One thing on my list this year was to do a self-conducted experiment where I would try something new. This list includes exercise classes, fashion trends and health and beauty. Today I will share my experience with a skin cleanse. I wanted to test out the age old saying “you are what you eat”. With the help of a friend who just so happens to be a nutritionist, they were able to give me a set of rules to follow. Below is a roundup of what happened:
The rules are as follows
· No refined sugars. As much as I love sweet snacks, it was explained to me that sugar spikes your insulin levels and causes inflammation. Basically, it causes wrinkles because the inflammation is responsible for breaking down collagen and elastin. When I heard that I said, okay – I can let go of sugar… at least for a little while anyway.
· Eat your greens with every meal. I was told to stick to kale, spinach, and Swiss chard. There are so many benefits from the vitamins and minerals that come from these vegetables that help produce a healthy glow. Trying out new smoothie recipes and more side salads were quite enjoyable.
· No Caffeine. This one self-explanatory.
Following the first rule as the hardest one to follow. I had to right the cravings the first few days, but eventually, I got over the hump. I was able to resist sweets like candy and donuts that would magically make its way into the office. I noticed that my energy remained more stable throughout the day. I would curve my midafternoon cravings with fruit, smoothies and simply walking away for a few minutes. You will be surprised how much you don’t really want something after a few minutes of distraction. Also by avoiding refined sugars, it became easier to sleep at night which meant my skin looked a lot less tired.
Eating greens is where I noticed the biggest difference in my body and skin. It started to glow naturally and juicing definitely helped me get in more leafy vegetables in every meal. Not only did it make me look better, but I honestly felt better, I am totally going to continue to do this going forward.
Cutting out caffeine was tough in the mornings, but with the added sleep that I got, it became easier as the days went on. I replaced those cravings with iced caffeine-free teas. I also make sure to drink more water; staying hydrated helps your prevent wrinkles – BONUS.
By the end of the two weeks, I was able to notice the positive changes impacted the look and feel of my skin. Please note that this skin cleanse was scaled down version for this experiment. There are many other rules, but between the nutritionist and myself, these were the conditions I was comfortable with. It was definitely I fun experiment to help me get my glow on.
