Guest post: The Clear Skin Cookbook

This week's guest post comes to you from the fabulous Vanessa from The Other VW (@theothervw). After reading it, I'm adding this book to my Amazon wishlist pronto! Over to you Vanessa...

Hello to Kat’s readers. I’m Vanessa from The Other VW. Throughout December I was thinking about how I could kick start my skin health in January as it had really started to suffer throughout the last few months of 2013, and I don’t doubt that too many mince pies, mulled wines and late nights were to blame!

With that in mind, I reached for The Clear Skin Cookbook by Dale Pinnock. This cookbook focuses on the body’s largest organ, the skin, and how what we eat can improve various skin conditions and general skin health. I’ve had acne on and off for over a decade and after a period of 18 months of having clear skin, it reared it’s ugly head again around October. I’ve tried so many products (both prescription and non) but this time, I want to try and tackle it from the inside.

The Clear Skin Cookbook has a section on acne which goes into great detail about the causes of it and how it forms. The book gives details of top acne-fighting nutrients, such as omega 3 fatty acids and zinc, as well as listing particular foods such nutrients can be found in (hello sweet potatoes!). Whether or not you have a skin complaint, this book provides some really interesting information on what the skin is and does and how it ages. There’s a variety of recipes for all three courses as well as breakfasts, snacks and drinks. My favourite main has to be salmon and tomato skewers with nutty quinoa and spinach salad. I’m going to try and make a big effort to stick to foods that will be beneficial to my skin (as well as my overall health) and this book is proving to be very useful!

I was doing a bit of research into this book and discovered it was the inspiration for Viridian’s Clear Skin Complex capsules. These are a formulated blend of targeted botanicals, key minerals, fat-soluble antioxidants and digestion-boosting probiotics. I’ve been taking these for 6 weeks now, and my skin genuinely feels brighter and the last fortnight or so it has been showing signs of clearing up.

A final product I’ve introduced to boast my skin health is Viridian’s Organic Milk Thistle Tincture. To use, add 15 drops into juice or water up to 3 times a day. Milk thistle can increase liver function and as a result of helping the liver this can help skin to be healthier. It’s meant to be good for hangovers too! Ensure to check with your doctor before taking as it can affect some medications and medical conditions.

I’m hoping that by choosing recipes from the Clear Skin Cookbook and using these supplements that my skin will really benefit. After all the turkey and chocolates I ate in December, I’m sure my body will welcome some antioxidant packed healthy food!

What are your top tips for good skin health?