#TovitaNoFilter: Foodtrainers dietitian Carolyn Brown's natural beauty routines

Today we sat down with our dear friend Carolyn Brown to find out what keeps her feeling beautiful, happy, and glowing. Carolyn is a dietitian at the New York City private practice Foodtrainers. She knows NYC's health and fitness world inside and out. Believe us when we tell you, you'll want to know this tall, blonde bombshell's health secrets!

I’m not super high maintenance when it comes to a beauty routine but there are a few beauty + wellness items I worship! When it comes to nutrition, I’m all about keeping it simple. Boring but good ol’ h2o, first thing, pre-coffee is a MUST. 

Second is getting very veggie'd at at least 2 meals a day. I roast, grill, steam, soup, or nosh on them raw. Being prepped is crucial; in order to eat good food, you have to have it on hand! So I live for instacart and maxdelivery for keeping my fridge stocked and my life organized. 

I do have two nutrition addictions that are a little more hippy dippy but I can't live without. First is turmeric by Wakaya Perfection, it's like natures Prozac and so good for sore muscles, and Ginger or chai kombucha. They are my daily rituals, I sneak turmeric in in smoothies, yogurt, green juice, salad dressings, marinades and eggs. Kombucha is my night cap if I'm not hitting the vino, it helps me wind down and is loaded with good for your belly probiotics. 

Next I exercise or move at least 5 days a week, it’s my meditation — Ive found a great group of workout buddies via a retreat with SurfYogaBeer that has changed my workout world. I love soul cycle, fhitting room and Y7 yoga. Find friends that make you move — and make you laugh! And then go eat brunch with them.  

On the beauty from the inside note - I am a therapy junkie. Forget the therapy stigma, I think everyone in their 20’s in NYC should go. I went for 5+ years and it is the number one thing that has shifted my happiness and overall wellbeing.  No one looks pretty when they are cranky and anxious. 

Lastly - with skincare I try to keep it super organic. I want to live in both CAP beauty in the west vill and ABC home. Jiva Apoha oil and RMS un-cover up + living luminizer are my daily face routine. When i’m having a skin freakout, which is more rare since i started living by the above rules, I hit Skin Laundry for some zapping and see the glowy benefits pretty much immediately. 

Thank you, Carolyn! Keep up with Carolyn's adventures @onesmartbrownie 

#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

 

Spotlight on: Apple Cider Vinegar

We love foods that have multiple uses and health benefits and apple cider vinegar is certainly one of them. Apple cider vinegar (ACV) is made in a two step fermentation process transitioning from apple cider-->alcohol-->vinegar. Organic, unfiltered apple cider vinegar brands (like Bragg's) also have added proteins, enzymes, and probiotics. The murky "blob" (for lack of a better word) in the ACV bottle is known as the "mother", or cloud of all the healthy bacteria and proteins. 

ACV was originally used as an antibacterial agent, cleaning and disinfecting less glamorous problems like nail fungus, lice, warts, and ear infections. It was also used to prevent food spoilage by inhibiting food borne pathogens from growing. Along these same lines, ACV is one of the best natural skin care products. It can be used to prevent acne by killing bacteria on the skin, and also removing dark spots. The vinegar contains powerful alpha hydroxy acids that remove dead skin revealing newer, fresher skin underneath. 

The next benefit of ACV is stabilizing blood sugar levels. This is important for both diabetics and non-diabetics. ACV improves insulin sensitivity and can lower blood glucose. One study showed that 2 tablespoons of ACV before bed can reduce fasting blood sugars by 4%. 

Newer studies have shown that ACV may help with weight loss by improving satiety and curbing cravings. Studies showed that having 1-2 tablespoons of ACV with high-carb meals could increase feelings of fullness. Participants in the study ate 200-275 fewer calories the rest of the day. 

Finally, ACV can help with digestive discomfort. Because it is a fermented food, the probiotics help maintain gut balance and aid in digestion. Vinegar contains malic acid which can help with constipation or acid reflux. Drinking vinegar stimulates the valve at the bottom of your throat to close shut, keeping stomach acid down where it belongs. 

How to use it? For the more hardcore health nuts, you may try taking a "shot" of ACV first thing in the morning. We recommend putting a tablespoon or two in eight ounces of warm water with lemon. Drinking this combo first thing in the morning will wake up your digestive tract and get things moving.   If that doesn't sound so appealing, simply try replacing balsamic vinegar with ACV for salad dressings or cooking.