BellaSugar

Will Going Vegan Save My Skin?

BellaSugar — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 13:00:11 PDT

I love cheese so, so very much. In fact, I recently downloaded a handy nutrition tracker app and discovered that it comprises a wildly disproportionate amount of my daily food intake. And while my gouda habit keeps my tummy well-satisfied, it may not be doing such great things for my skin. There's a proven link between dairy consumption and acne (although we all know correlation doesn't necessary equal causation). Lately I've been wondering whether my never-ending battle with my skin might be related to my romance with dairy.

I've been a lacto-vegetarian for years, so dropping the dairy will make me a vegan. I'm prepared to test the theory out starting today, and I've been checking out all YumSugar's delicious-looking vegan recipes for ideas. Have you ever cut out dairy and seen good skin results? And do you have any recommendations for making the transition to a cheese-free diet? (I'm looking at you, lactose intolerant people.)

Bella Quiz: Beauty Fact or Myth?

BellaSugar — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 13:00:34 PST

Besides tips on how to eat right for beautiful skin, nails, and hair, dietitian Lisa Drayer's new book, The Beauty Diet, has wonderful recipes, too. Low-fat double-chocolate milkshake, fire-roasted tomato soup, and white bean "hummus"? Yes, please. Separately, of course.

Another great inclusion? Some common beauty myths are either confirmed or completely busted. Does chocolate actually cause acne? Can carrots improve your eyesight? You're about to find out.

Source

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Bella Book: The Beauty Diet

BellaSugar — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 07:00:12 PST

You are what you eat, right? That's what nutritionist Lisa Drayer will have you believing (and then some) in her new book, The Beauty Diet: Looking Great Has Never Been So Delicious ($15.61).

A registered dietitian, Bayer devotes the majority of this read discussing the nutritional value of foods, naming 10 of the best for a beautiful appearance. (Psst. One of them is chocolate.) She also spills the beans (literally) on what you should eat to provide the best nutrients for hair, nails, skin, teeth, and eyes. And if you tend to get purpley under your peepers, like me, say no to extra salt. Capiche?

While some advice is common sense (get adequate rest, exercise, let go of tension), I found this book to be a great reminder of what it takes to stay healthy - while looking good in the process, of course.

See what other goodies you'll find, along with my opinion, when you

Seeing that I'm a bit of a foodie, the recipes and menu plan towards the end of the book were a personal favorite. I made the sweet potato, zucchini, and goat cheese frittata and it's an 11 out of 10 - delish. I appreciated that her ideas were creative, fresh, and gourmet without the fuss. Green tea frozen yogurt, anyone?

Overall, this read provides a great way of looking at food in a different light. While there's lots of information to digest (ha), it's well-organized, and has some solid advice on maintaining your health and gorgeous self. It's true what they say. Garbage in, garbage out - and this one's not headed toward the disposal.

Nighttime Fasting: A New Way to Lose Weight?

Shape — Thu, 24 May 2012 04:09:52 PDT

We are excited to share one of our fave stories from Shape here on FitSugar. This week Shape turns to Cynthia Sass, a registered dietitian with master's degrees in both nutrition science and public health.

If you couldn’t let anything cross your lips from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 a.m., but you were allowed to eat anything you wanted for eight hours a day and still lose weight, would you try it? That’s the apparent bottom line of a rat study published in the journal Cell Metabolism, which recently stirred up the weight loss pot.

Top 50 Summer Diet Foods for Weight Loss

Scientists put groups of mice on different diet regimens for 100 days. One group of rodents ate healthy food while animals in two of the groups chowed down on high-fat, high-calorie feed. Half of the junk food eaters were allowed to munch whenever they wanted to while the others only had access to feed for the eight hours they were most active. The conclusion: even though they ate a fatty diet, the mice who were forced to fast for 16 hours were almost as lean as those who ate the healthy fare. Interestingly, the round the clock junk food eaters became obese and developed health problems, even though they consumed about the same amount of fat and calories as the time-restricted junk food fed mice.

See if a nutritionist thinks nighttime fasting works after the break!

Raising the Bar: Maxim's "Most Beautiful Woman" Bar Refaeli on Healthy Living

Lizzie Fuhr — Tue, 22 May 2012 12:27:52 PDT

Maxim just named Bar Refaeli the hottest woman alive, and we wholeheartedly support this choice! Not only is Bar a beauty, but her glow reigns from the inside out. She's no fan of fad diets, loves to live a healthy lifestyle, and understands the importance of indulgences every now and again. In honor of Bar's big news, we've rounded up some of her quotes on healthy living for your delight. Click through to check them all out.

Fit Philosophy: Ginnifer Goodwin

Michele Foley — Tue, 22 May 2012 00:02:27 PDT

Happy birthday, Ginnifer Goodwin! The Once Upon a Time star turns 34 today, and to celebrate we're taking a look at how Ginnifer stays active and fit in her daily life.

Always on the go: Ginnifer often credits living in health-conscious LA for her active lifestyle. Whether she's going to Ballet Body or The Bar Method, her workouts gravitate toward leotards, the barre, and pliés. She also turns everyday excursions into an excuse to power walk, "I'll speed-walk a couple of miles, get a cup of coffee, speed-walk back. It’s so easy. Just break a sweat for 30 minutes and you’re fine."

It's a lifestyle not a diet: An outspoken fan of Weight Watchers, she credits the diet program for helping her maintain a healthy weight in realistic ways. She told People, "It takes time because you lose the weight slowly . . . You don't have to go through that horrible yo-yo cycle of binging." Even when counting points, Ginnifer can indulge in treats like her favorite dark chocolate or a pasta dinner. Ginnifer maintains a sense of balance when it comes to eating, so she never has to feel deprived.

Health is more than just weight loss: For Ginnifer, being healthy means being confident, feeling less stressed, and maintaining a well-rounded perspective in her life. She told Health, "Healthy is beautiful. Because what comes with health is a clear mind and a high spirit. When I’m not healthy, I can’t think straight, and I’m unhappy. I’ll realize that I’m an emotional mess, and it’s because I’m dehydrated. Or I’m cold and cranky, and it’s because I’m not exercising and my circulation is poor."

Christine Taylor on Organic Beauty, Her Must Haves, and Nighttime Hair Routine

Jessica Cruel — Thu, 10 May 2012 12:00:00 PDT

Actress Christine Taylor has signed on to be the spokeswoman for organic skin care line Nourish, and as a vegan and mother, her partnership with the brand seems like kismet. "A lot of times products will say 100 percent natural, but this one actually works," Christine explains. "Every person in my family has different favorites, and it's in every bathroom."

Not only does she love the idea of USDA-certified organic beauty (the fresh fig body butter is her top product in the line), but Christine also has plenty of tricks for getting the best results. "You can use the body butter during the day, but you can also load it on at night and wake up with really smooth skin," she explains. Look for Nourish at Whole Foods, and get more of Christine's beauty tips and advice when you read more.

Tracy Anderson's Weight-Loss Tips For Brides-to-Be

Leta Shy — Fri, 04 May 2012 02:39:22 PDT

It seems like Tracy Anderson has trained half of Hollywood, and one of her biggest fans, Nicole Richie, even enlisted her to help her get in shape for her 2010 wedding. "Nicole worked out six days a week, she learned dance aerobics, she did her muscular structure work, and she did it in such a healthy beautiful way," Tracy says of her client's devoted wedding prep. If you want to look like a starlet on your wedding day, here are a few tips Tracy Anderson shared with us for brides-to-be who want to get in shape.

First, start early: Don't wait until the last minute to try and lose weight and then expect miracles, Tracy warns. "The thing that is most unfortunate is when a bride comes to me and has never done anything before and is like 'Oh my god, I have to lose 30 pounds in a month,'" Tracy says. She recommends you figure out your diet and exercise plan as soon as you start looking for venue locations, at the beginning of your wedding planning, so you don't end up resorting to juice cleanses or feeding-tube diets to lose pounds weeks before your big day. (Tracy jokes, "If I were the husband-to-be, I can think of nothing less sexy than my fiance installing a feeding tube to look 120 pounds thinner on the wedding day. I'd probably call it off!")

Read on for Tracy's diet and exercise recommendations for brides!

How Glee's Dianna Agron Keeps Healthy and Fit

Michele Foley — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 13:46:34 PDT

Happy birthday, Dianna Agron! The Glee star turns 26 today, and to celebrate we're taking a look at how the dancing beauty keeps things fit and healthy.

She's a ballet beauty: Like many of her fellow Glee cast members, Dianna has been dancing since an early age - 3 years old, to be exact. Focusing on ballet and jazz, Dianna even taught dance classes as a teen while also appearing in local musical theater productions.

She keeps foods fresh and natural: A vegetarian, Dianna keeps things healthy by cooking most of her own meals. She told Teen Vogue that her healthy diet gives her much-needed stamina to handle the demands of her career. Around town, she's a staple at Whole Foods and her local juice bar - and always with a reusable grocery bag in hand!

She makes fitness part of her everyday routine: With two dogs in her household, you won't find Dianna spending too much time on the couch. Instead, she loves heading outdoors with them for long walks and hikes. She'll also get moving in the name of charity; last year, Dianna participated in a charity race benefiting the Red Cross Japan disaster relief fund.

Photo sources: Vanity Fair, Getty Images, Wenn

Beyoncé's Fit Philosophy

Leta Shy — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 11:05:51 PDT

How does someone become crowned People magazine's World's Most Beautiful Woman? Genetics, of course, play a major part, but so does having a healthy and happy lifestyle. Here's how 2012's winner Beyoncé has stayed fit throughout the years.

She's realistic: "I can't eat what I want, and I can't not go to the gym," Beyoncé told Self. She also has the right outlook; she knows that there isn't a quick fix when it comes to a healthy lifestyle. "The truth is, it's a lot of sacrifice. It's more about your mental strength than physical strength. You have to push yourself. It doesn't matter what trainer you have. And it doesn't matter what program you're on. You have to be healthy and make the right choices," she said.

She saves time: Beyoncé is a fan of celebrity trainer Marco Borges, who trains her using his signature Power Moves philosophy. This system helps Beyoncé save time since it relies on exercises that work several muscle groups at once. She also saves time by interval training, alternating between sprinting and running while on the treadmill, to burn more calories in a shorter amount of time.

Learn more about Beyoncé's diet and fitness routine after the break!