Beauty from Within
As we have always been told, beauty is more than skin-deep; it comes from within. According to The Beauty Chef it comes from the gut, to be precise. Carla Oates, author and founder of the natural beauty company of the same name has researched this thoroughly and combines the joy of cooking with the science of a healthy diet. Glamorous it may not be, but well-balanced gut bacteria can be the answer to glowing health and attractiveness.
Carla Oates
Carla Oates is a naturalist and gut-health advocate, runs regular Beauty Chef workshops in Sydney and has written and taught on organic beauty and health for the past 15 years.
“Looking after my own skin and health issues is where my inner beauty journey began and I have seen that what I put into my mouth has a profound effect on my health.”
Carla believes that beauty is an inside-out process. Glowing skin is basically a reflection of healthy cells and the solution to a clearer, more radiant complexion and general wellbeing occurs when you balance your gut and feed your body nutrient-dense food.
In The Beauty Chef there are more than 150 delicious and nutritious recipes that are Gluten-free and mostly dairy-free that will feed both your skin and your gut. With every meal you eat, be it breakfast, dinner or a tempting dessert, The Beauty Chef will help you feel and look better inside and out. Carla discusses in the book how our bodies can be affected by grains, meats, dairy products, if we should be eating fats and how much sugar we really need. There are also great kitchen tips on recycling, natural cleaning and beauty products, buying in season and drinking filtered water and a wonderful chapter on beauty nutrients, why they are good for you and where you can find the particular nutrient in food.
Get glowing breakfast smoothie bowl
With simple family meals, healthy spins on traditional dishes time honoured ferments and special occasion treats, there is every type of healthy snack within The Beauty Chef.
Recipes are easy to read and follow with most ingredients being available at your local supermarket, and many are based on serving sizes for two people – easy to multiply ingredients if you have extra diners.
The beautiful photography throughout The Beauty Chef will have you licking your lips and wanting to try every recipe in the book – I know I am.
Rainbow chard, tomato and goat’s cheese tart
Start your day with the likes of – Green Eggs and Ham, Autumn Spice Smoothie Bowl with Pear, Banana and Turmeric Cream, before moving on to the main meals of the day – Roasted Beetroot, Red Cabbage, Pomegranate and Herb Salad with (homemade) Labneh and Lamb Koftes or Southern Style Baked Chicken pieces or even Cashew Butter Chicken. Snacks include Beetroot and Chocolate Brownies, Banana and Coconut Cream Pie with Coconut Toffee or Coconut Jam Drop Biscuits.
Chocolate and gingernut ice-cream sandwiches
Not only are there lots of recipes for fermented food, there are instructions on proper sterilisation methods, how long and where to store these tasty accompaniments.
So forget spending your whole wage on an expensive face cream. Your soft, radiant and healthy skin starts with optimum nutrition and effective digestion. The Beauty Chef includes everything we need and makes eating well so easy and enjoyable.
Images are from The Beauty Chef by Carla Oates published by Hardie Grant Books RRP $49.99 and is available in stores nationally.
