Tips for trying a vegetarian diet

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absorption of fat-soluble vitamins, anaemia, avocado, ‘bad’ cholesterol, body growth, brain function, bright, brown pasta, buckwheat, bulgur, calcium, cell membranes, cleaner eating, Convenience foods, dairy products, diet, dried fruit, egg yolks, eggs, energy sources, fat, flaxseed oils, fortified breakfast cereals, fortified soya milk, free from meat and fish, fruit and vegetables, GP, green leafy vegetables, happy vegetarian, health, health food shop, healthy, heart, heart disease, immune system, iron levels, key nutrients, metabolism, nuts, oats, olive, oxygen, protein, pulses, Quorn, red blood cells, reproductive health, salt, seeds, Starchy carbohydrates, strokes, sugar, suitable for vegetarians, supplements, tofu, trend, unsaturated fats, Vegan, vegetarian, vibrant mix, Vitamin B12, waistline, wholemeal bread, Yeast Extract, zinc

While the current trend might be to go vegan, for some people, becoming a vegetarian is the first step to cleaner eating.

A diet free from meat and fish can be a good move, you need to make sure you are still eating key nutrients, so we have some tips on how to be a healthy, happy vegetarian.

Protein is needed for body growth and repair, and good vegetarian options include pulses, nuts, seeds, eggs, dairy products, tofu and Quorn.

Starchy carbohydrates are great energy sources, and you can find these in wholegrains, such as wholemeal bread, brown pasta, buckwheat, bulgur, and oats.

Unsaturated fats are another energy source and you also need them for building cell membranes, brain function, and for the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E and K). Olive and flaxseed oils are one source, together with nuts, seeds, and of course super tasty, very versatile avocado.

We all need iron for healthy red blood cells and to carry oxygen around our bodies, and is key for children, teenagers and women. Low iron levels can lead to anaemia so try to include egg yolks, pulses, dried fruit, green leafy vegetables, and fortified breakfast cereals in your daily diet.

Zinc is brilliant at supporting your immune system and for reproductive health. Go for seeds, pumpkin ones are good, nuts, green leafy vegetables, pulses and wholegrains, you can get your fix.

You really need Vitamin B12 as a vegetarian as it helps your metabolism and can prevent B12 anaemia. Eggs and dairy products, yeast extract, fortified soya milk and breakfast cereals are all ideas to consider.

Omega-3 fatty acids are the healthy fats that lower levels of ‘bad’ cholesterol and thus reduce your risks of heart disease and strokes. We tend to get this nutrient from fish, but vegetarians can get them from seeds (especially flaxseeds), or vegetarian supplements, so ask your GP or health food shop staff about the options.

So, how do these fit into your diet? Each day aim to get:
At least five servings of fruit and vegetables, but go for more if you can and aim for a bright, vibrant mix.
Three to four servings of starchy carbohydrates
Two to three servings of protein, such as pulses, nuts and seeds and, the same with dairy, plus a little oil or butter.
At least one type of food fortified with vitamin B12, such as yeast extract or cereal.
Do the same as above with Omega 3, or take a supplement.

Go for a balanced diet full of variety. Some of us fall into the habit of eating the same foods day in and day out, but you need to eat a variety of foods to avoid missing out on vital nutrients. Really embrace fruit and vegetables, eat them raw, blend in smoothies and add spices and lentils to make tasty, filling dinners.

Bread and pasta are good sources of starchy carbohydrates, but they can fill you up before you get all of the other nutrients you need.

Cheese is full of protein and calcium, but it’s also high in fat and salt, so just watch how much you eat.

Convenience foods might say they are ‘suitable for vegetarians’, but they can still be high in fat, salt, sugar and additives, so eat in moderation. The same goes with fast food and take-aways.

Being a vegetarian can be great for your health, heart and waistline, as well as the environment, so enjoy the adventure and find the foods that make you happy.

Team Pure Beauty

Which subscription box is for you?

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3, 6 or 12 month options, ‘Awesome as you are’, Baebox, balance and joy, bang on the money, Beautifully illustrated cards and paper, Birchbox, Bloom & Wild, blooms, carefully selected products, Clarins, consumer revolution, cool games, cranberries and pecan nuts and pop-it-yourself popcorn, Favourites, flowers, gift tags, girls, Glossybox, Graze, healthy, home, HoneyTreePost, iconic brands, inspirational quotes, luxury range, Maybelline, monthly subscription, MUA, Nails Inc, natural colour, notecards, one-off box, personalised boxes, pineapple and coconut flakes to pots of almonds, positive messages, post, postage, postcards, recipes, retreat information, rustic flapjacks with honeycomb and chocolate drizzle and mango, smile, stationery, stationery lover, stems, tasty snacks, Toiletries, tote bags, trend, UK subscription box, vending machine, yogi, Yogi and Bare, Yogi and Bare box

The UK subscription box market is booming and as people demand more convenience when it comes to shopping, things can only get bigger.

The subscription box trend was started, like so many things, in the US, when
Birchbox, offered monthly deliveries of make-up and beauty products and started a consumer revolution.

The concept quickly took off and is now a thriving industry around the world.

With so much to choose from, we have done a round-up of our favourites.

Baebox is a fab monthly subscription box aimed at girls aged eight to 15. Each box costs £16.00 and is packed with cute stationery, tote bags, toiletries and cool games. We love these boxes because they also feature postcards that come with inspirational quotes and positive messages that make you feel fab. The Baebox ethos is ‘Awesome as you are’ and with a box just for boys too, this subscription is bang on the money.

If you are fed up of the vending machine to get your afternoon fix, why not try Graze? These guys have been around for a while and send out personalised boxes of healthy, tasty snacks that are brilliant. From rustic flapjacks with honeycomb and chocolate drizzle and mango, pineapple and coconut flakes to pots of almonds, cranberries and pecan nuts and pop-it-yourself popcorn with a touch of salt, there is something for everyone.

If the free spirit in you needs a regular fix, you will love Yogi and Bare. This is either a monthly subscription or a one-off box that is full of carefully selected products that bring balance and joy to your life. From £26.00 (plus postage) your day will be brightened when you open the post and find a selection of skincare products, clothing, jewellery or snacks, as well as retreat information, recipes and so much more.

Flowers through the letterbox sounds wrong, but Bloom & Wild have made it oh so right. The luxury range of blooms and stems plus premium packaging will put a smile on even the most stressed face. With 3, 6 or 12 month options, this is an affordable way to have a pop of natural colour in your home all year round and because the flowers come ‘flat-packed’, you don’t need to be home to sign for them.

If you’re a stationery lover, then HoneyTreePost is going to be the subscription box for you. Each month a collection of inspired stationery is put together and sent straight to your desk. Beautifully illustrated cards and paper, postcards, notecards and gift tags could be amongst the seven items you receive and each one will make you smile.

We couldn’t complete this round-up without mention the amazing Glossybox. From just £10 a month, you will receive a super-stylish box containing five products from iconic brands like MUA, Clarins, Maybelline and Nails Inc together with expert tips and tricks. We think you will love it so much, you will want to buy subscriptions for family and friends too.

Got a box you love? Write in and let us know more!

Team Pure Beauty

The Best Ways to Groom Your Eyebrows

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2015, brows, eyebrows, grooming, trend

Never have eyebrows been more of a vital part in your grooming routine than in 2015, and there are several key looks this autumn and winter which incorporate a heavily styled brow. Whether you go for the barely-there look or the more up-to-date thicker styles, eyebrows must be kept neat and well-groomed to look their best, so we thought we’d take a look at some of the best ways to groom your eyebrows, either by yourself or in a salon.

Plucking

Plucking is the most popular ‘go-to’ method as it’s simple, accurate and can be done at home with little effort or expenditure. The key with plucking is to avoid over-plucking as this can make eyebrows look terse and will change the whole shape of your face. Cleanse your face with Dermalogica Pre-Cleanse Wipes, concentrating on the eyebrow area to avoid spots or ingrown hairs.

Waxing

Waxing is a great method for getting a clean shape and slow regrowth, and can be performed both at home and in a salon. Salons tend to use liquid wax for the accuracy, however the easiest way to wax your eyebrows at home is to either use pre-shaped wax strips or use an eyebrow stencil to help you cut a full-size wax strip to the right shape. Apply Decleor Post-Wax Cream for Sensitive Areas once you’re done to help calm any redness.

Threading

Threading is an ancient method of hair removal which originated in Asia and uses a twisted piece of cotton to pluck hairs out quickly. It’s highly accurate and gives fantastic results, and can be used on just about any area of the face. In fact, if you’re a threading newbie and go to a salon, don’t be alarmed if they ask if you’d like your whole face threaded, top lip and all! One downside with threading is that some people find it quite painful, however millions of women do it and love it, so it must be worth the discomfort.

Bleaching

Bleaching facial hair is not quite so common these days as there are other methods available, however it’s good if you don’t want to deal with stubbly regrowth or have hair between your eyebrows that you don’t want to remove. Ensure you don’t damage your skin by leaving the bleach on for the minimum time needed and replenish any moisture you may have stripped away with an application of Dermalogica Intensive Moisture Balance afterwards.

Shaving

If you’re possessed of a steady hand, you may choose to shave your eyebrows and some people choose to remove theirs altogether, in favour of a drawn-on brow. If we’re honest, shaving our brows is really not our idea of fun, however if you do choose to do so, make sure you use a good barrier, such as Dermalogica Close Shave Oil and apply a post-shave treatment such as Dermalogica Soothing Shave Cream to reduce irritation.