WORK IT OUT WEDNESDAY: Get the Skinny on Foods for Beauty – Inside and Out

by Lisa Bruno

Who doesn’t want to look a bit younger than they are? It is a natural feeling and it’s exactly why the beauty industry racks in millions and millions of dollars every year pushing us anti-wrinkle creams, serums for shiny hair and stronger nails. You name a part of your body and there is probably a cream for it.

Well, what if we told you that your diet actually plays a role in how you look on the outside? It’s true, and it is not that complicated to grasp. The only complicating part to ‘eating for beauty’ is staying committed to it. But in an effort to keep it simple, we broke down how to eat for beauty with three simple daily ‘food for beauty’ regimen reminders.

Water. You are probably rolling your eyes right now thinking, ‘yeah sure.’ But we aren’t lying. It’s a fact. Water is what your body is predominately composed of therefore it needs to constantly be replenished. Additionally, it is the simplest way to detox and flush out toxins. How do you know how much water is right for you? Now this is really easy! Divide your body weight in half, and that’s how many ounces you need to drink per day. Our personal advice is to figure that number out, and then add an additional 12-ounces or so to account for any physical activity you are doing or the occasional extra happy hour.

Multitasking Greens. We love to walk around with a green juice or smoothie. It’s the trendy thing to do right? Sort of. There’s some truth to the whole green madness. Items like kale, spinach and broccoli, all include multiple key vitamins and nutrients for healthy hair, skin and nails including Vitamin A, C, and B-vitamin Folate. You can commit to blending these into a juice or simply commit to a salad a day – nothing crazy, but definitely munch on these leaves!

Plant-Based and Non-Meat Proteins. Yes, they exist. You do not just have to eat chicken, steak and pork. There are a ton of amazing proteins that are lower in fat, especially saturated fat that you find in red meat, and also pack a powerful punch of fiber, that helps remove waste from your system. Our favorite plant-based protein is peas. These little wonders include 8-grams of protein in 1-cup, plus vitamin C, fiber, and they have just recently been found to be a reliable source of omega-3 fat in the form of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) which helps mitigate inflammation in your body. Also eggs, which provide protein, along with something called biotin, a B vitamin that promotes hair growth and overall scalp health. Biotin can also be found in protein strong foods including almonds.

You can get additional information and similar topics by joining our Skinny Sessions in and out of the Work it Out Studios. The Skinny Sessions are about getting ‘the skinny’ on all things healthy and positive.  Each session starts with the core values of accepting and loving the body you have and then moves into areas of exploration and reflection on topics such as eating with joy. Our hope is to encourage candid conversation with doses of education on nutrition and wellness in a safe and welcoming environment.

This Thursday, October 1st tune into our first LIVE broadcast of our next Skinny Session via Periscope. We’ll be chatting about this exact topic – Food for Beauty, at our fav blow out barre – Up & Out. Login to this great new streaming video app and follow us – WiOwithus at 7pm. You’ll be able to ask questions and be a part of the whole experience.

Lisa Bruno is the co-founder and director of business development at Work it Out Fitness Studios<http://www.workitoutgym.com> in Hoboken. Bruno is an avid fitness and nutrition enthusiast (and has been since a very young age). She holds a bachelor’s degree in Food & Nutrition and is currently pursuing her Masters and certification as a Registered Dietitian.