You are what you eat

The beautiful array of vegetables is my way of beginning to tell you my thoughts today. You are what you eat. All of the reminders we hear on the news and read in our magazines preach this same message. Here are some things I have learned along the way:

Dairy, especially high fat dairy, can wreak havoc with your complexion. I had read (yes, in Vogue) that the models all avoid dairy if they have a shoot coming up because of the breakouts that can come from the high fat content.

Fruit is good for you. Learn to like it. Do not pay attention to the fact that it has a lot of sugar in it. It's still good for you and I swear an apple is better for you than a chocolate chip cookie even though they may have the same number of calories. My theory is that fruit kind of plumps up your face - not in a bad way but in a good way.

Vegetables are good for you. If you don't like them, try to. Rather than cooked carrots, have raw carrot sticks. Keep them in the fridge - you can even buy them precut. I have no problem paying the extra money for precut carrots because generally I won't spend the time cutting them up just for me. Leafy greens are really good for you - a lot of iron. Always have lettuce and tomato on whatever sandwich you are having. You'll find you like the crunch of the lettuce and the yum of the tomatoes.  Bananas are good for you - potassium. Have one every day. 

Stop groaning because I am not finished. Everything you put in your body becomes your body. This includes cigarette smoke and alcohol.  If you smoke you squint every time you blow out the smoke, not good for your complexion. Not to mention your lungs. Just try to give it up - you want to be around to meet your grandchildren. I have two friends who quit smoking by hypnosis - it works.

Alcohol kills brain cells. So, decide how many brain cells you would like to kill every day. Moderation in consumption would make sense here. Say goodbye to soda of any kind. Huge quantities of water will make your skin feel so soft you won't believe it. 

I will say that I start every day intending to follow each of these suggestions. I consider it a good day if I have adhered to any of my intentions. I can also tell you that I have been trying to lose some lbs. for it seems like forever. (I never said I was perfect, far from it.) Maybe today can be the beginning of that process.

These are the cold, hard facts of life. Look around at your 50-60-year old friends. Now is when we reap the rewards of a life well-lived in moderation.