#NoFilter: the correlation between acne and poor nutrition

Mirror: "You look good today."

Camera: "LOL no."

Instagram filters: "I got you."


It's no longer just teenagers suffering from acne. More and more adults are unhappy with their skin. This is because hormones aren't the only factor in whether or not you get pimples. Many scientists have traced this rise to the changes in the dietary habits of North Americans. Studies continue to prove their hypothesis correct. 
I started suffering from severe acne as a freshman in college. It was painful physically and emotionally. After much research and self-discipline, my skin cleared up. To make it easy for you here are some do's and don'ts for skincare:

Do:

• switch to "whole wheat" if you're eating white bread, or "multigrain"
• get enough Omega-3 and Vitamin B
• cleanse your face twice a day (especially before going to sleep)
• drink a lot of water all the time
• get plenty of sleep
• moisturize 

Don't:

• drink too much coffee (or other heavily caffeinated drinks)
• fill up on sugar
• consume greasy or processed foods
• touch your face (or pick at your blemishes) 

Let me know in the comments below if you've tried any of these tips and how they worked for you. Also, feel free to share any other skin care advice. There's plenty to share; I could write forever on this subject. SKIN FOR THE WIN!


One day we won't need Photoshop,

Cait 

P.S.
Who can tell me what "PS" stands for? And don't tell me
Playstation.

The Real Hunger Games: why dieting doesn't work

Don't diet! Change your diet.
The definition of the word diet is the sum of food consumed by a person or other organism; and dietary habits are the habitual decisions an individual or culture makes when choosing what foods to eat.This generation of people are being brain washed into believing a diet is a temporary plan to help you lose weight. But the weight-loss is really what becomes temporary. Once you tell yourself you're on a diet, you start thinking short term. Most people gain more weight after "dieting" because, they are so happy to be eating again that they gorge themselves on more and more of the same unhealthy foods they were eating in the first place. We as a society are willing to try every weight-loss program on the market, but we are so stubborn to change what kind of food we put in our bodies. If we can stop feeding ourselves processed foods, and toxic chemicals our bodies will thank us. If you are good to your body, your body will be good to you. It's that simple.
I recently watched a great documentary called, Hungry For Change. You can watch the first 20 minutes of the film online, or the whole film on Netflix.

Watch the Movie Trailer here: http://www.hungryforchange.tv/

Don't make every personal pizza a personal problem. Kick all your bad habits. Everything! (Including the everything bagels).

Tell me what you think of the documentary in the comments below. Also, please share any other films you liked!



All this writing made me hungry,

Cait

 P.S.
It's not considered brunch if you're alone, at 2pm, in your bed, eating Dorritos.

Training Your Tastebuds: teaching yourself to like healthy food

       Which one would you rather: pizza or salad? What about chips or carrot sticks? Most people don't choose the healthier of the two, because they tell themselves "junk food tastes better." Yet, we always forget how bloated or sick we feel after indulging on sweet or greasy treats. If we have the unfortunate ability to trick ourselves into forgetting these important factors, why can't we convince ourselves to like healthy foods? 
       Knowing the benefits of a nutritious diet helps motivate better consumption. For example: Did you know eating celery is almost the same as chewing water? Your body hardly notices a cup of celery's 16 calories; but it does focus on consuming a third of your daily Vitamin K recommendation. If you are in the dark about the plentiful perks Vitamin K can provide for you, read this article from BetterBones.com:
The Many Benefits of Vitamin K. 
My point is, when you know all the amazing advantages available, you are more likely to make the conscience decision to treat your body with care and feed it the proper fuel. Remember when your parents would tell you the fish on your dinner plate was chicken so you would eat it? It's the same concept. You can even start small. Maybe you start eating celery, but you cover it in peanut butter or ranch dressing. Whatever it takes to get those veggies in your diet more regularly. Then slowly, you get use to the taste and ween off the dips. Make goals for yourself, and don't be afraid to take baby steps.
      Look, I'll be the first one to admit if I was a Care Bear, the symbol on my tummy would be a piece of pizza. But, then I learned the consequences of eating poorly are not worth a short-term sugar rush. Being healthy isn't as easy as following a few vegan instagram accounts. You have to want it! And why wouldn't you? Tell yourself YOU CAN DO IT! The body awareness blog, JessHerself on wordpress.com has a great article with more tips on Training Yourself To Like Healthy Food.

What bad habit of yours was the hardest to kick? Mine was Mountain Dew! I could make a giant pyramid with the amount of cans I drank through...in just a day!


My bed is covered in orange peels and so am I. So. Am. I.

Cait



P.S.  I'm pro double dipping.