact that the term ethical omnivore doesn’t just relate to meat. Quoting from an article on the subject, “An ethical omnivore may be just as concerned about the production of the bread he or she eats as the meat inside the bread.” http://animalrights.suite101.com/article.cfm/what-is-an-ethical-omnivore Having seen cereal production close up, I’m just as concerned with finding cruelty free and environmentally responsible grain farmers as I am in finding ethical meat.

From what I can gather, the label is here to stay, it seems to have been around for a while, so I’d best get used to it.

By Laura E

So lately I seem to be attracting those clients I love to work with – those that don’t really have the best relationship with food or their bodies and have been on so many diets in their lives, they have forgotten how to listen to their body.

Their general thoughts and feelings about food involve guilt, control, perfection, deprivation followed by binging and “I’ll start Monday” thinking. The focus for them is really about what they can and can’t eat and what they should or shouldn’t eat. They come to me with an expectation I will tell them what they are allowed to eat. They have so little trust in themselves around food that they need lists and plans to tell them when and what to eat.

The funniest thing is that every client does the same thing. They write their food down for me for a week or so before their first appointment and bring it in saying; “this week was very different, I don’t usually eat as much chocolate or takeaway as that. (Keep in mind there is never any judgment from me; I certainly don’t go over the list with a red pen telling them how bad they have eaten. So after questioning them further, turns out they subconsciously wanted to get in what food they could before seeing me. They spend the week having a series of ‘last suppers’ in that they eat all those foods they think they wont be allowed to eat again.

This way of thinking and behaving is just one example of searching outside of ourselves for answers. Of course, there are times when this is necessary, however, when it comes to eating and nourishing our bodies, our intuition and the natural signals we were born with can be our best friend!

When you are searching for what foods can help you achieve your health goals, whether they are weight loss, more energy or simply better health, focus on what you can do in each moment, at each meal or snack, to feel good straight away. Choose those foods that will nourish your body.

Feeling good physically can have such a fantastic effect on your whole life, the way you function at work, at home, how productive you are and how you treat others.

So what choices can help you to feel good right now??

Instead of diving into that bag of chips for something to crunch on to relieve stress and getting the guilts when you get to the end of the pack…… How about giving yourself permission to have something to eat, but first taking out some time, even just 5mins to de-stress, lie down, take some deep breaths. How much better would that make you feel?

Instead of eating when you think you are hungry…… How about having a nice cool glass of water to make sure you’re not just dehydrated? Wouldn’t that feel good to give your body a chance to more clearly tell you when you are hungry?

Instead of getting so anxious to eat something at dinner time you snack before eating the main meal, then sit down to eat and the hunger is no longer there…. How about allowing yourself the full enjoyment and satisfaction of the meal by being nicely hungry to eat it. The food will taste so much better when your stomach is empty.

Instead of giving up every time you overeat or make a choice that doesn’t nourish you, then vow to ‘start again tomorrow’ and eat everything in site until then…… How about being kind to yourself and making a choice to listen to your body and eat again when your stomach tells you you’re hungry? Wouldn’t that feel great to break that cycle and make a change RIGHT NOW?!

Sometimes it can become overwhelming to think of all the things we should be doing in regards to our health. Most of the time though, making a few simple health changes can make our lives even more fulfilling and less overwhelming. We have so many opportunities to make feel good choices everyday. What feel good choices can you make?

See the stupidity here >> The Fat Bet

My history of disordered eating and messed up body image, led me to becoming a Nutritionist and Disordered Eating Specialist. Day in, day out I see the effects of this kind of crash dieting and I’m utterly appalled that Kyle & Jackie O are getting away with this childish competition!

Public humiliation? Anyone?

The competition involves listeners entering their details and a before picture of themselves as their ‘fat photo’. They nominate a weight that they want to lose within 8 weeks. If they don’t lose the weight, the radio station is going to shame them by putting up their before pictures on the 2 Day fm website!

Not only is this a ridiculous thing to encourage people to do, but it sets up so much potential damage in regards to body image issues and eating disorders.

For many women and young girls trying to lose weight, food, what size you are, how your clothes look and what people might be thinking of your weight is on your mind constantly. You go to bed obsessing over what foods you shouldn’t have eaten that day and how you will be perfect tomorrow; you go out stressing about seeing people and worrying that they are thinking you have put on weight and you spend your life trying to control what you eat and how much exercise you do in an effort to lose weight and be thin.

In this state, if you attempt an unrealistic, impractical and idealistic weight loss program or competition and fail, it is highly likely that your obsessions with food, weight and how you look intensify and potentially turn into an eating disorder.

The idea is that contestants enter because they are then forced to lose the weight they want to.

How can Jackie O support this competition?

Worst of all, this is being promoted by the female in the radio duo –  knowing what women and young girls are exposed to everyday in the media, it’s completely baffling that Jackie O would be promoting this?

I would like to ask her, if she had the guts to face some opposition, what would she say if she had a daughter and her daughter entered a competition like this, failed to lose the weight, and her picture was displayed on a website to make her feel guilty, fat and ashamed that she is now stuck being who she is, left to feel disgraced at the sight of her own body!

Loving your body and the way you look

What about feeling grateful for the body you have? How about promoting acceptance of the gorgeous and unique body that is yours? I know what self-acceptance does for you and I see the results of people nourishing rather than abusing their bodies because they are grateful to be them.

As far as feeling shameful, this radio duo should be ashamed of themselves for not having the brains to think of something that would actually help rather than harm people.

Laura E is the founder of Nutrizione

A note from LA @ Gorgeous Things

I’m encouraging women everywhere to Enter the Competition just to tell Kyle & Jackie O how much this competition stinks!

Today we welcome our very dear girlfriend, Laura E as a new contributor to Gorgeous Things. Laura E is a Nutritionist, a Personal Trainer and a gorgeous girl who has had her fair share of battles with food and her weight. She’ll tell you about her journey and give you the skills you need to overcome emotional eating and repair your relationship with food forever. LA is currently working with Laura E on a few of her own ‘issues’ – and getting fabulous results! (Yep, I’m beach running now! – Ed)

Laura E
Nutritionist and Intuitive Eating Guide

Intuitive Eating: a guide to overcoming and preventing emotional eating

As someone who was an emotional eater I know what it’s like to use food to cope with difficult emotions. I also know the feelings of being out of control and thinking there must be a healthier way to cope. The after effect of using food to cope comes with unwanted weight gain and poor health, mentally and physically.

Bottling up your feelings, pushing them down with food is like leaving a sink full of dishes for days and days. Eventually there will be a mess you will have to deal with. Experiencing emotions is inevitable, emotional eating however is a choice.

Which of these symptoms do you have of emotional eating?

1. Sharp cravings
2. Demand food immediately
3. Sudden and urgent cravings
4. Eating when not hungry
5. Eating really fast
6. Eating immediately after getting home
7. Eating until uncomfortably full
8. Feelings of guilt, disgust and depression afterwards
9. Mindless eating
10. Sneaking food when no-ones around

Healthy Ways to Cope with your Emotions

Everyone is different and for that reason there are many different healthy coping mechanisms.

1. Forget dieting – Whenever you eliminate certain foods from your diet, it’s like giving a toy to a 3 year old and telling them they cant play with it. Biologically, dieting goes against everything our bodies are designed to do. When you are emotional, those foods on your forbidden list become so much more appealing. What you tell yourself you can’t have suddenly becomes a simple and instant solution to you needing to feel better.
2. It’s not just about your mouth – While enjoying everything you eat is important, so is what will best satisfy your whole body. Think about what type of food your stomach wants, how much will satisfy it to leave it feeling just right.
3. Aim to finish feeling good – Before you eat, ask yourself “How do i want to feel when I’m done, mentally and physically, now and later?” The ideal type of meal or snack to have is one that leaves you feeling good for a few hours.
4. Recognise your triggers – It’s so much easier to change a negative behaviour when you are aware of what triggers it. What situations are you more vulnerable to using food to cope with your emotions? When watching TV, on weekends, after work, after a fight, after dinner or after having a few drinks?
5. Be aware of the times of day you are more likely to overeat or eat when you are not hungry. Make sure you have something to do that will make you feel fulfilled and nourished so you are less likely to fill the void with food.
6. Countermanding action for risky situations (“if this happens I will do this”) – Create healthier alternatives that are do-able for you. Can you go for a walk or to the gym when you are feeling stressed? Could you go on the way home from work so you can deal with work stress in a good way? Could you call a friend when you are feeling lonely and need to speak to someone? Will music help you to lift you up when you are feeling low? Only you know what will work best for you.
7. Question your actions – What’s bothering me? What do i really want to chew on? What’s irritating, stressing or frustrating me? Will eating change this issue? Giving yourself a chance to be aware of what’s going on is a great step in making a healthier choice.
8. Practice not reacting – As an emotional eater, you tend to reach for food instantly as a solution. It really is as if you are sleep walking into eating. Giving yourself a few minutes to just sit in the feeling can be an extremely powerful way of creating healthier habits. Practicing non-reactive eating means allowing yourself to feel the feeling and not eating instantly, telling yourself you are free to eat whatever it is you want to eat but first, commit to 5-10mins of just sitting still.
9. Eating awareness and connecting with your food – When you eat while doing other things such as working or watching TV, you are putting yourself in a state of disconnection from your body. In this state it is easy to not listen to the natural signals your body is sending you. Try being fully aware when you’re eating. The more present and aware you are when you eat, the less likely you are to eat something mindlessly later on.

When you eat, try and think about these things…

a) Chewing slowly

b) Sitting down, no matter what you are eating

c) Eating in the same place

d) Activity – not doing anything but eating

e) Enjoyment – stopping to make sure you are actually enjoying what you are eating

Making the choice to try something different when you are emotional can be hard at first. However, when you start listening to your body more and stop being driven to food by your emotions, you begin to deal with things in such a healthier way and feel the great effect that has on your mental and physical health!

You can visit Laura E’s NUTRIZIONE website to learn more about Intuitive Eating and healthy nutritious food.

I’ve been experimenting since then, trying to make a less than Sinful Banana Bread. The first step is to change the name from ‘Bread’ to ‘Cake’, this automatically reduces the calorie content as you no longer feel inclinded to spread it with butter. Funny how the thought of spreading cake with butter just seems far too decadant but the exact same recipe with ‘Bread’ in the title can be toasted and covered in fat with minimal fuss.

So, here’s my Gluten Free Banana Bread/Cake Recipe for all those of you who get a funny tummyfrom all that Wheat Flour.

• 125g Melted “I Can’t Believe it’s Not Butter” or Real Butter
• 125g Raw Sugar
• 2  Free Range Eggs
• 225g Simple Baking Mix (or gluten-free flour)
• 4 Very Ripe Bananas
• Tsp Cinnamon
• Tsp Baking Powder
• Tsp Bi Carb Soda

Preheat Oven to 180c
Grease Loaf Tin

Squish Bananas in a Small Bowl
Add Sugar to Butter in another larger bowl and mix until combined
Add Bananas to Sugarey Buttery mixture and combine
Add Cinnamon to Baking Mix
Add Baking Mix, 1/3 at a time to wet ingredients and stir until combined

Pour mixture into Loaf Tin and Bake for 50-60 minutes

Allow to cool and then remove from Loaf Tin

If you’ve made Banana Cake, make a cup of Tea and enjoy a slice.

If you’ve decided to call it Banana Bread then whack it in the toaster and smother it with butter. Yum!

Cafe Gratitude - San Francisco

I have always been a healthy eater, I am a vegetarian and try to be conscious of getting a fairly good balance of fresh fruit and vegetables in my diet, one of my favorite places to eat in Sydney is IKU for it’s creative raw and macrobiotic meals.

Since moving to San Francisco I have really appreciated it’s focus on sourcing local produce, much of it organically grown.  I was intrigued when I first visited Cafe Gratitude, a cafe dedicated to healthy vegan and raw food meals, drinks and delicious desserts.

However, as I have discovered there is so much more to the ‘Cafe Gratitude’ phenomenon than just the food, so I was very excited to have the opportunity to interview the founders of Cafe Gratitude, Matthew and Terces Engelhart.

One of the first insights we got was to invent a board game.  This board game was to train people in what we call ‘the being of abundence’, to extract people from the ‘scarcity paradigm’, not enough money, not enough time, not enough beauty, not enough love, not enough, not enough, not enough….that human beings have found themselves in.

—

- Want to know how to get luscious locks without all the chemical nasties?

- Maybe you have sensitive skin that reacts to conventional beauty products?

- Or, perhaps you want to know how to bring your abundant inner beauty to the outside?

—

Here’s 32 Tips & Tricks to do all of that & much more!

DOWNLOAD NOW – PDF (500kb)
32 Natural Beauty Tips & Tricks from Gorgeous Things

Hey there pretty lady! While you’re here – why not join the Gorgeous Things Facebook page and mailing list for regular NEW TIPS & TRICKS

Several Environmentally and Health conscious skincare companies have spent a fortune in research and development to make safe products that are full of Active Natural ingredients and no Chemical Nasties. Many of these are just as, and often more effective than products sold over the counter in Department Stores everyday. Nature has provided us with everything we need to nurture our skin: maybe we should let it get on with it.

INGREDIENTS

Here are some of the best natural ingredients for skincare to effectively heal, nurture, moisturise and slow down the ageing process. It’s also important to note the order the ingredients are listed on the label. The more there is of an ingredient, the closer to the top of the list it is.

Jojoba Oil

With properties similar to the skin’s own sebrum, jojoba oil is easily absorbed for maximum moisturising. With strong antibacterial and antifungal properties, it can destroy skin bacteria and fungi making it useful in the treatment of acne, psoriasis, eczema and dermatitis. It’s also known as nature’s wrinkle fighter – when applied, it holds water in the skin and it even absorbs UV rays before they can penetrate the skin. It can also act as a natural preservative with its antioxidant properties.

Rosehip Oil

Best renowned for its anti-aging benefits, rosehip oil is extracted from the fruit of the rose bush. The oil is extracted in order to get the high essential fatty acids, which make it such a beneficial oil for anti-aging and regeneration of the skin. Along with the essential fatty acids, rosehip oil is also rich in Vitamin C, A, D and E and antioxidants. The vitamin C in rosehip oil is responsible for producing collagen and improving skin elasticity. Used at night, it acts as a skin multi-vitamin, replacing nutrients lost during the day and repairs the skin while you sleep. Can be used for dry skins, as it can balance the skin.

Coconut Oil

Noted as one of the best ingredients for healthy hair and used in India, coconut oil helps to condition and repair hair and help with dandruff. The different acids and antioxidants and antibacterial properties are the reasons for its benefits. Good for cooking and the face, coconut oil is nourishing and moisturising without being too heavy on the face. It’s great for dry, flaky skin in winter and for helping to improve those wrinkles or sagging.

Lavender Oil

Lavender oil is best known for its fabulous smell. Used regularly in natural perfumes or aromatherapy blends, it also has antiseptic and antifungal properties. It helps to soothe sunburn and heal wounds. Combined with chamomile, lavender oil helps with eczema treatment.

Aloe

Aloe is found in many skincare products, especially products designed for oily skin. But it’s also a great healer – it is absorbed into the skin tissues below the surface.  It’s rich in vitamins as well as being an effective wetting agent to help with cleansing.

Panthenol

This plant derived pro vitamin B5 is a effective aid to irritated or damaged skin.

Green Tea

Organic green tea (Camellia sinensis): A potent anti-oxidant known to fight free radicals helps rejuvenate the skin and prevents sun damage. Promotes elasticity as well as being high in vitamins including B complex.

Manuka Honey

Included in facial creams to treat acne due to antibacterial properties and also contains Lactic Acid and helps remove dead skin cells in facial cleansers.

Calendula

Included for it’s antibacterial and soothing properties. Many creams for babies skin also contain Calendula, it’s also great in Haircare to sooth sensitive scalps.

Unrefined Shea Butter

Shea butter is a common ingredient in body butters, lip balms and moisturisers – creamy yellow in colour; it has a lovely nutty fragrance. This unrefined version retains many of the remarkable properties for which shea butter is renowned – deeply moisturising, anti-scarring, anti-inflammatory, rich in vitamins A and E and other phytonutrients, and even provides mild UV radiation protection.

PRESERVATIVES

Preserving Natural and Organic skincare products has been one of the major sticking points. Certified Organic skincare can have no chemical interference, this means water based products that are prone to bacteria growth once opened must contain a natural preservative. Many products labelled Organic, as opposed to Certified Organic (and yes, there is a BIG difference) contain safer chemical preservatives such as phenoxyethanol or benzyl alcohol.

The Chemical Nasties you’re looking for when it comes to Preservatives include;

Parabens (Propyl, Methyl, Butyl, or Ethyl): Parabens are used as preservatives in numerous skin care and hair care products. They are highly toxic as they release Formaldehyde when exposed to the air and cause allergic and skin reactions.

OTHER CHEMICAL NASTIES

There’s a whole host of other Chemical Nasties to avoid if you’re concerned about your health and the health of your family. Several of these ingredients are now considered a Cancer risk, especially Breast Cancer. More and more research is being done so that in the future they can have them banned from skincare.

Propylene Glycol: Propylene glycol is obtained from petrochemicals and is added in numerous skin care creams and lotions as an emulsifying agent. It makes the skin look smooth; however, it speeds up aging of the skin. It also causes irritation and contact dermatitis.

Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS): SLS acts as a surfactant, degreaser, and emulsifier and is used in numerous foaming personal care products such as soaps, shampoos, body wash products, face cleansers, shaving cream, etc. This detergent affects the eyes and delays their healing time. It can be absorbed by the skin surface and gets accumulated in your body organs. When used in products containing nitrogen-based raw materials, it forms carcinogenic nitrates, which are known to cause irritation to the eye and skin.

Fragrance/Parfum: Artificial fragrance can cause numerous health problems including headaches, lung problems, skin irritation and dizziness.

Mineral Oil: Mineral oils are obtained from petroleum products and can cause skin irritations. They block skin pores, which restricts movement of nutrients and waste matter from the cells.

Imidazolidinyl and Diazolidinyl Urea: These are also used as preservatives and are known for causing contact dermatitis.

Ingredients with PEG in the name: Polyethylene Glycol is their extended name; they should be avoided in cleansers for your skin and hair as independent testing has shown they can be contaminated with 1,4-Dioxane; a petroleum-derived carcinogenic compound that is also used in dry cleaning solvents, lacquers and automotive coolant.

Synthetic Colours: Synthetic colours can cause allergic skin reactions.

Triethanolamine (TEA): TEA is used to adjust the pH of the cosmetics. It causes various allergic reactions including eye problems, and dryness of hair and skin. Also look out for MEA and DEA for the same reasons.

PACKAGING

Packaging is the final element for consideration for Natural and Organic skincare. Certified Organic skincare can contain only natural ingredients so it’s incredibly important to stop bacteria growth by keeping air from getting into the packaging. Some skincare companies have again spent a fortune in research and development to ensure that their super effective ingredients maintain their integrity for the life of the product. It should also be noted here that the time between starting and discarding most Organic and Natural skincare should only be about 9 to 12 months. A product you love to use probably wouldn’t last you that long anyway.

What to look for in Packaging.

Recycleable or Reusable: just makes good sense.

Positive Packaging: Opening and dispenser is at the bottom of the packaging allowing gravity to make it airtight.

Dark coloured glass: To maintain the integrity of active ingredients and Essential Oils.

As wonderful as it would be to live in a world where all products were labelled with 100% honesty and claims had to be proven without a doubt before they could be made; we’re not there yet. We can all help move a step closer though by making the hugely profitable skincare industry conscious of the new paradigm by voting with our wallets and supporting skincare companies that have embraced nature in word and action by creating super effective products that have a positive impact on the future of our planet and our health.

Written by Lesley-Ann Trow & Published in September 2008 in Eco Living Magazine

The naturally occurring beneficial properties of plants are abundant. Everything from preventative anti-ageing for your skin to diminished wrinkles and even hair care possible with just a few simple ingredients that you’ve probably got sitting in your fridge or pantry. What you’re putting on your skin will also have positive effects if eaten as well.

As the warmer weather approaches, swimsuits and summer dresses mean we’ll be showing a little more skin. Now is a great time to kick-start your natural skincare regime with some easy to make and super effective completely natural beauty treatments.

Face

Normal to Dry Skin Mask – to Moisturise, Tone & Smooth
½ Avocado
1 Egg
1 tsp Mayonnaise
1 tsp Honey
1 tsp Baking Soda

Everything, except the Honey & Baking Soda goes into a food processor or mix with a fork. Then add Honey and stir by hand, then Baking Soda. Apply to face and neck, using the entire amount at once and leave for 20 minutes. Use warm water to remove.

Oily Skin Mask – to Tone & Matify
1 Egg White
¼ tsp Lemon Juice

Whisk Egg White, then add Lemon Juice. Apply to cleansed skin and leave for 10 minutes. You’ll feel your skin tighten during that time – that means it’s working. Remove with warm water.

Luscious Lips – to Smooth Wrinkles and Plump Lips

Mash ¼ Papaya/Paw Paw

You’ll need to lie down for this one. Apply mashed Papaya to lips and surrounding skin, leave for 10 minutes and wash off with warm water.

After Sun Care

Organic Green Tea
Cotton Balls
Aloe Vera Plant or Pure Aloe Gel

Make up a big pot of Organic Green Tea and allow it to cool in the fridge. Soak cotton balls in the ice-cold tea and dab onto sunburnt skin. Once skin has cooled a little, apply Aloe Vera direct from the plant or pure Aloe Gel (keep in the fridge too.)

Hands

Deep Moisturising Mask – Don’t let the back of your hands give away your age!

½ Avocado
1 tbsp Lemon Juice
1 tbsp Honey

Mash ingredients together and apply to the backs of your hands. Leave for 20 minutes and then remove with warm water.

Hair

Treatment for Dry, Damaged or Coloured Hair

1 Ripe Banana
2 tbsp Coconut Milk (or 1 tbsp Olive Oil)

Mix a ripe Banana with either 2 tablespoons of Coconut Milk or 1 tablespoon of Olive Oil. Use it like you would a conditioning mask. Wrap your hair up in cling film and a hot towel for 15 minutes. Rinse and then shampoo and condition as usual.

Oily Hair Treatment

Make a pot of Mint Tea (using tea bags or a handful of mint from the garden) and allow it to cool. Wash & Condition Hair as usual. Use as final rinse to give oily hair a nice shine.

You are what you Eat!

Antioxidants in our foods are what many believe to be the answer to ageing and disease. Antioxidants protect the body from damage caused by harmful molecules called free radicals. You can take one of the many preparations that contain high levels of Antioxidants or you can simply get these from your food by making a few good choices.

Raspberries, Blueberries, Strawberries, Blackberries, Cranberries, Apples, Peaches, Mangos and melons are the tops scorers in Antioxidant levels. A few blueberries or strawberries on your cereal and an apple for afternoon tea will increase your levels as much as many of the preparations available.

In 2001, Monash University, Melbourne began a study where researchers analysed the diets of 453 people (aged 70 years and over from Australia, Greece and Sweden) to determine the correlation between the consumption of certain types of foods and skin wrinkling. The overall finding was that a low-glycemic diet high in varied fruits, vegetables, nuts, legumes and fish was associated with less skin wrinkling.

The foods they found to have less correlation with skin wrinkling were:

Mono-unsaturated fat
Olive oil and olives Fish (especially fatty fish, such as sardines)
Reduced fat milk and milk products, such as yogurt
Nuts and legumes (especially lima and broad beans)
Vegetables (especially leafy greens, spinach, eggplant, asparagus, celery, onions, leeks and garlic)
Wholegrain cereals
Fruit and fruit products (especially prunes, cherries, apples and jams)
Water
Zinc (foods which contain zinc include seafood, lean meat, milk and nuts)

The foods they found to have more correlation with skin wrinkling were:

Saturated fat
Meat (especially fatty processed meats)
Full fat dairy products (especially non-fermented products and ice cream)
Soft drinks and cordials
Cakes, pastries and desserts
Potatoes
Butter
Margarine

It’s the modern disease – we’re all just too busy. We all have 1440 minutes in the day but how do you make time for yourself when there’s a million other demands on your time? Why do you think trips to the Day Spa and Spa holidays are so popular – we seem to have to make a big deal out of looking after ourselves and taking time out – we don’t seem to be able to fit it into our daily routine.

Here’s how you can bring beauty from the inside to the outside and save yourself a bit of time along the way.

1. Play classical or chill out music in the car rather than listening to the radio – It’ll relax your central nervous system, reduce stress, help clear your mind and all these things will make you more productive – saving you valuable time.
2. Colour will effect your mood so if you’re feeling a bit down – wear an orange or pink top to help stimulate feelings of love and joy. You feel good, you get more done – you save time.
3. Smile -you don’t have to go around grinning like an idiot but a gentle smile will grow a feeling of happiness within you. We understand so much more about the wiring of the brain and hormones – we smile when we’re happy and we can smile to make ourselves happy. It’s much easier to get stuff done when you’re happy.
4. Wear sunscreen – yeah, I know the jury is still out on the effects of sunscreen but you can circumvent the need for so many layers of skin products – by just not further damaging your skin. It’s never too late to start and many moisturisers will contain sunscreen – so you can kill two birds with one stone (so to speak.)
5. Antioxidants in your food - these will help fight ageing from the inside. Add fruits and vegetables high in antioxidants to your eating habits – this gets rid of the need to take an extra vitamin tablet or purchase $200 a tube ‘miracle’ creams. A handful of strawberries on your cereal kicks butt on the latest ‘boswe-algerific-dermabrasion’ or whatever the latest fad is.

Photo credits: Sourmash