Eating Yourself to A More Youthful You
Making Smarter Choices with Dr. Murad’s Pitcher of Health
How many times have you been told “you are what you eat”? It’s an adage you’ve probably heard more times than you can count – and for good reason. Your external beauty is a direct reflection of internal health. Noticing excessive breakouts or loss of elasticity? Or perhaps your skin just looks a little lackluster? You may be experiencing hormonal fluctuations or missing some integral nutrients. The truth is, there is a fundamental relationship between what goes into your body and your outward appearance. If you want to be beautiful you must eat beautifully; meaning you must feed yourself to nourish your physical and emotional wellbeing. Dr. Howard Murad, FAAD, Associate Clinical Professor of Dermatology at UCLA and founder of Murad, Inc. tells us how we can achieve that enviable glowing skin from within by achieving emotional satisfaction, ensuring a proper diet and, most importantly, eating our water.
“Most women understand that applying the right topical products is essential to achieve a radiant and glowing complexion,” explains Dr. Murad. “But what they don’t realize is that what they are eating has a profound effect on their overall appearance, as well. When you feed your body the nutrients it needs to function, it helps you to feel better and when you feel better, you look better. It is a continuous cycle.”
Dr. Murad refers to this holistic and comprehensive approach as Inclusive Health; healing cellular restoration through a three-pronged method of wellness; Looking Better through topical care, Feeling Better through internal care (what you eat and the supplements you take) and Living Better through emotional care and stress management.
To help people make smart food choices, Dr. Murad created the Pitcher of Health. This easy to understand visual guide, provides a roadmap to maximum skin and body rejuvenation that, unlike a deprivation-based diet, is designed to encourage people to eat more of the foods that will aid the body in building strong, water-tight cells.
* Fruits and Vegetables (3 to 4 servings): Raw fruits and vegetables are the best source of structured water and fiber, and provide a range of macro and micro nutrients that are nature’s most powerful antioxidants.
* Whole grains (4 to 8 servings): The best source of complex carbohydrates, whole grains provide the body with long lasting energy and contain fiber, minerals and vitamins.
* Protein (4 to 6 servings): Healthy protein supplies the body with the amino acids needed for cellular renewal that keeps all organs and systems functioning at an optimal level. Enjoy embryonic foods like eggs, beans and seeds; these foods contain all the building blocks for regeneration and will flood your body with vital nutrients to make all your cells healthier.
* Fats (3 to 4 servings): All fats are not created equal. “Healthy” fats are unsaturated, such as Omega fatty acids 3, 6, and 9 found in fatty fish like black cod and salmon, flaxseed oil, extra-virgin olive oil, canola oil, natural-style nut butters, and nuts. These “good” fats keep your body hydrated, supple, youthful and healthy.
* Supplements: Even the healthiest diet cannot provide the body with everything it needs. Supplements ensure optimal nutrition.
* Eat Your Water: Proper hydration is vital to the health of your cells, and without healthy cells, your health and appearance will adversely deteriorate. Contrary to the eight-glass-a-day myth, sticking to a healthy, vegetable based diet will keep the body well hydrated, minimizing the amount of drinking water needed. Dr. Murad calls this eating your water (yes, you read that right). Oftentimes, you lose valuable nutrients
when the body is flushed with too much water and just find yourself running to the bathroom every 5 minutes. “If you eat your water, you won’t need to count your glasses,” Dr. Murad recommends. “Replace at least one glass of water a day with one serving of raw fruits or vegetables; you will be able to stay hydrated significantly longer. Eating foods that are rich in structured water, especially raw fruits and vegetables, will not only help your body hold onto water longer, you’ll get the added boost of important antioxidants, fiber and other nutrients.”
Fueling your body according to Dr. Murad’s Pitcher of Health is essential to keeping it performing at optimal levels of health. However, it’s also important to allow yourself the indulgences your body craves by treating yourself to what isn’t on the Pitcher of Health. “I always advise my patients to eat the water-rich foods their bodies need, but I also tell them to enforce the 80/20 rule,” Dr. Murad explains. “Eat according to the Pitcher of Health 80% of the time, and enjoy the treats they love no more than 20% of the time. I always say, before there was medicine, there was food and before there was food, there was chocolate!”
About Murad
Dr. Howard Murad is a Board-certified Dermatologist and Trained Pharmacist who has channeled his unique expertise and exceptional depth of experience into innovative skincare formulas and a breakthrough approach to care called Inclusive Health®. Since 1989, his Murad Skincare brand has introduced millions to the transformative power of Inclusive Health. Today Murad is more than a brand; it’s a lifestyle that allows people all over the world to look and feel Better Every Day®.
Learn more at www.murad.com.
