Cooking Your Way to Gorgeous (6 page)

4
Heat the oil in a 12-inch heavy skillet over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking, then sauté the fish, turning over once, until golden and just cooked through, 6 to 8 minutes total.

5
While the fish is cooking, stir together all the spicy yogurt ingredients and serve on the side with the fish.

SOUR CREAM/YOGURT MASK FOR GREASY HAIR

Depending on the length of hair, massage 1 to 1-1/2 cups of sour cream or plain yogurt into damp hair and let it sit for 15 minutes. Rinse with warm water, followed by cool water, then shampoo hair as you normally would.

CUCUMBER SALAD WITH
PINEAPPLE AND JALAPEÑO

Makes 6 to 8 Servings

T
his is a light and refreshing combination with an interesting balance of tastes. I think it is a unique and sophisticated salad in that it is not something you would see on a typical restaurant menu. Cucumber is the ultimate “neutral” veggie that works well with so many other fruits, vegetables, and spices. Pineapple yields bromelain and digestive enzymes, and (with the exception of Truvia for added flavor) this salad is high in water content due to its all-natural ingredients. Hydration is key for hair health. Drink a tall cold glass of water while you make this salad.

Ingredients:

3/4 cup Truvia Baking Blend (Truvia is all natural, made from the licorice leaf; when split with their baking blend, it’s half the calories of regular sugar)

1/3 cup white vinegar—assists the body with absorption of essential minerals; also great for kitchen cleaning

2 tablespoons water

1/2 teaspoon iodized salt

1 cup peeled, cored, 1/3-inch diced, fresh pineapple

1 English hothouse cucumber, cut into 1/3-inch pieces

1 carrot, peeled and cut into matchstick-size strips—beta-carotene source

1/3 cup thinly sliced red onion

1 tablespoon minced, seeded jalapeño chile

1 head green leaf lettuce, leaves separated—provitamin A; milder taste than darker greens with full vitamin supply

1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds

Preparation:

1
Bring the first four ingredients to a boil in a heavy, small saucepan, stirring until the Truvia Baking Blend dissolves. Simmer until reduced to 1/3 cup and a syrupy consistency, about 4 minutes.

2
Transfer the syrup to a large bowl and refrigerate until cold. Add the pineapple to the syrup. Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour.

3
Add the cucumber and next three ingredients to the pineapple mixture; stir to coat. Line the plates with lettuce leaves. Spoon the salad on top of the lettuce. Sprinkle with the sesame seeds and serve.

OYSTER STEW

Makes 4 Servings

L
ike opera, oysters are an acquired taste, but these lovely, elegant mollusks are high in protein and low in fat and calories. Oysters are a great source of iron, which plays a role in hair health because it helps red blood cells carry oxygen to the hair follicles. Oysters also have omega-3 fatty acids—you need the fat to help build cell membranes in the scalp, which feeds the hair shafts natural oil. Oysters are rich in vitamins A and C. Vitamin A helps produce and protect scalp oils. Vitamin C helps fight hair breakage. The zinc in oysters is an antioxidant that helps guard against free-radical damage. A deficiency in zinc may result in hair loss over time, so it’s good to bone up on it proactively and get your RDA (recommended daily allowance). The copper content in oysters helps the body to produce the pigment called melanin, thus contributing to hair color. Any way you slice it (or slurp it), oysters are good for the hair.

Ingredients:

2 (10.75 ounce) cans low-sodium cream of mushroom soup

2 (8-ounce) cans oysters

2 cups milk

16 ounces crimini mushrooms, halved—high in selenium

1/4 cup butter

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon ground black pepper

1/2 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper

Preparation:

Stir together all the ingredients in a saucepan over medium heat; bring to a simmer and cook until hot, about 12 minutes.

HOME-SPA TREATMENTS
FOR COMMON HAIR CHALLENGES

Like people, hair types and hair challenges come in every shade of the rainbow. And typical of the human nature, everyone wants what they don’t have. I want Ali Pearlman’s phone-cord curly hair, while she dreams of having smooth hair with waves, like mine. Some spend a small fortune to chemically straighten their locks, or hours to manually straighten them with a flat iron, while others go to bed at night with a head full of curlers. Those who have dry hair wish they had just a touch more oil, while those with oily hair wish for the exact opposite . . . you get the idea. Your hair is the byproduct of what you eat; it receives the benefits of healthy eating habits. Protein and enriched foods, such as meat, beans, and omega-3 fatty acids, found in certain fish like salmon, can also promote hair growth. You can also add protein and omega-3 fatty acids to your diet by taking supplements. At the very least, a multivitamin will help provide an environment for your hair to thrive. Following are a few different hair treatments for some of the more common hair challenges. You, and your hair, will likely fit into one of these categories.

HOME-SPA OLIVE OIL HAIR MASK FOR ALL HAIR TYPES

Inspired by what the Mediterranean beauties have done for centuries, I use olive oil for hair exuberance. Here’s how: Mix 2 tablespoons of extra-virgin olive, 1 ripe avocado for adding shine, and 1 tablespoon of mayonnaise. Apply to hair as a mask—no need to massage it in. Cover hair with plastic wrap and leave on for 12 minutes, then shampoo as usual. This helps repair split ends, heals dandruff caused by dry scalp, and makes your hair shiny, silky, and lustrous.

EXTRA-CONDITIONING HAIR MASK

Mix together 1/2 of a banana, 1/4 of an avocado, 1 tablespoon of wheat germ oil, and 1 tablespoon of Greek yogurt. Pierce 1 vitamin E capsule and squeeze it into the mixture. Apply to hair and leave on for 15 minutes. Vitamin E is an antioxidant that helps protect the scalp’s natural oils. This mask helps make your hair shiny.

TIP:
Keep blow-drying to a minimum. Although the speediest way to dry your locks, blow-drying more than three times a week will damage hair. Towel-dry hair gently and don’t twist or wring it out like a sponge. For more targeted drying, aim the blow dryer on a cooler setting directly at the scalp to dry the moisture. If you have thick hair, you may have noticed that a damp scalp can get itchy by the end of the day so you will want to get to the root of it to remove the moisture. Let the rest air dry.

TIP:
Harsh shampoos that are filled with chemicals will strip your hair of its natural proteins. If the protein is not replaced, the hair cuticle weakens, which leads to dry, frizzy hair and split ends.

CORN OR HONEY FOR DRY HAIR AND SCALP

Pour 1 tablespoon of cornmeal or cornstarch into an empty saltshaker and sprinkle it onto dry hair and the scalp until you’ve used it all. After 15 minutes, use a paddle hairbrush to completely brush it out. You can also massage approximately 1/2 cup of honey into clean, damp hair, let it sit for 20 minutes, then rinse with warm water. Add 1 to 2 tablespoons of olive oil to the honey to loosen it for easier application.

NO MORE FRIZZ BANANA-CANTALOUPE No More Frizz Banana-Cantaloupe-Yogurt Treatment

In a blender, mix together 1 banana, 1/4of cantaloupe, 2 tablespoons of yogurt, and 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Apply the mixture to damp, unwashed hair and comb through all the way. Let it sit for 20 minutes and then rinse it out. Shampoo and condition your hair. Your hair will be smooth and luxurious.

PLUMP IT UP CONDITIONER FOR FLAT HAIR

In the shower, a large washbasin, or the kitchen sink, combine equal parts of warm hair conditioner and Epsom salt. Work the mixture through your hair and leave it on for 20 minutes. This works for flat hair as the salt helps to increase moisture content when mixed with an emulsion base (a conditioner). Rinse out with lukewarm to cold water (to avoid stripping hair).

CAFFEINE BATH FOR SUPER SHINY DARK HAIR

Caffeine can intensify your dark locks and make the color rich so they really stand out! Brew a pot of nonflavored coffee or strong black tea. Pour it into a large bowl, and, while it is quite warm, lean over the bowl and soak your hair in it. (Simply swish your hair around in the liquid.) Comb through, cover your head with a plastic shower cap, and let it sit for 20 to 30 minutes while you read a magazine, catch up on e-mail, watch
American Idol
reruns, or what have you. Rinse it out, shampoo, and rinse again with cold water to give it that super shine!

PRO TIP:
Turning down the heat while you shower will maximize skin- and hair-moisture retention. To lock in even more humectants (moisture), try placing an Alka Seltzer tab in the corner of the shower floor to help carbonate steam. If your shower is a larger space, you can use two tablets. Try once a month or once a season. After showering, be sure to moisturize when skin is still damp.

TIP:
This should be of concern, especially if you wear your hair short: When turning in for the night, remember to remove your earrings before going to bed. You may be comfortable sleeping with your earrings in, and perhaps you wear this “everyday pair” and never remove them at all. But while you sleep on your side, toss and turn, you are actually tugging your earlobes and ever so slightly agitating the pierced hole. This can lead to a stretched piercing site, which over time starts to look more like a thin line than a hole, and after many years can even split entirely, forming a Pac-Man type of appearance.

HOME-SPA LEMON DANDRUFF TREATMENT

Washing your hair with a mildly acidic product such as lemon juice helps exfoliate the scalp to prevent dandruff. Other home remedies include mixing equal parts of lemon juice and water and soaking your hairbrush in the mixture for 1 hour. This allows for regular scalp treatment.

BYE-BYE DANDRUFF

Mix together 1/2cup of water and 1/2 cup of white vinegar. Put the mixture directly on your scalp and then start shampooing. Recommended twice a week for flake-free locks!

TIP:
Conditioning hair
before
shampooing takes off the “weight” that thick conditioners can leave behind on your hair. Shampooing second also cleans the conditioner off your back and body that you’d be toweling into your skin.

TIP:
Eat spinach, Swiss chard, kale, collards, turnips, romaine, and purple cabbage. They contain vitamins A and C, which help your body produce sebum, a natural scalp oil that moisturizes your hair and combats dryness. The leafy greens are best for you when eaten lightly steamed.

Chapter 2

Eyes That Love You Back

Looking for eye clarity?
Are under-eye bags weighing you down? Can you put an X-marks-the-spot on obvious eye circles? Look no further for eye enlightenment! In this chapter, I will show you how to treat crepey under eye skin, eat the foods that can help improve vision, and give you my inside tips on beauty treatments for youthful-looking eyes. If you want to smooth the skin around the delicate eye area, are besieged with dark circles (which are usually hereditary), or see the onset of crow’s-feet and furrows, these recipes and treatments can help. And if there’s one thing we can all see eye-to-eye on, it’s that a combination of the right nutrients for inner health and the right treatments for outer health add up to gorgeous. So, what types of foods should you eat?