Healthy Foods that Double as Beauty Products

Posted on February 25, 2014 by Jennifer Lilley

Healthy foods keep a body at its best.  From more energy to improved blood pressure and everything in between, healthy foods can keep us in tip-top shape.  But beyond all the goodness on the inside, plenty of foods double as topical beauty products so we can look great on the outside, too.  Let’s take a peek.

1.  Coconut Oil

I’m a huge virgin coconut oil fan.  It’s one of the healthier fats that adds a mild coconut flavor to everything from oatmeal to a veggie stir fry.

a toothbrush and a jar of coconut oil on my bathroom counter.  It does wonders to keep my skin smooth.  Every night, I put a very small amount on my face and without fail, my dry skin goes away!

2.  Lemons

Ah, the citrus scent is invigorating, but it’s also a great way to give everything from our water to our salmon some oomph.  I love to drizzle lemon (or grate the skin) on a variety of meals.

Body bonus:  Lemon helps cleanse our system.  Whether we had one too many drinks with our BFFs over the weekend or simply enjoy starting the day with a fresh lemon-infused glass of water, lemons keep our digestive and immune system on track.

Beauty bonus:  Lemons can lighten areas of our skin.  I mean, what’s the deal with dark elbows?  It looks like I forgot to wash them!  Every once in a while, I’ll cut both ends off a lemon and sit with by elbows resting in them for a few minutes.

3.  Oatmeal

By now we know breakfast is the most important meal of the day.  I have oatmeal with coconut oil every morning and love it!  Lately, I’m all about making no-bake cereal bars at home with a mix of healthy foods like oatmeal, agave nectar and sunflower butter.

Body bonus:  Oatmeal is loaded with fiber, so that means we feel full longer.  For fashionista’s looking to keep weight in check, that full feeling can fight the urge to have another piece of cake. Plus, it’s a great way to lower cholesterol.

Beauty bonus:  When mixed with other foods like raw sugar (for the scrub) and honey (for smoothness), oatmeal is a great DIY body or face scrub.

What foods do you love for a healthy body and beauty one-two punch?  Leave a comment! 

(Note: this is a post I wrote that appeared on a women’s beauty and fashion site I write for, The Budget Fashionista, on 2-25-14. I made minor changes for the purposes of this Flabby Road post).

©Copyright 2011-2014,  Jennifer Lilley, FlabbyRoad.com, Flabby Road and Flabby Road: Moving on & Leaving the Elastic Waistbands Behind.   Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Jennifer Lilley and Flabby Road with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

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