Our bodies are pretty amazing and we only have one for our entire lives! It’s something we often take for granted, but it’s important to care for your body both inside and out. So I thought I’d share with you today some ways that you can love and look after your body, from head to toe, both inside and out.
1. Hair
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Beautiful hair comes from good nutrition and using good quality hair products that are right for your hair type. Because hair grows slowly, it can take a while for changes to show. Eat a balanced, varied diet and include protein rich foods. Foods such as salmon, oily fish, walnuts and chia seeds contain omega 3 fats that help nourish the hair shaft. For more on healthy eating for hair, see Hannah’s post here.
Of course, there’s more to your hair than what you eat. Good hair comes from good overall health. Smoking, hormonal issues, and sleep deprivation can also affect how your hair looks and feels – so make sure you don’t smoke, get enough sleep and see a doctor if you notice any changes in your health.
There are lots of products out there to help look after your hair, but one I love is Moroccan oil. Moroccan oil is amazing for creating gorgeous, soft silky hair – no matter what type your hair is. It can be used as a conditioning, styling and finishing tool. This treatment for hair includes fatty acids, omega-3 oils and vitamins for shine; and antioxidants for protection. Check out its website for products and tips on styling your hair.
2. Stomach / Digestive System
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Your stomach and digestive tract play a hugely important role in your health and well being. A very important part of this is the bacteria that live there. The right balance of bacteria is vital for your immune system, for digestion and absorption of certain nutrients and also to keep bad bacteria under control.
To nourish your stomach and create a healthy environment for your gut eat plenty of vegetables, choose healthy wholefood sources of carbohydrate, some fruits and also fermented foods like yoghurt. Fermented foods contain good bacteria and can help improve your bacteria balance. Alternatively, Inner Health Plus offer a range of products to help balance your bacteria for health.
3. Your vagina
Ok so it’s an area that we don’t think about much when it comes to looking after our bodies. But there are some important things to consider. One, safe sex is a must for preventing STDs – they’re not just nasty in themselves, but can also lead to infertility if not treated. Use condoms. Another must is to have your cervical smear on time.
One other thing to consider is how you wash down below. Vagisil are the experts in intimate health and create a range of products that are specially designed to take care of your most intimate skin area. You use an eye cream to take care of the skin around your eyes and a specially designed wash for the skin on your face, so why wouldn’t you use a special product to take care of your vaginal area? If you’re worried about staying fresh “down there”, then a product like Vagisil Odour Control Wash can really help. When used each morning, it helps keep you feeling fresh and clean all day no matter what you’re doing, as it’s specially designed to prevent odour rather than cover it up. Vagisil products are gynaecologist tested, hypo-allergenic and suitable for sensitive skin. They’re available at supermarkets and pharmacies around NZ. For more information check out their website or Facebook page.
4. Legs
We all have different shaped bodies, so whatever your leg shape, learn to love and look after them. To stay strong, healthy and improve muscle tone, engage in regular exercise – whatever you like is best as you’re most likely to stick with it. When it comes to taking care of your legs, another good habit is regular exfoliation or dry body brushing. This helps with lymphatic drainage, helping speed up the process in which we eliminate waste from our lymphatic system. Dry body brushing also helps with circulation and removes dead skin cells. Finish off with a nourishing moisturiser and you’ve got a routine that will keep your legs looking their best.
5. Feet
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Did you know that your foot contains 26 bones, 33 joints, more than 100 tendons, muscles, and ligaments? These wee babies need to be looked after! Don’t be tempted to squish them into really high heels every day. By continually squishing your feet and bending your toes into unnatural position can cause a range of problems from ingrown toenails to more serious damage to leg tendons! Choose comfy, supportive shoes most days – save the heels for occasional use.
Give your feet some love with regular scrubs to remove dead layers of skin. A nice trick for soft feet is to exfoliate, then smother them in some rich, nourishing moisturiser right before bed and pop on a pair of socks. 
When you wake up, you’ll have beautifully soft skin. It’s easy to make your own foot scrub too. Simply mix together 3 tablespoons olive oil, 2 tablespoons of honey and 1/2 a cup of sugar and rub on your feet to help get rid of the dead skin cells.
What are your favourite ways to look after and love your body?
This post was made possible thanks to Vagisil & NZ Girl.
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