Thank you so much to my friend Alison who loaned me her copy of Kimberly Snyder’s book “The Beauty Detox Foods“. I read it cover to cover in one day and I learned so much wonderful new information from this amazingly knowledgeable woman. Kimberly is a Clinical Nutritionist, chef to countless Hollywood stars, an author, a respected media expert and a stunningly beautiful woman (in only a slightly annoying way ; )
In the book, she shares her own struggles with weight and diet issues, recurring skin problems and health concerns prior to uncovering a healthier way of life- which came about as a result of her global travels spanning over 50 countries in 3 years. What she discovered was that by really immersing herself in the native foods and practices of places like Japan, Nepal, India, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia and Mongolia, ” my hair became shiny and thick, my skin became radiant and in all the years since then, I’ve never once had to back to dieting. Not once.” This led to her pursuing a career as a nutritionist, a devoted following of A-list celebrities and 2 best-selling books.
I highly recommend this book if you are interested in learning about how certain foods contribute to your overall health, well-being and beauty. It is also an interesting guide on how our digestive system works and how vital this process is in maintaining vibrant health and a radiant outer glow. For instance, did you know that you shouldn’t drink water with meals? I didn’t! According to Kimberly “drink water at least half an hour before your meals or an hour following meals. During mealtimes, drink as little as possible. Too much liquid with meals dilutes your digestive juices and can slow digestion considerably.”
The basic principles of the Beauty Detox can be summed up by 3 guidelines:
1. Eat more veggies and fewer animal products.
2. Drink the Glowing Green Smoothie (or juice) every day.
3. Give up dairy.
Source: The Beauty Detox Foods
That may sound challenging (or downright freaky if you are a cheese lover) but Kimberly offers up a wealth of information, suggestions and recipes in the book that make her program seem totally achievable. I had so many “aha” moments while reading this book and I scribbled so many notes in my journal that I decided to go ahead and buy my own copy so that I could reread it, make the recipes and mark it up the pages without worrying about ruining my friend’s book. I also ordered her other book “The Beauty Detox Solution” and I’ve subscribed to her online newsletter to get all of her latest tips and tricks.
The one must-do requirement for her beauty detox is to drink her Glowing Green Smoothie every day. I have been making it all week and I have to say that it is very filling and quite tasty. I also realized that I can pack WAY more greens into my smoothie than I’ve done in the past and still make it drinkable (mind you – the kids really don’t like the cilantro so I had to drink that batch all on my own.) I also like her method for making this smoothie in stages to blend down the greens first and make more room for additional ingredients. Give her recipe a try and see if it takes your energy level, your health and your beauty to the next level!
Glowing Green Smoothie – courtesy of The Beauty Detox Foods- Kimberly Snyder
Yield: about 60 ounces
2 cups water
7 cups chopped spinach
6 cups romaine lettuce (about 1 small head)
2 stalks celery
1 apple, cored
1 pear, cored
1 banana
2 tbsp. fresh lemon juice
1/2 cup chopped cilantro (optional)
1/2 cup chopped parsley (optional)
ice cubes (optional – I have been adding some frozen fruit instead to make the smoothie nice and cold)
Add water, spinach and romaine to the blender. Mix until smooth. Next add the herbs (if using), celery, apple and pear. Blend again. Add the banana and lemon juice and blend. Finish with the ice (or frozen fruit) and blend until very smooth.
Enjoy!
*Note from Kimberly: I encourage you to mix and match your greens and fruit. Vary this recipe with kale, chard, arugula, etc. Just avoid melons, as they are a specific type of fruit that digests better on their own.
