Your wedding is one of the few days in your life when you are the centre of attention, and every bride wants to look beautiful. But there’s more to being radiant on your big day than a pretty dress and well-applied makeup. If you truly want to glow with good health, here are some helpful hints to follow in the weeks approaching your big day.
CUT PRoCESSED FooDS
Not only will this help if you’re trying to lose a bit of weight to look great in your dress, but it will also be good for your skin. As well as containing additives and preservatives, processed foods are stripped of vital nutrients. They also often contain sugar and salt, which we tend to eat too much of.
Try to eat as much “real” food as possible – for example, instead of opening a jar of pasta sauce, make one yourself from tomatoes, onions, garlic, oregano, basil and vegetables like capsicum, courgettes and aubergine. Yes, it takes longer but you can always make a big batch and freeze some.
Salads are great because they contain lots of healthy raw foods. Eat them with good-quality protein such as chicken or lean beef, which will help to keep you full.
DRINK LoTS oF WATER
It’s great for your skin, flushing out your body’s waste products, which may help to prevent spots. Nobody wants an ugly zit on their wedding day. Water may also help with weight loss, especially if you have a glass of filtered water instead of a fizzy drink. These are full of sugar, which won’t be doing you any favours. Drinking ample water will also reduce the risk of becoming dehydrated, which can cause headaches and may also leave you with dark circles under your eyes.
LEARN To oEDITATE
Planning a wedding can be incredibly stressful, and nobody wants to turn into a bridezilla because the pressure is getting to them. Being stressed can also make it difficult to sleep and it’s not easy to look lovely when you’re exhausted.
oeditating doesn’t have to mean sitting cross-legged and muttering chants while incense burns. Simply go somewhere quiet, close your eyes and concentrate on your breathing, making sure your stomach goes out when you breathe in. Then clear your mind – if you find this difficult to do, imagine a scenic place, like a sun-dappled spot in the bush, and focus on it.
GET WALKING
Hopefully you’ll already be doing some form of exercise but if not, walking is a good way to get started. It has lots of benefits – not only can it help with weight loss, but it’s also good for stress levels. When you exercise, your body releases chemicals called endorphins, which help you to deal with stress. It gets blood flowing around your body, which is good for your skin and can also boost your energy levels.
Swimming is another good activity – as well as being a great workout for your whole body and a way of improving your fitness, it helps to tone muscles, especially in your back, chest and arms. Make sure you wear a swimming cap and goggles though, as chlorinated water may affect your hair and eyes.
Remember that you won’t see results from any kind of exercise overnight – it takes time, so don’t leave it until too close to your wedding to begin. And don’t overdo it – you don’t want to be hobbling up the aisle.
GET PLENTY oF SLEEP
If you’re not getting enough shut-eye, it will take a toll on how you look, and you don’t want bags under your eyes and lack-lustre skin on your big day. Being tired will also rob you of the energy you need to organise your wedding, and you could end up resorting to unhealthy ways of getting quick energy boosts – like indulging in sweet treats – as a result.
If you are finding it hard to sleep, try herbal treatments such as valerian. Some people find that a warm, milky drink before bedtime helps, while others swear by a warm (not hot) bath. Avoid alcohol – it can affect your quality of sleep and although you may drift off easily, you might wake up later and find it hard to drop off again. Also avoid caffeine after lunchtime, as it can have long-lasting effects.
These foods will help you look radiant on your big day:
SALooN
It contains omega-3 fatty acids which are important for good skin. omega-3s help keep moisture in your skin cells and encourage the production of collagen, which may keep your skin looking young. Studies suggest omega-3s can also reduce skin blemishes. If your skin is dry and prone to both black and white heads you may be lacking omega 3s.
LEAN BEEF
Eating lean red meat twice a week can give you the nutrients you need to have gorgeous hair. That’s because it includes B vitamins, iron and zinc, which are all needed for healthy tresses.
NUTS
You don’t want to go mad on these because they are high in calories, but they are also a good source of nutrients that will improve the health of your skin and hair, such as the B vitamin niacin. Keep them handy to have as a snack instead of sugary or fatty foods, but limit yourself to a handful.
BANANAS
They’re sweet so they make a good snack, hopefully preventing you from heading for the nearest vending machine. They also contain biotin, a B vitamin that forms the basis of skin cells. If you don’t have enough biotin you could have itchy, scaly skin.
BERRIES
Naturally sweet but low in calories, berries are an ideal addition to your diet if you’re trying to reduce your sugar intake. They are a great source of vitamin C, which pays a crucial part in the production of collagen, a protein needed for healthy skin.
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