Food for Flawless Skin
--- Lena Lam
You are what you eat. Okay…so what exactly are you supposed to eat? If you find yourself frustrated with your skin or hair, or just your body in general this summer, here are some foods that you should try to add to or emphasize in your diet.
(But first, breathe. Don’t be frustrated! Stressing over what you think your imperfections are will only lead to more breakouts and other undesirable features, such as wrinkles. You may be what you eat, but your attitude towards improving and maintaining your health is also very important!)
In general, in order to keep your skin, hair, and body healthy, drink enough water (at least six cups a day), eat plenty of fruits and vegetables (I recommend aiming for a minimum of 7 total daily servings), and eat enough protein. Water has a vital part in keeping your skin and hair healthy, as do the fruits and vegetables, which are full of vitamins. Protein, whether it be in the form of eggs, nuts, or fish (omega-3!), is important especially in keeping your hair strong and vibrant.
Having said that, here are just some of the foods that are in season right now, which is another reason for you to give them a bigger role in your diet!
Berries. Blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, blackberries, and any other kind of berries. They are packed with antioxidants and some studies have shown that they help reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease as well. They’re not only great for your brain, but they also help your skin keep its youthful quality.
Cucumbers. Instead of just using them during facials, try eating them. They’re great additions to salads and are full of fiber and silica, which helps improve your skin complexion.
Peaches. They’re full of vitamin A and potassium, and are in season until October. It is also a good fruit to eat if you have problems with digestion; it help make your bowel movements more regular and natural (regulating your system will help with overall weight loss, not to mention how much more energetic you’ll feel).
Bell peppers. You probably wouldn’t have guessed it, but they have a lot of vitamin C, which is important to having clear skin. Plus, you’re supposed to eat as many foods with colors of the rainbow as possible; here’s an easy way to get red, orange, yellow, and/or green.
Squash. Lots of vitamin C and omega-3 fatty acids. The latter can also be found in fish (such as salmon—though salmon is typically in season in the fall, it is still a great food to have in your diet). Some studies have shown that omega-3 helps protect your skin from UV damage.
Okra. Another food rich in fiber to help regulate your system. It is said to rid your skin of pimples as well as lower risks for diabetes because of the way the fibers influence your blood sugar levels.
Watermelon. Lots of vitamins A and C. It also has the B vitamins, which are important in energy production. It’s a great way to get all the antioxidants and nutrients you need while quenching your thirst during the hot summer months!
Those are just some suggestions for foods to add to your diet this summer, but remember to maintain a balanced diet!
Sources:
http://beauty.doctissimo.com/summer-beauty/summer-beauty-guide/scrumptious-summer-skin.html
Running Terrains
--- Sarah Luo
Running on a treadmill is boring. But to be truthful, that's kinda hypocritical. Because working out on an elliptical or stationary bike all day is also boring. The good thing about running though is that it's not restricted to a treadmill. Neither is biking, but that's a topic for another day. Most of the time, when you go running outside, it's on pavement. Unless you live in front of a beach in which case you're a lucky butt. Anyhow, running on pavement is not too different from running on a treadmill. But running on sand, grass, dirt with uneven roads, and snow (if that floats your boat) all have different effects on your workout.
From experience, I do know that running in sand is about 10 times harder than running on pavement or running on a treadmill. Just something about actually having to use extra effort to pick your feet up makes you work harder. Huh, what a concept. Because the sand is deep, your feet sink in much easier making you use more muscles so that you can pull your foot out again just to sink it back into the soft soft sand. This really works not only your calf muscles more, it also helps tone up your thighs. Now who wouldn't want that? Of course running in sand is ideal not only because the work out is much more effective, but come on, who doesn't want to be able to run on the beach beside the beautiful ocean water every morning?! So those of you with that privilege, don't take it for granted!
So a question that is frequently asked is if running on a treadmill is actually better than running on pavement. From the research I've done and personal experience, it's not quite that different. What I do know though is that it's far harder to run outside on the pavement than it is on a treadmill. The fact that you can adjust your speed on the treadmill makes it so much more tempting to go 4 speeds slower than you normally could. Outside, on the pavement, it's just as easy to adjust your speed, but you're less likely to because it's not right there glaring you in the face. You also don't know exactly how far you've run so you tend to run farther and longer without knowing. So you tell me, which do you think is more beneficial? Another advantage of running outside is the change in incline. If you run in a park, more often than not, there are little or big hills that you'll eventually encounter. This not only adds variety to the run, it also helps target different muscles to help tone up your legs.
Lastly, running on grass is also very beneficial. From PE in high school, I know that running on turf is actually quite hard to get used to. Just the fact that the ground beneath me is squishy and not squishy like the sand makes it harder for me to pick up my feet. So I guess that's an advantage to running on grass too. But of course, turf isn't grass....close enough. Just kidding. Running on a soft surface makes you work your body harder and this is all without you actually physically feeling it either, until the workout is completely done. Quite like running on sand, running on grass is more effective than running on pavement or on the treadmill. It's also really nice to feel much faster when you hit the pavement again because it's much easier to run on pavement especially after running on grass.
Now that you have a couple of different options for your running terrains, go out there and get some exercise! Running is a great way to get those endorphins flowing and that in itself is a natural high. You'll feel great after running and you'll get a toned and fit body. A win-win in itself! Check out Running World for some more options!
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