Basic Skin and Hair Needs & the Foods that Work

Conventional (busy, modern, or city) women like to use several different products on their face because our skin has different need, which can overload the skin. It's not unlikely that a woman would use 3 different skincare products, then follow this regimen up with 3 different makeup products. Consequently, a woman feels she cannot scrub with one thing to take care of three jobs; but when using food products, they help with many different skin needs. For example, coconut oil can be used on the face, body, and hair as a moisturizer. Another example, sea salt can be used for the face, body, teeth, and hair when used as an exfoliate, or to dry out oils on skin, body, and hair. 

Foods are better to use on the body because they're inexpensive, all-natural, vitamin-rich, and much more cleansing than ANY pre-packaged and chemical-filled product.

Below I have listed many different foods that take care of basic skin & hair needs:

Cleanser: baking soda, oranges, lemons, limes, tomatoes, apples, onions and garlic (sounds weird to use on the face, but they contain antibacterial/antibiotic properties), strawberries, ALOE VERA

Toner: Apple cider vinegar, oranges, lemons, limes, ALOE VERA, cucumber or celery juice

Exfoliate: Sea salt, sugar, cornmeal, oats, ground nuts, wheat germ, ground flax seeds

Calming/cooling: mint, oats, Aloe Vera, (raw or vegan) almond milk

Moisturizer: Oil (coconut, olive, walnut, etc), avocados, Aloe Vera, bananas

Toothpaste recipe: 2 tsp baking soda, 1 tsp cinnamon, 2 tsp water made into a paste and applied to teeth (credit: Eco Beauty by Cox & Cox)

SKIN TIP: Not only is it important to eat clean (vegan) to heal your skin, remember to sweat, sweat, sweat through exercise or sauna. My hillbilly version of a sauna is to boil a pot of water on the stove, then hover over top of the boiling water, with a towel capturing all of the steam. I like to add apple cider vinegar to the water so it will get in my pores. Also, if you're up for exercise: do it outside. You can also go outside to tan for some vitamin D and extra serotonin.

For more information on how to be all-natural while maintaining healthy, beauty, and reducing waste on our environment, check out my posts here "One way to be a green, earth-friendly chick (Part I)" and "Part II". 

Obesity: Is Smaller Portions REALLY the answer? (No!)

I don't want to lose your attention, so I will say this up front: over-eating is not an issue, it is what you're over-eating on that's the issue. You can eat as much as you want and more by going vegan! Completely cut out meat, dairy, eggs, chicken, and seafood.

Meat-eaters often limit the amount of calories they intake because most of their diet is made up of fat. While vegans, Africans, and Asians eat an abundance of fruit, boiled (not fried) veggies, rice, and beans, we continue to lower our body fat because we're not eating no where near the amount of fat a meat-eater is in-taking.

People with obesity can transition into a healthier lifestyle by eating a low-fat vegan diet because they can eat large quantities of fruit, veggies, rice (or other gluten-free grain), or beans without gaining any fat. Instead, they’ll feel full, balanced, energized while the pounds melt away. You cannot expect someone with obesity to lose weight by refraining their calorie or carb in-take. You cannot expect someone with obesity to lose weight by lowering their portion size. But because companies/gurus/"health" programs want you to incorporate meat, eggs, dairy, poultry, and seafood in your diet, they tell you to eat less (so you can keep the fat in your diet), so you will lose weight. What makes sense about putting an obese person on a ANOREXIC DIET?!?!?

Do you find yourself hungry after breakfast? It's because you didn't eat enough for breakfast! Do you find yourself craving dessert after lunch or dinner? It's because you didn't eat enough for lunch or dinner! Stop limiting the amount of calories you're eating at meals. If it takes you 12 bananas to feel full for breakfast, so be it! Fruit is the best way to lose weight and gain optimum nutrition because it has loads of vitamins without the fat. The second best food to eat is vegetables. If you have to eat 5 large potatoes to feel full, that's great!

Be committed to eating large amounts of fruits, vegetables, rice, and beans while limiting or eliminating meat, dairy, eggs, and poultry. You may not be used to eating large amounts of food, but what makes more sense: eat large amounts of healthy food or small portions of REALLY BAD FOOD? WHAT MAKES MORE SENSE!?!?!

Furthermore, we need to eat foods that are high in calories and carbs (to feel happy and focused), but low in fat (to curb feelings of sluggishness or depression.) Below I have listed my older posts on how to forever stick to veganism (NO EXCUSES!):

"Vegan is the cheapest diet?!"

http://veganslivingofftheland.blogspot.com/2012/06/why-do-people-think-veganism-is-so.html

"How to Take the Guess Work Out of Eating Vegetarian, Vegan, or Raw Food"

http://veganslivingofftheland.blogspot.com/2012/03/how-to-take-guess-work-of-eating.html

"The Feminist's Diet & the Media still promotes unhealthy eating standards"

http://veganslivingofftheland.blogspot.com/2012/06/feminists-diet-media-still-promotes.html

"5 Quick Cheap Low Fat Vegan Meals/Snacks for everyday"

http://veganslivingofftheland.blogspot.com/2012/05/5-quick-cheap-low-fat-vegan-mealssnacks.html

"Why are Asians and Africans so Skinny?"

http://veganslivingofftheland.blogspot.com/2012/05/why-are-asians-and-africans-so-skinny.html

"Losing Weight Fast vs Keeping the Weight off"

http://veganslivingofftheland.blogspot.com/2012/05/losing-weight-fast-vs-keeping-weight.html

To reiterate:

No one wants to go on a vegan diet because they feel like they’ll be losing a food group. Well, you ARE losing a food group, but it is a fatty, greasy, bloody, salty, and un-environmentally conscience food group.

Plants give you more vitamins/nutrients (without the fat) than animal products. Animal products may give you more protein, but you’re sacrificing weight gain for more protein.

An average vegan gets double (sometimes quadruple) the recommended amount of protein a day. I know I do just by eating fruits and veggies!