How to eat for a less stressed life

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They say you are what you eat, and this is so true when it comes to our stress levels.

Not only is stress linked to serious physical health issues like heart disease, a poor immune system and digestive problems, but it plays a significant factor when it comes to our mental wellbeing.

You might not know this, but eating a balanced, nutritious diet isn’t only good for your body but it’s key for your brain, too.

Food can also affect our hormones, so eating well will help you to keep your cool and you’ll find that the more of the right stuff you eat, the less of the bad stuff you will feel.

We have had a look at some ideas that could help you get a better balance in your life and help the world to look like a better place.

Keep your blood sugar levels steady
This step is so important and can be done if you start to swap sugary and starchy foods for complex carbohydrates, protein and healthy fats as these are more satisfying and keep things balanced. Sweet potato and broccoli (complex carbs) with salmon (healthy fats and protein) make a great meal for lunch or dinner and will not only fill you up but also keep things steady so your stress levels don’t though the roof. Celery sticks with hummus, a handful of nuts, and a banana with some almond butter are all great snacks that will keep stress away, and if you start your day with porridge, you are onto a winner.

Get your B vitamins
You might not know this, but B vitamins are brilliant because they help your adrenal glands deal with stress. Luckily for us, they are everywhere and in everything from wholegrains, eggs and meat to nuts and seeds. If you can try to eat more of these wholesome, nourishing foods, your stress levels will thank you.

Make time for magnesium
Magnesium is great for helping your body to deal with stress, it is thought that a magnesium deficiency can be linked to anxiety. If you want to boost your magnesium intake, it’s pretty easy – just pile your plate with broccoli, eggs, spinach and pumpkin seeds and if you are worried you aren’t getting enough, take a supplement and let the goodness calm you down.

Cut back on stimulants
We do take them on board so easily, that we forget just how much stimulants can make our stress levels worse. If you love tea and coffee because it powers you up, that’s ok, but try to have just one or two cups a day, rather than ten.

Those energy drinks, even the sugar free ones, are full of nasties that can make you feel as if your heart is racing and your stress levels are off the scale, so cut them out.
If you find yourself needing a caffeine hit, get it the natural way and go for green tea instead – it contains a compound called l-theanine which helps you feel calmer, and the warmth will soothe you but your stress levels won’t go through the roof.

Keep hydrated
One of the best things you can do for your mind and body, is to drink plenty of water. We know we say this a lot, but that’s because it’s true. Starting the day with a cup of warm water and lemon can really help to kick start your system and clear away the toxins from the night before. Carry a bottle of water with you on the go (a reusable one of course) and fill it up when you are running low, adding lemon, lime and ice for taste. As well as a glass on your desk or at your workstation, also try out herbal and fruit teas as an alternative to the skinny, double shot, extra hot flat white that will set your nerves on edge and add to your stress levels.

Managing your diet is key to helping with stress, but if you’re feeling overwhelmed and things are getting out of hand, it’s really important to speak to someone or seek professional support, you don’t have to struggle alone.

Team Pure Beauty

Easy ways to a coconut to your beauty regime

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4-in-1 treatment mist, Aloe Vera, balance, bergamot, broad-spectrum sunscreen, Camellia, citrus, coconut, coconut fans, coconut oil, coconut water, comfort, Dermalogica Intensive Moisture Cleanser, Dermalogica Super Rich Repair, dry skin, effective, Elemis Lime and Ginger Salt Glow, Elemis Skin Nourishing Shower Cream, Elemis Superfood Kefir-Tea Mist, evening primrose oil, face, ginger, hair, healthy-looking glow, heavy weight cream, hydration, infused, jasmine, kefir ferment, kind, light, lime, luxurious exfoliator, macadamia, Milk Protein, morning and night, murumuru seed butter, natural product, natural resilience, nourished, Oat Kernel, palmarosa, pollution, refresh, rooibos tea extract, salt, samples, satin soft, Shea butter, simple, soft, soothe, super-light, supple, Sweet Almond, tired skin, tropical, UV rays

We’re massive coconut fans here at Pure Beauty because it works for you on so many levels. This simple, but effective natural product is kind to your skin, and hair, and we think you’ll be surprised at just how many products come with the benefits of coconut one way or another.

Let’s great this tropical party started with the Dermalogica Intensive Moisture Cleanser. The beauty regime staple is great at cleaning away make-up and dirt, and thanks to coconut oil and murumuru seed butter the natural resilience of skin is boosted too. Extracts of citrus, palmarosa and jasmine have been added into the mix and help soothe and refresh tired skin, so it looks awake and lifted.

It’s the coconut and jojoba oils in the Elemis Daily Defence Shield SPF30 that leave skin protected as well as feeling nourished, soft and supple. Layered liberally every morning over your regular moisturiser, this super-light, broad spectrum sunscreen is a great way to keep UV rays, light and pollution from damaging your skin.

If dry skin gets you down, you might want to think about trying the Dermalogica Super Rich Repair. While this is a heavy weight cream, it doesn’t overload the skin but instead offers hydration thanks to shea butter, coconut oil and evening primrose oil. Used morning and night, after cleansing and toning, this cream could offer the comfort and love you have been looking for.

The Elemis Skin Nourishing Shower Cream might be rich in milk protein, but this isn’t the only reason this product looks after your limbs. Nourishing camellia, macadamia and jojoba oils have been combined with extracts of oat kernel, coconut oil and wheat germ to ensure you skin is satin soft and supple when you step out of the steam.

For something special this winter, why not try out the Elemis Lime and Ginger Salt Glow? We adore this luxurious exfoliator because it is packed with lime, ginger and salt which come together to stimulate, warm and tone the skin. The magic doesn’t stop there because a unique blend of bergamot, coconut and sweet almond oils have been added into the mix, so skin is left smooth, soft and smelling sensational.

We can’t go without mentioning the Elemis Superfood Kefir-Tea Mist. This super hydrating 4-in-1 treatment mist is infused with antioxidant rich rooibos tea extract and kefir ferment which soothe and brighten complexions. Organic aloe vera, coconut water and a natural prebiotic, balance the skin so it is hydrated, and you have a healthy-looking glow – what more can you ask for?

If you would like more information, samples, or advice on how to get your best skin ever, drop us a line or give us a call and we would love to help.

Team Pure Beauty

Soup To Nourish Your Body

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If you are looking for wholesome, nourishing food that will feed your body this winter, soups are a real winner.

Yes, you can buy tinned and fresh ones at the supermarket, but there is something really satisfying about serving up a steaming bowl of goodness you have made from scratch.

Asian Broth
If you are looking for a light lunch option, you can’t go wrong with this quick and easy recipe that serves four.

You will need:
3 cloves of garlic
One piece of ginger (around 5cm)
200 g of pak choi, choy sum and Chinese cabbage
2 spring onions
1 red chilli
2 star anise
800 ml of clear vegetable stock
1 lime
Soy sauce

To make:
Peel and crush the garlic, then peel and grate the ginger. Trim the greens and finely slice the spring onions and chilli then add to a saucepan together with the garlic, ginger and star anise.
Put the pan over a low heat, add the stock, then bring to the boil. Gently simmer for around half an hour, then finally add the vegetables and cook gently until they are slightly wilted but still give a little bit of crunch.
Serve with soy sauce and a little lime juice and enjoy the fragrant flavours.

Winter Vegetable Soup with Red Lentils
This is a great warming soup to enjoy with family and friends after a country walk but also makes a hearty dinner when served with pitta bread and humus.

You will need:

85g of dried red lentils
2 medium carrots, diced
2 leeks, thinly sliced
1 red pepper, deseeded and diced
2 tablespoons of tomato purée
1 tablespoon of fresh thyme leaves
3 cloves of garlic peeled and crushed
1 tablespoon of vegetable bouillon powder
1 teaspoon of ground coriander
Boiling water
Salt and pepper to taste

To make:
Add the lentils and vegetables to a pan together with the tomato purée, thyme, garlic, bouillon powder and coriander, then pour in one litre of boiling water and stir well. Cover the pan and simmer for 30 minutes or until the lentils are tender.
You can either eat this as a chunky soup, or blitz in a blender and enjoy a smoother meal.

Roast Sweet Potato Soup

This delicious soup is a packed with 2 of your 5 a day and is perfect for taking to work in a flask or eating after a gym session.

You will need:
500g of sweet potato, peeled and cut into small chunks
300g of carrots, peeled and diced
Olive oil
2 small red onions, peeled and finely chopped
2 garlic cloves, peeled and grated
1 tablespoon of vegetable bouillon powder
100ml of fat-free crème fraîche, plus extra to serve
Salt and pepper
Boiling water

To make:
Heat oven to 220C/200C fan/ gas 7 then drizzle the carrots and sweet potatoes with olive oil plus salt and pepper and cook for around half an hour.
Heat two large tablespoons of olive oil in a saucepan and fry the onion until it is soft and translucent. Add the garlic and cook for several minutes then pour in the boiling water and vegetable bouillon powder and mix well and simmer for around ten minutes.
Take the roasted vegetables out of the oven and once cool, add to the pan mix and blend together until smooth and lump free.
Add the crème fraîche, reheat and enjoy.

Kick off Christmas with cocktails

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With the big day getting closer by the hour, isn’t it time you started to wind down and enjoy a little Christmas cheer?

Forget going to the pub and waiting hours to be served a warm pint of beer or weak vodka and tonic, instead why not throw at cocktail party at home?

Set a date, organise a Secret Santa and get the girls round for drinks and and festive fun.

We have put together some super-easy, great tasting drinks we think you will love.

Christmas just isn’t Christmas without a Christmas Cosmo. This is the height of sophistication and we have added a little extra zing. You will need:

• A bottle of good quality vodka
• A bottle of ginger wine
• 1 litre of cranberry juice
• 5 limes
• Lime zest and stem ginger to garnish
• Ice to serve
• Cocktail glasses with sugar frosting

Mix the vodka and ginger wine in a chilled jug.

Add the cranberry juice and then the lime juice.

Garnish the glasses with ice, lime zest and stem ginger.

Pour, sip, repeat.

The Winter Wonderland Delight is a cool, smooth drink that is easy to make, easy to drink, easy to remake….what’s not to like?

You will need:

• 1 oz of cream of coconut
• A double serving of vanilla vodka – we will like Absolut
• 1½ oz creme de cocoa
• Lots of ice

First of all crush the ice in a blender, then add the cream of coconut, vanilla vodka and creme de cocoa. Give the blender a five second blast.

Shake until well.

Strain into glasses and enjoy.

If you are looking for something bubbly with a twist, look not further the Amaretto Fizz.

You will need:

• A small bottle of amaretto-flavored liqueur like Disaronno
• 1 litre of fresh orange juice – we prefer smooth
• 2 bottles of prosecco or champagne
• Strips of fresh orange zest
• Ice

First of all chill the glasses as this drink is best served cold, very cold.

Then mix together the Disaronno, orange juice and sparkling wine in a jug. Add orange zest to each glass, and some ice, then pour and put this Pure-Beauty favourite to the test.

It is a good idea not to leave anyone out, so have a bowl of non-alcoholic punch at the ready. We love this zesty, fizzy concoction as it tastes so amazing you mind missing out on the booze factor.

You will need:

• A small box of strawberries
• 1kiwi fruit chopped and peeled
• 1 tin of chilled pineapple chunks
• One bottle of sparkling apple juice
• One bottle of tropical fruit juice
• One bottle of sparking mineral water
• Ice

Put the strawberries, kiwi fruit and pineapple chunks into a large, glass bowl. Then added equal amounts of chilled sparkling apple juice, chilled tropical fruit juice and chilled mineral water. Serve with chilled glasses with ice and smile.

Remember to drink responsibly, eat as well as quaffing and have a glass of water between cocktails.

Happy Christmas.

Team Pure-Beauty