Great ingredients can make you feel good on the inside and look beautiful on the outside. In the midst of all those geniuses yet infuriating marketing tricks, it is easy for us to forget that it’s the simplest, natural products who have the best effect. You do not need to pay up a lot of cash for luxury beauty products in order to have shiny hair or glowing skin. Really, you don’t! There are all-natural, great ingredients that can make you look good and feel great. So, sign off those posh beauty products websites and let’s get back to basics!
If there is an organic ingredient out there that does all kinds of good for your body when you consume it, chances are it has its great benefits for your external body, too. It is just that we hardly think to put things on our face that we put on the dinner plate.
However, as a nutritionist I always advise my clients to use natural ingredients as cosmetic products, for example, people with very dry skin can use extra virgin olive oil or coconut oil as a face moisturizer. I personally use coconut oil for my skin and am very satisfied – the effect as well as the smell – is great. That’s why in this article, am encouraging you to use the following ingredients in your meals and as beauty products because these amazing ingredients pack a great punch of health for your body.
6 Great Ingredients for Your Overall Health
Following, we present you 6 great ingredients you should always have in both your kitchen and your bathroom.
- Coconut Oil
Coconut oil is around 85% saturated fat that is a greater percentage than butter (around 63% saturated fat), lard (41%), or beef fat (also 41%). As we known, too much fat in our diet is truly unhealthy because it can raise “bad” LDL cholesterol levels, and therefore, increase the risk of cardiovascular disease. So, it would seem that this oil would be bad news for your heart. BUT what is really interesting about this oil is that it also boosts “good” HDL cholesterol.
Consuming in normal doses, coconut oil can help in digestion and production of insulin. Plus, it can boost our metabolism and keep our immune system healthy. Always ensure that you are buying organic, cold-pressed coconut oil!
Maybe the most popular usage of coconut oil is as a moisturizer. As I mentioned before, I regularly use it as a face moisturizer because I have dry skin and as a hair mask – it helps me get rid of dandruff for a while. However, you can also use it as a body lotion and natural shaving cream. Plus, you can use it as an eye makeup remover, which does not burn if it accidentally slips in the eyes.
- Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple cider vinegar is one of the friendliest ingredients. It can kill bacteria that builds up in the body, soothe a sore throat, and helps you digest your food. According to a significant research made in 2006, acetic acid in apple cider vinegar lowers bad cholesterol levels, fights and prevents diabetes, and even lowers blood sugar.
For your beauty routine, this powerful ingredient is your go-to when you are struggling an acne flare up. Apple cider vinegar can soften and exfoliate your skin, and decrease the red spots on the face. In case you need a quick stress reliever, simply add 8 ounces/235 milliliters of apple cider vinegar in your warm bath. Soak in there for about 15 minutes. The result will be a smooth skin with balanced pH levels. Apple cider vinegar also works perfectly as a conditioner of all kinds. Just dilute 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar into a cup of water and rinse your hair with the mixture. Plus, before doing this you can shampoo your hair with baking soda shampoo and get nice, shiny locks.
- Lemons
Lemons are full of vitamins and minerals. They are packed with vitamin A, vitamin B6, vitamin C, vitamin E, folate, and magnesium. Lemons can treat constipation and lower blood pressure, cleanse your stomach, and strengthen your immune system. All great things! About three years ago, I started drinking a glass of fresh lemon juice with warm water each morning. I still consider this as one of my best habits, because every winter (for the past 3 years) it saves me from the common cold.
The list of homemade spa and beauty products you can make yourself is limitless. A nice face mask can be made just out of honey and fresh lemon juice. You can also make a sugar scrub with lemon and some other common ingredients. Problems with blackheads? Don’t worry, lemon has great antibacterial properties and can effectively help you to get rid of your blackheads. Simply squeeze some lemon juice directly on your blackheads and watch them disappear.
- Baking Soda
Baking soda is an ideal ingredient! The price is low – and the benefits are great! When you drink a glass of water with ¼ teaspoon of baking soda in it, you are giving your body a mild antiseptic, a natural antacid that destroys parasites, and an alkaline boost that can balance out your pH levels.
This incredible ingredient has also many perks in the bathroom. You can use it as an organic deodorant if you don’t want to buy products full of chemicals. Simply mix ¼ teaspoon of baking soda with 1 cup of warm water and rub the solution into the armpits. When mixed with some warm water baking soda can be a fantastic shampoo, as well as an organic face wash. This ingredient has powerful antibacterial properties and can be used as a toothpaste. It can fight plaque and refresh your teeth.
- Honey
Honey has been used by various cultures all around the world for more than 2,500 years. While the great number of health benefits of honey have made it a significant component of traditional medicines as Ayurvedic treatments, many scientists are also researching the health benefits regarding the modern medicine, especially in the healing of wounds.
This silky, delicious ingredient can regulate blood sugar due to its low hypoglycemic index, treat ulcers and many other gastrointestinal disorders. It is anti-fungal and antibacterial, so it can destroy the harmful bacteria in the gut. Moreover, as you probably already known, honey can also soothe a dry and itchy throat when you are not feeling good.
In the beauty world – honey is one of the leading ingredients in numerous beauty products. It gives you healthier hair, nails, and skin, and it could mix with about any of the above-mentioned ingredients to make a decadent beauty concoction.
Just, for example, you can mix a tablespoon of honey with 2 tablespoons of coconut oil. Next, rub it into clean skin in circular motions, and wash off. It will clean your pores that zap bacteria and reduce acne. Plus, you can use it all alone, too. Just spread a scoop of organic honey on a clean face as a mask, and leave it on for about 15 minutes. Rinse off for glowing and well-hydrated skin.
- Greek Yogurt
All-natural Greek yogurt has numerous benefits. It is a potent probiotic who keep our gut health and prevents yeast infections.
Greek yogurt has good bacteria and is high in protein, vitamin B12, and potassium. It also has amazing anti-fungal and antibacterial properties. Therefore, you can use Greek yogurt for treating acne by rubbing some onto your acne prone places and let it sit for 30 minutes before rinsing off.
I use Greek yogurt as a hair conditioner once a month, and it works fine for me – but many organic beauty experts will recommend you to use it once a week. Simply slather some Greek yogurt onto the ends of your hair, put a shower cap on, and let it sit for about 30-60 minutes. You can also use Greek yogurt for skin burns and as a face mask. Just apply a layer of it to your clean face and leave it for about 10 minutes. It will deeply moisturize the skin and prevent wrinkles.
Conclusion:
Food can make you feel good and look good. Natural beauty ingredients can benefit your skin and defeat many skin problems. You should always have some of the above-mentioned great ingredients (baking soda, apple cider vinegar, honey, lemons, and coconut oil) in your kitchen. These ingredients can certainly benefit your health and beauty. Still, if you don’t want to use what you eat as a cosmetic product you can buy organic skin care products that are safe for your health. Remember – unless chemicals used in beauty products are proven to harm to human health, they are classified as “generally recognized as safe”, or GRAS.
References: Health.harvard.edu Ncbi.nlm.nih.gov Hellogiggles.com