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Page 1 of 2 The way we feel is reflected in the way we look. Frances Ive reveals how achieving an inner calm can lead to an outer radiance – without resorting to Botox. Cosmetic surgery is growing in popularity all the time with 22,041 known operations carried out in the UK in 2005. Botox injections to reduce wrinkles are no longer just popular with celebrities – ordinary women, too, are keen to hang on to eternal youth.Botox works by paralysing the muscles of the face and was originally used to treat muscle twitches. It is a toxin and, if ‘overdone’, it can leave the victim with a face incapable of expression. Yet Botox and countless other more invasive procedures are becoming acceptable and even affordable in the UK. Before investing thousands of pounds on injections or treatments aimed at melting away fat, women might find that they look more beautiful and shapely if they opt instead for the natural approach. Eating the right foods, not abusing your body, going easy on sun exposure, exercising and having a good mental attitude can help you to look and feel younger and even beautiful. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder – we don’t all have to look like Keira Knightly to be attractive! Eating to stay youngAntioxidants are vitamins and minerals that help to eliminate the free radicals that cause cell damage throughout the body and hasten the ageing process. Vitamins A, C and E and beta-carotene and the minerals selenium, copper and zinc are all antioxidants and most fruits and vegetables have them in abundance. Juices made from fresh fruit and vegetable juices are said to boost the immune system, detoxify the body, fight disease, prevent premature ageing, make skin look smoother and younger and maintain strong bones and nails. Juices are easy to make at home every day and because they are so easily digested they are the quickest way of getting fresh nutrients into the bloodstream. A juicer costs as little as £30 and can be used with apples, carrots, beetroot, celery, cucumber, pears, oranges – and almost any other fruit or vegetable you fancy. Drinking plenty of water is such a simple thing to do: remember dehydrated skin will become wrinkled. Health expert and author Deepak Chopra advises that we need to drink as much as 2–3 litres of water a day to eliminate toxicity. Tea and coffee are no substitute. Food supplementsVitamins A, C and E, some of the B vitamins, silica, copper and zinc are just some of the vitamins and minerals that are good for the skin. To ensure an adequate intake of each of these it is well worth taking a good multivitamin/mineral supplement so that you keep your skin healthy, your brain active, joints moving freely, blood flowing, heart pumping regularly and so on. Fish oils are also good for the skin, joints and brain and most health food stores now have special supplements for nails, hair and skin that are totally natural. Spirulina is a blue-green algae that grows naturally in lakes that are rich in minerals. In recent years Spirulina in tablet or powder form has become popular due to its many health benefits, including its ability to boost energy levels and improve skin tone. It is nutrient-rich and is packed full of vitamins and minerals, has 18 amino acids, more Gamma Linolenic Acid (GLA) than evening primrose oil, antioxidants, and carotenoids, which are good for eye health. Try:
All are available from health food stores or at www.nutricentre.com Natural cosmeticsThe irony about the most expensive and sought-after body lotions and potions is that many contain chemicals that are absorbed through the skin into the bloodstream and can damage our health and even cause premature ageing. But there are also plenty of natural products containing aloe vera, calendula, shea butter, lavender and tea tree oils, jojoba, rosa mosqueta, chamomile – all of which are derived from plants and are very soothing and good for the skin. So think natural when it comes to cosmetics – there are plenty available and to find out more look at the Women’s Environmental Network website (www.wen.org ). These are some products that use organic or natural ingredients and are available from health food stores:
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