An Easy, Clean-Eating Beauty Food Guide — Updated By A Wellness Curator

Eating clean leads to radiance. Eating clean is about enjoyment, not deprivation—eating clean does not have to be a drag. I’ve outlined some simple guidelines below so you can include more of these magic-making foods in your everyday life.

DRINK YOUR GREEN JUICE (ON AN EMPTY STOMACH)

You know you need it. Always consume fresh-pressed green vegetable juice that contains dense green power to make you shine. Take note: do not mix with food, because this will most likely cause extra puffiness and bloat. Drink your juice on an empty stomach and wait at least 20 minutes before taking in a solid meal to avoid fermentation in the digestive system. If you're having a juice in the afternoon, wait at least 2-4 hours after lunch. A 2-hour range will work if you’ve had a light salad with avocado lunch, and at least 4 hours if you’ve had a meal containing animal proteins, beans/legumes/or nuts. Minimize fermentation in the gut at all costs. Fermentation in the body is a main culprit for looking dull and puffy!!

VEGGIE SPROUTS (BUT NOT BEAN SPROUTS)

Try to include veggie sprouts as much has possible, as these tiny powerhouses are packed with protein + glow producing enzymes. Try sunflower (my absolute favorite), broccoli, alfalfa, clover, mustard, and radish.

EAT GRAINS IN MODERATION

Eat grains but don’t overdo it: organic and gluten-free versions of quinoa, millet, and buckwheat are on the list. Sprouted grains are the ideal option. Kamut is an ancient grain that is not gluten-free but is typically tolerated in those who have a wheat sensitivity. You can find the above grains in sprouted form easily at many health food stores, or they can be purchased online. Keep grain intake to a minimum depending on your gut health.

VEGGIES

This is obvious, but don’t skip it. You can eat them in abundance juiced (raw only), blended (in raw + cooked forms, as in a raw or cooked blended soup), and whole (raw and cooked forms are both recommended).

EAT SEASONALLY

Seasonal produce is fresher, retains more of its nutritional value, and most likely comes from farms that are closer in proximity to where you live. Produce that is out of season is stored for longer periods of time and typically shipped from farms that are far away. Eating local also reduces your carbon footprint. Win win!

CHECK OUT THE DIRTY DOZEN

Know exactly what produce is heavily sprayed and contaminated, and steer clear of those as much as possible. Important: conventionally-grown potatoes are like poison. Literally. They’ve been tested and contain hundreds of chemicals. Ingesting poisonous chemicals does not lead to the effervescent glow we seek!

MIX IN FERMENTED VEGGIES

Sauerkraut and kimchee. Ideally, fresh versions are best if you can make it at home, which is actually very easy to do! If you're buying from a store, I recommend fermented veggies in glass containers and made with sea or Himalayan salt (check all labels as many are made with sugar, which you want to avoid).

EAT SEAWEED

Try to eat seaweed wherever possible: seaweed contains high amounts of minerals and nutrients good for the skin! Seaweeds/seaweed salads such as arame, dulse, hijiki, kelp, nori, wakame. Japanese restaurants serve seaweed salads that almost always contain sugar so it’s best to skip those. The medicinal properties of seaweed are vast and vary from plant to plant. In general, seaweeds detoxify and alkalize the blood, aid in weight loss, lower cholesterol, heal liver stagnancy and help soften hardened tumors while infusing our bodies with much-needed minerals, vitamins and anti-aging properties. Arame is an excellent source of protein, supports the thyroid (both hypo and hyper) strengthens bones, and makes you beautiful, all with just a small amount every day. Arame helps prevent wrinkles and promote clear, glowing skin and thick lustrous hair.

EAT NUTS AND SEEDS

Choose nuts and seeds that are sprouted (more digestible), which are easily found in various health food stores. Consume along with low-starch vegetables or have in liquid-form (two examples: almond milk or hemp seed milk). Sprouted means that the nuts or seeds have been soaked to remove the protective coating, an enzyme inhibitor that inhibits digestion.

EAT HEALTHY FATS ONLY

Choose healthy fats: coconut meat, coconut butter, coconut oil, avocado, cold-pressed avocado oil, olives, cold-pressed olive oil, cold-pressed pumpkin seed oil, organic ghee, and organic grass-fed butter. The only safe fats to cook with are the ones with the highest smoke points—coconut oil/coconut butter, ghee and butter.

TRY BONE BROTH

Many holistic or functional medicine doctors and practitioners believe that it heals the gut. And the gut is where beauty begins and ends.

Image: Stocksy

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