I read something interesting.  It said some people treat their body like a Ferrari - others like a clunker.  Although i did find that rather cute I was thinking what about most of the people I know.  I don't think they fall in either category.  I think we all treat our body like a low-mileage used car - it may have been abused in the past due to ignorance on how to properly take care of it.  So we try to treat it better, but because it seemly runs so good we sometimes slip up and let it run on low gas for far too long and we don't give it the proper gas.  Also we sure don't get it checked out on a regular bases like we should.  

 

So time for a body tune-up.  Lets look at some of the signs that we may be ignoring and find out what you need to fix in either your daily habits but definitely your diet.  

 

Do you have problems with dark under eye circles???  So of course we all know what; get more sleep, HYDRATE, HYDRATE, HYDRATE and that great little trick of sticking the cucumbers over your eyes.  Now lets talk about food, what to eat and what to avoid.  

 

 

AVOID

 

 

Salt - This leads to water retention.  Also avoid processed foods because these are usually prepared with lots of salt to serve as a preservative. 

 

Alcohol - Okay this one is a hard one for most of us...lol --but because we are not going to stop having our occasional cocktail follow the 8oz glass of water to ever alcoholic beverage rule.  That will help. :)

 

FOODS THAT HELP

 

 

Iron Rich Foods - foods such as liver, lean red meat, egg yolks, beans, dark green vegetables, broccoli and asparagus.

Cucumber - A diet high in salt and sodium can cause water retention. Cucumber, also celery and watermelon, acts as a natural diuretic to help flush out excess water from your body and minimize the appearance of dark, swollen look beneath your eyes.

Vitamin K Rich Foods - Make sure to eat these foods rich in Vitamin K – cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, brussel sprouts, cabbage)  leafy green vegetables (spinach), asparagus, cauliflower, okras, lentils, chickpeas (garbanzo beans) and yogurt

Salmon - Another food that can really help reduce dark circles under eyes is salmon, an oily fish. Salmon contains omega-3 fatty acids, a family of fatty acids well known for reducing the risks of heart disease. Recent research suggests that omega-3 fatty acids promotes healthy skin and are essential for keeping your skin from drying out so you stay wrinkle-free. The skin around your eyes is very thin and delicate, and it can become 

Black Currant - Japanese researchers from the Hirosaki University found that black currant fruit are helpful in getting rid of dark circles under the eyes. Black currants contain anthocyanins, which improve blood flow to the optical nerve of eyes, and deliver more oxygen to the tissue, thereby helping to reduce dark circles around and under the eyes.

 

Alright the following is a great recipe that incorporates Salmon and Asparagus which is great natural source of Vitamin K and Iron and just to make it a well rounded meal --throw in some cucumber.  I hope you have learned a little something and you enjoy my blog follow me I have a lot more fun tips to come.