The Green Beauty Guide: Your Essential Resource to Organic and Natural Skin Care, Hair Care, Makeup, and Fragrances

(Greg DeLong) #1

Nothing will save your skin and hair if you continue eating conventionally produced food.
Fortunately, organic produce is easy to find, and you can replace every single food item in your menu
with organic versions. Organic foods taste better and contain more nutrients. Organic farming
considers the health of the planet by preserving soil and waterways. Yes, organic produce can cost 5
to 20 percent more than conventionally farmed food. Consider these extra costs as monthly payments
for the most effective health insurance you’ll ever find.


Foods That Cure Your Skin


Here are the foods that form the foundation of Green Beauty Detox eating. If possible, everything
you eat should be organic or locally grown by responsible farmers. Many grocery stores are now
stocking organic produce and other food items, so look for these sections when you’re shopping.


Protein


Protein is vital for your skin, nails, and hair. Without an adequate supply of protein, your skin ages
prematurely and loses collagen and elastin, becoming dull and pale, while facial muscles lose
strength, and hair and nails weaken.


During the Green Beauty Detox, you should avoid all kinds of animal proteins. This includes meat,
poultry, fish, whey, and dairy. In his groundbreaking book The China Study, Dr. Colin Campbell
found that a typical Western diet, high in fat and animal protein, resulted in increased levels of
estrogen hormones that play a role in breast cancer and premature aging. “Women who consume a
diet rich in animal-based foods... reach puberty earlier and menopause later, thus extending their
reproductive lives,” writes Dr. Campbell. “They also have higher levels of female hormones
throughout their life span.” According to The China Study, a lifetime’s exposure to estrogen among
Western women is three times higher than in Chinese women. Other studies consistently prove the
destructive role of animal fats and protein in the hormonal balance. Recent studies show that animal
fat can also boost the risk for breast cancer (Wu et al. 1999) and endometrial cancer (Bandera et al.
2007). Animal protein appears to boost estrogen levels no matter where it comes from.


So what should you eat instead? I am not asking you to go vegan, since strict elimination diets have
never worked for everyone. Instead, let plant-based foods take the center stage—or the center of your
plate. Let meat and dairy play supporting roles while you indulge in fruits, vegetables, mushrooms,
beans and peas, nuts, and seeds. Plant foods have more antioxidants, minerals, and vitamins than
animal foods, and plant proteins, cholesterol, and fats are healthier than those of animal origin,
especially if they are grown in organic soil. Experimental studies on laboratory animals show that
diets with reduced calories, fat, and protein can even prevent breast, prostate, and possibly other
types of cancer (Hede et al. 2008).


Green Tip
Eliminate sugar, hydrogenated fat, and starches, which are known to increase the risk of cancer.
Eat smaller amounts of plant protein throughout the day. That way, your energy levels remain
stable, and you can avoid late afternoon fatigue. Eat plant protein, such as rice, tofu, soy milk, nuts,
and seeds for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Of course, three days of vegetarian eating will not lower
your estrogen levels, but you will hopefully develop a taste for plant-based foods and understand that

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