10 Foods For Glowing Skin and Health

The foods you need to add to your diet in 2016.

The lovely Annie at She’s In The Glow recently asked me for my top 9 ingredient food picks for a cleaner 2016. I came up with 10 and could have kept going!  These are also ingredients I recommend for healthy glowing skin. During this month of cleansing and clearing, maybe the answer is just to add a few quality things to our smoothies and dishes to enhance our health.

Shiva’s tips prove that not all good health habits start with cleansing. Make 2016 the year you focus on what you can give rather than take away from your body to feel your best. See below for a simple healthy-eating grocery list to get you inspired to start the year off right.

1. Lemon

There are many benefits to starting each day with a glass of warm water with lemon. This digestive aid and immune booster cleanses the liver and kidneys, which helps with dark circles under the eyes and skin issues.

2. Ghee

Ayurveda practitioners and Hindu women have used ghee, or clarified butter, for centuries. Rich in vitamin A and E, ghee the body and benefits the skin, hormones and hair.

3. Organic Fresh Fruits and Vegetables

Eating these vitamin-packed gems from the earth give us vitamins, minerals and fibers that help us achieve glowing skin. Berries, especially, are rich in antioxidants, which help with graceful aging.

4. Raw Dairy

I have been eating raw goat yogurt for many years and notice how the live probiotics keep my digestive system working. A healthy gut is vital for glowing, flawless skin. The raw dairy also is chock full of vitamins, protein and minerals that are bodies crave.

5. Tonics That Promote Good Health

I like to have a variety of tonics on hand like He Shou Wu (for hair growth and luster), Pine Pollen (anti aging), Reishi (for anti inflammatory properties and balance), Ashitaba (great for women’s hormones and high B vitamin content). I mix all the tonics in a cup of hot water and add nut milk, like pumpkin or sunflower seed. One of my favorite places to shop for tonics is Sun Potion.

6. Mineral Water

The regular water we usually consume is dead water that has no mineral content. Drinking fresh water that is alive from springs can give us back the elements that we need from Mama Earth. To find a fresh spring in your area, check out the website Find A Spring. It’s also important to avoid drinking water from toxic plastic bottles.

7. Manuka or Raw Honey

Living with honeybees has given me so much respect for these wondrous creatures. I feel very grateful that I can use their golden elixir. Honey is a wonderful skin mask and the antibacterial qualities make this an excellent sweetener.

8. Bone Broth

I was a die-hard vegetarian for most of my life until a few years ago when I started using bone broth in a medicinal way. The rich source of animal protein is crucial for collagen build up in our bodies.

9. Aloe Vera Juice

Aloe juice can help balance the acidic system and it also helps skin heal and regenerate.

10. Pearl Powder (Annie’s favorite is by Moon Juice!)
I use a touch of pearl powder in my tea and morning smoothie. Women in Asia have been using this ancient ingredient to create luminous skin. Pearl powder is rich in calcium and amino acids and it helps increase collagen levels.

Bonus pro-tip for clean eating in 2016: Enjoy meals and don’t become too health obsessed.

Becoming too consumed with what we eat can lead to stress, which is the worst thing for the body. I eat pretty healthy most of the time, but on certain occasions I love to have a glass of wine and a beautiful meal without worrying about the consequences. A few weeks ago I went to an incredible restaurant in downtown L.A. and had the most amazing pasta dish. I felt like the meal was a magical experience and that was mostly because I let go and just enjoyed my life in that moment. It’s all about balance and being conscious but also making pleasure a priority.

Tags:aloe vera, bone broth, clean eating, fruits, ghee, health, honey, lemon, mineral water, moon juice, organic, pearl powder, raw, raw dairy, resolution, smoothie, vegetables