Feed Your Face
Hi -- I'm Nurse Jamie Extra Lifechanger and aesthetics Nurse specialist. At my spa -- Beauty Park we can do some pretty amazing things to help your skin look great from the outside - but today we're going to talk beauty from the inside.
One of the major components of good skin is good nutrition - and we all know how easy it is to make poor food choices when you are in a hurry or on the run -- so we reach for that great solution - the Power Bar -- or Energy Bar -- but which ones have the best beauty pay off - and aren't loaded with as much fat and sugar as a candy bar without tasting like sawdust? On today's Extra Roadtest we're going to take a look.
Here's my top picks - Odwalla Chocolate Peanut Butter, Trail Mix Chocolate Chip Balance Bar and a I found you a great non chocolate option too -- Carrot Cake Cliff Bar.
Now of course taste is highly subjective, but there are certain things to look for in a bar -- does it have at least 9 grams of protein -- protein is an important component to every cell in the body -- it serves multiple functions -- and hair and nails are mostly made of protein --
Does it contain less than 35% of it's calories from sugar? This was a tough one -- if you do the math -- a lot of these bars are loaded with sugar. And you want to watch the fat.
Then -- look for nutrients that are heavy hitters for your face - think Vitamin A, Anti Oxidents, Essential Fatty Acids and selenium.
To calculate the % calories from sugar take the grams of sugar (from the nutrition facts label) and multiply by 4. Divide this number by the total calories per serving and multiply by 100 to get the % calories from sugar!
The Balance Bars weigh in pretty high in protein -- this one Trail Mix Chocolate Chip -- actually has 15 grams. It is recommended to get about 8 grams of protein for every 20 pounds of body weight -- so this little guy will get you well on your way. And this one is packed with Selenium - Selenium functions as an antioxidant and an anti-inflamatory -- great for everything from acne to wrinkles -- this one has only 28% of it's calories from sugar.
Then we've got the Odwalla Chocolate Peanut Butter - love chocolate -- love peanut butter -- but this is no candy bar -- it's got 12 grams of protein. 34% calories from sugar.
If you are not in the mood for chocolate Clif Bar has this great Carrot Cake bar. 10 grams of protein -- tons of minerals -- including 20% of your daily selenium -- vitamin A -- no trans fat.
Now if you want to create the ultimate beauty bar -- it's actually really easy to make your own -- I'm going to show you My Nurse Jamie Beauty Bar which is made of all my beauty nutrient favorites.
Nurse Jamie Beauty Bar
1 Cup Peanut Butter
2-3 Tablespoons Honey
1 ½ Cups Whey Protein Powder
1 Cup Uncooked Oats (for the selenium and fiber)
¼ Cup Ground Flaxseed
2- 5 Tablespoons Water
(Splash of vanilla -- always a good thing)
¼ cup chopped apricots (apricots are incredibly high in Vitamin A - your eyes, skin and mucous membranes moist - also has antioxidant properties)
¼ cup dried blueberries (for the anti oxidants -- which help prevent damage from free radicals) - "Free radicals -- like the kind formed from sun exposure -- damage the membrane of skin cells, potentially allowing damage to the DNA of that cell," says Heller. The antioxidants and other photochemical in these fruits can protect the cell, she says, so there is less chance for damage.
1/3 Cup ground flaxseed. (for the essential fatty acids- which are responsible for healthy cell membranes which act as barriers against harmful things as well as aids in getting waste out )
Mix the peanut butter with honey, microwave for 30 -- 40 seconds - then mix the other ingredients together -- then press it firmly into a 9x9 pan and refrigerate. Cut into 12 bars.
Now -- if you want all the benefits -- and you don't want to venture into the kitchen -- just go to your computer -- there are make your own bars on the web -- my favorites are Element Bars -- and Youbars. Be sure to include the nutrients I mentioned - Vitamin A, Anti Oxidents, Essential Fatty Acids and selenium.
So there you go -- next time you need to fuel in a hurry -- drive past the fast food restaurant -- cruise past the candy aisle - and feed your face with one of these complexion friendly options -- mmmm!
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