Winter Wellness

Winter is the easiest time of year to forget to take care ourselves. But take on board these five tips now and the bleaker months will go un-noticed by your body!

1. Sleep

Yup, Winter is the season for hibernation, so listen to your body when it tells you to slow down! Better yet, book yourself into the Sleep Retreat at the Sanctuary Spa in Covent Garden, which offers a deeply relaxing meditative experience to help your body rejuvenate!

http://www.thesanctuary.co.uk/spa-sound-wave-therapy.htm

2. Eat the foods your body craves

In particular, citrus fruits that give you a hit of vitamin C when you most need it. Grapefruit, oranges and kiwi-fruit are all excellent sources, but also try to add squeezed lemon juice to your water for an extra boost.

3. Walk for exercise

Instead of panicking in January, stay fit this winter instead by walking as much as possible. Remember, exercise gives you endorphins and endorphins make you happy!

4. Maximise time in the sunlight!

Walking is also great for doing this! Other ways to absorb the sun are to try and get out for lunch during the week whilst at work instead of staying inside the whole day.

5. Routine!

Our bodies are designed for routine - the times that we sleep, eat and exercise are actually important to our health! In the Summer, this tends to be forgotten, but it is important in the Autumn to try and regain this routine as this is when our bodies are at their most fragile state. Sleeping, eating and exercising at the same times each day makes a large and positive impact on our health.

Sexy

Everything sexy is having a moment. And we're talking more than usual.

Chanel A/W 11 make-up:

It's all in the eyes. Check out Chanel's new range of evening eye-shadows that have a perfectly pearly texture and iridescent sparkle:

My favourites? The green and purple.

Cut-out dresses:

Emphasise your curves in a peek-a-boo dress. I'm pretty sure that everyone's favourite is Stella McCartney's polka dot example, as paraded above by Natalia Vodianova.

Heels = essential:

They elongate your legs, raise your bum and just exude sexiness. They make any outfit so so much better on your body.

Tiny waist:

It's what boys love. Eat dark chocolate, plenty of protein and wholegrains, wild salmon, apples and almonds and walk alot to make other girls hate you for yours.

Lace:

This season's sexiest trend. The above is by La Perla. And this baby-doll:

Perfect your underpinnings:

Good lingerie is not just for the night. It makes your clothes look different, good different, in the daytime too.

Are you onto the sexy trend?



The Wellness Formula

After countless hours of research (in which you could also include a degree in Biochemistry), I have compiled my own personal diet that I believe could help slow and reverse aging, which I am therefore going to call the 'Immortality Diet' :) I try and follow this as much as possible, although I also have a very sweet tooth - I have been known to make icing just to eat straight from the bowl - but as long as one's basic diet is healthy I'm going to say that's fine for my own sanity.

Below I have outlined the foods everyone should include regularly in their diet, and the reasons why they will keep you beautiful!

Oats

Consume a bowl of oats every morning for the following benefits:

• Hair, skin & nails -  Oats have a high silicon content, and silicon is found in the outer shaft of the hair as well as in other connective tissues such as the skin and nails.
• Vitamin E -  Oats are a source of tocotrienols, which are one of the more potent forms of vitamin E, an antioxidant and which is fantastic for the skin.
• Digestive health - A great source of insoluble fibre, oats help the digestive system to function efficiently and keep bowel movements regular.
• Beta glucan - a form of soluble fibre that reduced cholesterol and promotes body healing, always good!
• Weight loss - consuming oats gives a feeling of fullness, preventing the need to snack.
• Amazing phytochemicals - in particular, lignans that have numerous health benefits including decreased risk of breast cancer.

Citrus Juice

Orange, lemon, grapefruit juice - drink a glass with breakfast to give your body a kick of vitamin C, which is not stored in the body and is a required element in the body's production of collagen and therefore prevention of wrinkles.

Apples

The well known adage may be true for the following reasons:

• Vitamin C - involved in immunity, repair, a powerful antioxidant, oh so many reasons to get more of this!
• Pectin - a type of soluble fibre that decreases cholesterol, promotes satiety, improves insulin resistance and may aid indirectly in the breakdown of body fat.
• Phloridzin - a type of flavanoid that may increase bone density and protect against osteoporosis.
• Quercetin - may decrease the risk of Alzheimer's, again, always good!
• Naringin - ditto for cancers.
• Galacturonic acid - decreases insulin resistance.
• Weight loss - studies have shown that people who eat apples regularly are less likely to be overweight!

Next time you bite into an apple you will know just how good this fruit is for you!

Dark Chocolate

I am a self-confessed chocoholic. Not of the sweet stuff though, but anything above 70%. The food of the Gods has so many health benefits that I could devote an entire post to them, but for the sake of an overall healthy diet, they include:

- increased blood circulation
- a plethora of important minerals (potassium, magnesium, calcium, zinc)
- flavanoids that act as antioxidants to improve cardiovascular health and prevent cancer
- catechins for improved blood vessel function
- improved mood in depression (due to the chemical theobromine)
- unsaturated fatty acids for the prevention of wrinkles

Olive Oil

The Romans favoured this oil, and it forms the basis of the Mediterranean diet. Include it in yours as much as possible for the following health benefits:

• Skin and hair - due to vitamin E and oleic acid that is important to keep our cell membranes fluid and therefor our skin and hair supple.
• Decreased cholesterol.
• Prevention of cancer and cardiovascular disease due to the high polyphenol content.

Tomatoes

When you know how good tomatoes are for your body, I bet you'll consider trying to have them every day from now on:

• Tomatoes have the highest concentration of lycopene of any fruit and vegetable, and this chemical is important for colon health and aiding our body's repair of sun damage (the number one cause of aging).
• Vitamin C - you know you need loads of this by now!
• Vitamin A - for healthy eyes and skin.

Garlic

Everyone should eat more garlic. Seriously. It is in fact an ancient medicine. Just invest in tic-tacs for your purse...

Chop it raw into everything and enjoy its:

• Antibacterial properties - which is why it has always been considered medicinal. Fantastic for clear skin and preventing acne.
• Cardiovascular benefits - garlic thins the blood and strengthens vessel walls, preventing unsightly varicose veins!
• Antioxidant power - to slow aging.

Red, Black and Blueberries

Berries are just crammed with goodness that we should all enjoy as much as possible. Eat in the afternoon to sustain your body until your evening meal with vitamin C and tons of phytochemicals that prevent cell damage.

Fish, Chicken and Seafood

Protein is essential for the body's repair, and the above are the best lean sources.

Green Vegetables

These should in fact form the basis of our evening meals, you'll know why in a minute:

• They are the most concentrated source of nutrients that we can offer our bodies, perfect for preventing water retention and cellulite.
• Rich in iron, a mineral required for the circulation of oxygen in our blood and therefore body repair.
• A good source of calcium, which is just so important in our bodies for every function you can think of, including the breakdown of fat.
• Phytochemicals that actually reverse aging - eat more broccoli!

Carrots

Not just to see in the dark, the vitamin A found in carrots is fantastic for your skin and hair!

Dairy

The calcium found in dairy promotes fat loss and strong bones, and is also great for preventing PMS. If you are sensitive to milk as I am, I find that eating products that have been cooked in some way, so that the milk is not actually raw, such as in pots de creme or rice puddings, prevents any symptoms of intolerance.

I've listed the health benefits of the foods that I feel we should all try and consume on a daily basis, or if not then as much as possible in our diet, to convince you to do just that. But I actually believe that if we eat them as par and not become obsessed, we'd all be healthier than if we all continue to look into the science of health. Unfortunately, what used to be the norm (eating well), is now seen as unusual, and eating badly has turned into what is normal instead. We have to try and reverse this and make it subconscious to have the healthy bodies that we can so easily have if we remember how we are and always were supposed to eat.

Eat well now to stay healthy through the winter and reap the benefits next spring!

Luxury and Happiness

The definition and ideas behind luxury in the well-known sense, are for me, misconstrued. I want to share my view of the term, and how I think so many people have it wrong.

To most, the word luxury denotes Louis Vuitton and Gucci handbags and fast cars: it's associated only with labels and money and what money can buy. But to me, luxury is a contentment felt with all 5 senses and the very air we breathe, a simple joy. Some may call this joire de vivre, but I call it luxury. You cannot buy it, although of course having certain items that require money can help.

Luxury is personal, it is not following the masses. It's also not about telling other people about how much money you have and the kind of life you live. It's about making yourself into the person you want to and can be, and only then you can give your best to the world. This could never be confused with the former.

That's why I love fashion: it should make you feel great. Clothes should also feel luxurious on the skin.

Real luxury is also about being in love with your environment: for me that is the sea, tropical flowers, the soft sound of a piano.

Luxury requires fascination and appreciation. If something becomes the norm, and you take it for granted, how then can it be special or luxurious?

I believe you can only experience luxury if you are feel happy in yourself and your body. This is why we all want to and should be at our optimum body weight, and feel good when we eat the right foods and exercise.

Luxury for me then is ultimately happiness. Yes, I love boats, and flying, and being on holiday and drinking champagne. But I can also experience it when I'm simply walking outside, or working towards my goals, or walking in town in a great pair of boots.

Appreciate the simple luxuries and then you will always be living in luxury.

Is this luxury? Comments open...

Hanging on to Summer

In the northern hemisphere, we shall soon be entering the 6 months of cooler weather and dark evenings, so right now I'm trying to make the most of the last of summer and receive as much sun as I possibly can to boost my vitamin D3 and serotonin levels!

So I'll be walking in the still-light evenings...

...lying in flower fields

...eating strawberries.

I'll go and see a summer blockbuster:

I would recommend Port de Pollenca in Mallorca in September, when it is still hot enough to swim in the sea:

I'll learn Spanish for next year...

...and dream of the boats there:

I'll make cakes with fondant icing palm trees on top using this cutter:

And I'll think of California where I'll be next year.

Until then, I'll keep track of the Spring/Summer 2012 collections that will soon be arriving ;)

Luxurious Hair: Holiday Hair Recovery

I have blond, curly hair. The kind that is always going to suffer as soon as it sees the sun, hits chlorine or touches the sea.  When you have hair like mine, you learn to manage it, but it does require attention (and money) - but hey, your hair is your best accessory and the best indicator of your overall health. So I'm going to share a few tips as to how to cope with hair like mine, or any type that seems worse for wear after the beach, so it's ready to be sleek and shiny for the Autumn.

1. The Shampoo

Frédéric Fekkai Technician Color Care. After using this shampoo twice, my hairdresser noticed. As in, she asked me what I had been doing to make my hair so much healthier! This is a pearl shampoo, which means it nourishes rather than strip your hair of moisture like other clear shampoos. If you have very dry and porous hair, I would recommend using this shampoo whether it is colored or not.

2. The protein mask

 This mask is like no other I have ever tried, and believe me I have tried many others. The difference it can make to the structure and texture of your hair is noticeable after just one use, and if you have ever felt like your hair is falling out, or has become fine and wispy, then I would use this. Your hair will feel like hair again.

3. The serum

I will echo what I wrote above, which is to say that I have tried so many serums for my hair, but my favourite by far is phytolisse, which leaves the hair feeling beautifully silky and soft.

4. The leave-in conditioner

I love using KMS moistrepair just after I have washed my hair, but especially before I sleep, so that in the morning it feels unbelievably soft. Unlike other products, this light cream does not weigh the hair shaft down, so it feels like you have not even put any product in there.

5. The shine spray

I can't actually believe that I'm sharing this one, it's been a secret of mine. But I have to, it has the most divine smell of watermelons, leaves the hair shiny without being greasy, and lasts forever.

6. The supplement

I am not a fan of taking a plethora of vitamins, as I have learned that they interfere with digestion. But take omega-3 soft-gel capsules daily, and your skin, hair and nails will improve in health and appearance.

7. The diet

Meat, fish, seafood, fruit, vegetables and whole grains. And dark chocolate. The trouble with posting about specific macronutrients, vitamins and minerals is that people start to over-analyse what they eat, and then are so focused on certain foods that they become deficient in other nutrients. But for healthy hair growth, our bodies need protein, antioxidants, iron and zinc. Dark chocolate I have mentioned because it has so many health benefits, which extend all the way to our head.

8. The lifestyle

Light exercise, sleep (the earlier at night the better) and stress reduction. These things will improve the body's overall health in more ways than you can imagine.

The Hot List

This week on my mind:

Sleep

Sleep is possibly the most under-rated beauty fix there is. Sleep helps prevent and lessen wrinkles, repair body tissues via the secretion of growth hormone during deep sleep and negates the effects of the stress hormone cortisol, aiding weight loss. I'll be booking my stay at the Iru Fushi Resort Sleep Spa in the Maldives...

Paul Chocolate Eclairs

Filled with chocolate-creme...

Pierre Herme Macarons

PH has finally opened a shop in London, Belgravia, this Autumn, which I MUST visit in the very near future. The macarons come in many rich and sumptuous flavours, and are considered to be the best in Paris, and now, London!

Chocolate in general...

As soon as the temperature drops and the daylight shortens, I have the urge to eat chocolate. But not just any chocolate. Dark chocolate, over 70%, and the richest milk chocolate (Hotel Chocolat 40% is particularly good, and, of course, Valrhona).


Leopard Print

It seems like the whole world is wearing leopard print - leopard scarves, leopard skirts, leopard coats. I thought I would be a bit different in this post, and share some of the leopard pieces from the spring/summer Blumarine catwalk:

It seems that leopard print is here to stay...

Walking in Vogue

I've just returned from a trip to the Royal Deeside in Scotland, the first time back in four years. Lots of walking, bracing country air and a much-needed break from technology I love it when something becomes in vogue that I have always loved, and this is certainly true of next season's outdoorsy trend. Walking in Scotland is fulfilling, pacifying, and completely inspiring. I always seems to have my brightest thoughts and ideas when walking in the wild countryside, and nothing beats a four-hour hike around Loch Muick.

In total it's 7 miles around, but rather than tiring, I find this so energising.

I love the grey hues of this shot, and the waves of water against the shore where I was standing, which somehow emphasises the stilness of the scene.

Purple heather is everywhere on the mountains and valley.

The collections of many designers this year seem to reflect this shared interest in outdoor and country pursuits, most obvious in the heeled hiking and shearling boots on offer.

Burberry Prorsum shearling boots.

High-heel hikers by John Galliano.

Oversized tweed jacket, chunky polo-neck jumper, easy trousers and heeled hikers - perfect channeling of the Katherine Hepburn, outdoors look by Tommy Hilfiger. Bring on the crisp days, blackberry picking and apples, another season of fashion and a fresh start.