Category Archives: Food

Repair :: Damaged Locks

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My crowning glory – I am blessed with thick dark curly hair, which I have subjected to various torture over the years. 200 degree heat with no protection, dyes and bleach, straightening, curling (I only liked the large curls produced by tongs – not my own frizzy ringlets – no way!) And I’ve got what I deserve, the effects are showing and my lovely hair is dry, broken and not quite so thick as before.

So I am nursing it gently back into condition

#1. No heat. (for a while anyhow)

This is really hard as I am so used to straightening/curling my mop but the temperatures produced by hair dryers, straighteners and curling tongs reach 200 degrees. Not good for healthy locks.

image We Heart It

#2. Condition, condition, condition

Olive oil mask overnight, once a week. Using a ‘salon’ shampoo and conditioner ( detangle hair when wet with a wide tooth comb or a tangle teezer ) and applying a repair serum to freshly washed hair. I mix my serum with some Moroccan hair oil.

#3. Use an anti-frizz serum

There is no way around this one. Find a product that suits your hair and use daily.

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#4. Use Hot Oils

My favourite is VO5. These help to restore moisture and strength hair to avoid further breakages. Use once a week.

image Wit & Delight

 #5. Diffuse

If you are going with natural curls, they always look better when you use a diffuser, especially on a cold setting.

image My Crazy Beautiful Life

#6. You are what you eat

The best way to sort out any problems on the ‘outside’ be it hair, skin, weight is always to edit your diet to include lots of fresh fruit and veg, drink lots of h20 and exercise. A few foods specifically to help repair your locks – avocado, lean proteins, nuts and bananas. Look for foods which contain Zinc, essential for promoting growth and development of all cells in the body. You could also take a supplement specifically targeted at conditioning hair and nails.

And… give it time! Patience and commitment are required as always. It didn’t take a few days for your hair to get to condition it is in now, and it will take longer than a few days to recondition it. Be consistent and you will see improvement in a few weeks. Maintain your new regime to ensure hair stays in condition.

What do you do to keep your locks in top shape?

Catherine, xo

The Secret to a Youthful Complexion

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We all want a clear, glowing and wrinkle-free complexion. Many of us spend money on expensive pots of the latest ‘wonder’ product. The skin is the bodies largest organ and a reflection of our health. As we all know ‘we are what we eat’ and pasty, uneven or spotty skin is an indicator that all is not well. Follow these rules to have your skin looking its very best..

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#1. Always look for brightly coloured fruit and veg. Tomatoes are excellent source of anti-oxidants -so include them in your diet as much as possible

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#2. Include bitter tasting fruit & veg. For example broccoli & radishes…

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#3. Oily fish is an excellent source of Omega 3 which has anti-inflammatory benefits. Mackerel and salmon are just two of the best choices.

Image Helene Cyr

#4.Avoid starchy foods. No pasta, rice or potatoes.

#5. Watch your blood sugar…

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The link between blood sugars and ageing is unbelievable, with research showing those with lower blood sugars looking younger than their years and at the opposite end of the scale – diabetics who have been exposed to high sugars over a long period – tend to look much older. Sugar attaches on the the collagen in our skin and makes it brittle and much harder for the skin to repair itself. Cut back the sugar in your diet and you will see more benefits than just younger looking skin – you will also decrease your risk of developing diabetes. I’m currently reading the blood sugar solution by Mark Hyman on the topic.

How do you keep your complexion looking its best?

Catherine, x

If you have problems with acne you might be interested in this article over on LaurenConrad.com – Acne Fighting Foods

Workout Mix

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A great playlist is a must for me to keep my feet moving when I’m out running, with a good selection of up tempo songs I can manage to finish my run just that bit easier. Nothing like a good beat to put a smile on your face and spur you on!

Some of my favourites at the moment (there is no room for any chilled vibes here…)

#1. What Ya got for me, Signum (its clear to me, I got something in me!)

#2. Everytime, Nalin & Kane

#3. Carte Blanche, Veracocha

#4. Universal Nation, Push

#5. Time to burn, Sandstorm (name says it all)

#6. T.H.E (The Hardest Ever) feat Mick Jagger and Will.i.am

#7. Feel the Love, Rudimental Feat John Newman

#8. You’re Shining, Styles & Breeze

#9. Touch me, Rui da Silva

#10 Sexy and you know it, LMFAO

Most of these ‘tunes’ are 6-10 minutes long…

What songs do you like to workout to?

Catherine, xo

Diet changes

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So I have been researching a lot recently on low GL diets and the link between diet and acne, I have decided to eliminate all dairy produce alongside following the low GL diet, taking my vitamins and using the environ products… I am so interested (and really hoping!) that this works for me. I initially thought cutting out dairy would be easy, and that I didn’t eat that much anyhow – how wrong! Its gonna be harder than I thought but I am dedicated to it and have stocked up on soya milk and yoghurt… and I will just have to do without butter!

In summary the main diet changes I have made

#1.P O R R I D G E

I have porridge every morning without fail, and this is one of the key differences for me. I’ve always been a breakfast skipper, running late and always excusing myself as never ‘hungry in the mornings’ anyhow… I dismissed all advice on how important it is to eat a good breakfast, however this has been the biggest revelation. The porridge is filling me up so much and keeping my blood sugars stable I’m no longer looking to go to the bakery at elevenses! (and succumbing to the tasty buns calling to me the minute I walk through the door!) In fact my cravings have pretty much completely diminished! Its fantastic! So eat porridge! I have mine with soya yoghurt, berries, a sprinkle of nuts and seeds and a drizzle of honey… yum

#2. G R A Z E 

Eat regularly to keep blood sugars even. Skipping any meal will leave you drained and reaching for a sugar rush to get some energy. This will restart blood sugar problems and create problems for you sticking to the diet. Eating protein and carbohydrate together at regular intervals will stop this from happening and over time cravings will diminish…

#3. D R I N K  W A T E R

Ok we all know this but I know, I for one tend to go through phases when I drink lots of water and then phases when I just totally forget to drink as much as I should. The benefits of water are fantastic – from filling you up (sometimes when you think you are hungry you are just thirsty) to helping eliminate toxins from your body and keeping your skin in tip top condition. So drink up!

#4.C U T  D O W N  O N  T H E  W I N E

I love a glass of wine, it represents relaxation, the weekend, time with friends and family and it tastes good! But in the grand context of things I don’t like the hangover the next day, the parched skin or the ‘wine waist’ and so for now I have eliminated it completely. Guess what – a glass of elderflower cordial in a wine glass actually does the trick in fooling me into feeling like I’m not missing out and I feel great the next day. When I have got my weight in control I will have a glass again but just ‘a glass’ and not ‘a bottle’!

These are just a few of the changes I’ve made I’ll keep you updated with my progress and more of my lifestyle changes over the coming weeks….

Has anyone else tried any of these ideas? I’d really love to hear your thoughts and experiences – and any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Catherine, xo