The Skinny on Your Skin

Your whole body is covered with it. On average for an adult, it covers about 3000 square inches and weighs about 6 pounds.

It grows as you grow. It contracts as you get slim. It regenerates and repairs itself after most injuries to it.

Your skin is an important organ for releasing toxins from the body, through what many people prefer not to talk about — sweat. The skin also absorbs substances directly — topical remedies, environmental toxins, components of the water you soak in.

Your skin protects vital organs, aids in regulating body temperature, and gives you information through touch or sensations.

People spend thousands of dollars on skin preparations  to make their skin look a certain way, for example, younger or more radiant. Many of these products introduce chemicals into the body. Healthy facial products are also available for sale.

Raw Foods on Your Skin

Many health food advocates know the value of placing certain organic raw or living foods directly on the skin. Avocado, coconut oil, raw honey, aloe vera, raw apple cider vinegar, are among the popular favorites.

Cucumber slices soothe the eyes when you close your eyes, lie down, and put slices on your eyes. Raw honey soothes burns and heals abrasions. Raw apple cider vinegar acts as an astringent and fast facial cleanser.

We use a lot of aloe vera, directly from the plant leaf. We cut pieces for smoothies, raw soups, and salad dressings and then rub the rest on our faces. Topical application of aloe vera takes the discomfort and discoloration from a bruise.

Eating Raw Foods for Your Skin

When you start to eat raw foods after a long time of eating highly processed foods, you can have a healing reaction that shows on your skin. Acne, rashes, or other conditions can show that you are releasing toxins. When all your other releasing organs are working at maximum capacity, this is minor or non existent.

When your body is finished with its cleansing, though, you will see changes in the texture, tone, and vitality of your skin. Your skin will radiate. It will be well worth the discomfort (which you may not even experience).

Organic, living, raw foods provide you with the vitamins, enzymes, minerals, and amino acids your body needs for your skin. Raw foods are filled with water, so that you add moisture to your skin, from the inside out.

When your systems and organs are fed the nutrition they need to function properly, your skin advertises your health. When you get your nutrients and moisture from foods like leafy greens and apples and sprouts, you will know the real meaning of phrases like "inner beauty" and "inner glow."

When your body and skin are getting their nutrition with organic, raw, living foods, you’ll look and feel your best, naturally. Show the world your health with the glow of your skin!

Many people dislike the taste of dark, green leafy vegetables; others don’t understand the value of them. Many who eat (or try to eat, or want to eat, or think they should eat) them in large quantities, often want to camouflage the taste. I understand and have great compassion for that.

If you’re new to increasing your raw food consumption, I encourage you to find ways that help you to eat these nutrient-rich foods easily. If that involves camouflaging the chlorophyll taste, do it! If you don’t eat them, you won’t benefit from them. As long as you don’t cook these foods, the nutrients won’t be lost.

In our family, we rarely make juice from our vegetables and fruits any more because so much is lost in the juicing process. Instead, we make raw soups and raw smoothies in a blender. Any blender is suitable, although if you make smoothies regularly, you will prefer a high speed blender.

Do you have food cravings? The minerals in dark, leafy vegetables and other smoothie ingredients will stop the cravings quickly. Do have have digestive problems? Many people find that the enzymes in raw plant foods help rather quickly. Are you overweight? Give green smoothies a try and watch yourself get slim and strong!

Below are (1) a video with a demonstration making a green smoothie and (2) a recommended book, Green for Life.

Green Smoothie with
Victoria Boutenko and Adrienne Martin

 

Victoria Boutenko and her family are well-known proponents of the raw food lifestyle. They lecture. They write. They appear on shows and videos. They inspire.

This book provides encouragement, recipes, and testimonials. She includes the science behind the choices she makes and suggests to readers.