#TovitaNoFilter: Week Two

We're back for week two of #TovitaNoFilter to share our second round of tips for natural beauty from the inside out. Today we’re talking green tea and colorful fruit. Not only are they beauty foods, but they’re also immune boosting (helloooo cold season).

1. Hydrate with green tea or matcha tea. Green tea is a powerful antioxidant that helps scavenge otherwise harmful free radicals roaming around your body. Green tea helps to protect your skin from sun damage by working alongside your SPF to disable free radicals, while the SPF blocks UV rays.

One component of green tea, a catechin called "5-alpha-reductase" can even help with hair loss by inhibiting the effect of a hormone that induces hair loss. Green tea is now a popular component of natural skincare products as it is found to inhibit enzymes that contribute to degradation of skin.

Matcha is a type of green tea leaf that is concentrated into a powder so that you reap 100% of the benefits, rather than just what is steeped through the tea bag. We highly recommend PANATEA matcha powders to make at home, as many of the matcha powders sold in coffee shops are loaded with added sugars!

2. Skip the sweets with added sugar. Here’s a quick science lesson. When sugar enters your bloodstream, it attaches to proteins to form new molecules called advanced glycation end products (appropriately known as AGE’s). As these accumulate, they damage the proteins surrounding them. Some of the most vulnerable to AGE’s are the proteins collagen and elastin, which keep your skin elastic and young looking. When damaged, skin loses its ability to bounce back, it often leads to unwanted wrinkles. You might want to think twice before you break into that candy cabinet. 

AGE’s also damage antioxidants (yes, the one's you've received from all of the fruits and veggies you've been nourishing your body with) leaving you more susceptible to sun damage. Stick to fruit’s natural sweetness and be cautious of hidden sugars in processed foods.

Tovita tip: One of our favorite naturally sweet desserts are popsicles by EatPops. Though these pops serve as sweet treats, they’re essentially simply frozen juices. No sugar added, no preservatives, no catch.

3. Speaking of fruit, make it your goal to consume at least  two servings of colorful fruit per day. Tropical fruits contain vitamin C, which acts as an antioxidant and helps your body produce collagen.

Fun fact? An enzyme in papaya called papain can help reduce skin blemishes and remove dead skin cells when used topically. Papaya DIY face mask anyone?

Stay tuned, we have more natural beauty tips coming your way! Remember to share your natural beauty routines or makeup-free glowing faces using #TovitaNoFilter

 

Tovita Talks: Avocados (Up on WeWoreWhat Lifestyle Section!)

Avocados have managed to hold their place at the top of the trendiest foods list for quite some time now. They have finagled their way into every recipe, from the traditional salad, to the over-instagrammed avocado toast (guilty), to even that morning smoothie. There’s a good reason these fruits have remained the talk of the culinary town, and it’s not just because they’re Danielle’s favorite food. Today we’re going to discuss the ins and the outs of the avocado, because if you’re already on the avo-bandwagon, you should know why.

Click here for the abridged version of this article on WeWoreWhat Lifestyle section! 

You may have heard that these guys are a good source of healthy fats. But what does that really mean? It means they’re made up of predominantly monounsaturated fats, which have heart-healthy properties like the ability to improve LDL-cholesterol levels (the bad kind) and reduce oxidative stress. What’s even more unique is that some of the types of fats that make up the avocado (we won’t bore you with the names) have anti-inflammatory properties. In the past fats have gotten a bad rep because of the common misconception that all fats are pro-inflammatory. While this is true for certain types, like those found in fried or processed foods, it is quite the opposite in the case of the avocado.

Another fun fact is that the healthy fats found in avocados help to increase the absorption of carotenoids - a class of antioxidants often found in orange and yellow colored produce, ie. sweet potatoes, carrots, peppers, etc. So there’s your justification for topping your salads with avocado. You’re welcome.

Just because we’ve belabored the point that avocados are a good source of healthy fats doesn’t give you the green light eat them all day long. The average avocado has about 30 grams of fat, meaning no matter how you slice it, we’re talking lots of calories. Even though it’s tempting to add it on.. literally everything.. be mindful of how much you are eating in a sitting. We recommend keeping it to ¼ of an avocado.

There are still more benefits this fruit has to offer. They’re a good source of most B vitamins,  vitamins K, C, E, fiber, potassium, and copper. Not to mention they provide a ton of phytonutrients, which contribute to their antioxidant properties. Remember, antioxidants act as our bodies “clean up crew” by scavenging dangerous free radicals that can otherwise lead to deleterious health effects. No thanks!

They call the avocado “nature’s butter” for good reason. Whether you’re using it as a spread for the classic avocado toast or you’re eating on the side with your omelet, you can’t go wrong. If you’re looking for a fun new way to incorporate avocados at your next brunch party, we’ve got you covered with the “taco bar method.” On whole grain bread or wheat crackers, serve a platter of plain, blank, avocado toasts. Then, as a taco bar would offer, set up bowls of different toppings and let your guests make their own avo-toasts. Topping ideas include: feta cheese, sliced hard boiled eggs, scrambled eggs, red pepper flakes, hot sauce, tomatoes, mangos, black beans, or any vegetables. Your guests will have fun creating different combinations, and who knows, you may discover the next big avo-hit!