Davison - Eat yourself beautiful: true beauty, from the inside out

EAT Yourself BEAUTIFUL

TRUE BEAUTY, FROM THE INSIDE OUT

CONTENTS

PREFACE

LET FOOD BE THY
MEDICINE AND MEDICINE
BE THY FOOD.

Hippocrates

THE IDEA FOR EAT YOURSELF BEAUTIFUL was born from the hundreds of beauty and fitness questions Ive been asked over the past 12 years as an international model. My career began when I was crowned Miss World in southern China in 2003 at the age of 19. Being immersed in an industry so obsessed with outward appearance, I fully believed that the various lotions, creams and serums I smeared on my face, hair and body were the key to glowing skin, luscious locks and eternal youth. The many make-up artists, hair stylists and other beauty professionals I worked with would excitedly talk about the outstanding benefits of whatever miracle products were the current cult favourites being touted by the racks of girly mags in every newsagent. So of course I bought into it all and spent a small fortune. I didnt know any better and I believed the hype.

Beauty products do have their place and can make a big difference to our appearance and self-confidence. But much like the drugs of modern medicine, they tend to cover up any issues or symptoms rather than get to the source of the problem. As a teenager and in my early 20s, I spent many nights covering my spots with a blob of Sudocrem without thinking about why I was getting persistent pimples in the first place. It didnt occur to me that an internal imbalance might be causing my breakouts. It was only when I began my training as a nutritional therapist in 2010 that I began to study andreally understand the inner workings of the human body, a magnificent creation. It dawned on me that we literally are what we eat. Eating your vegetables to grow up big and strong isnt just a line repeated to us by frustrated parents at the dinner table. Its really true! As our biggest organ, our skin is a true reflection of the internal health of our body, and who doesnt want healthy, glowing, beautiful skin?

I have answered so many questions from all sorts of people about the secrets to good skin, hair, nails, energy and weight loss. They all want to know what products to buy, what foundation is best for a perfect complexion and how to lose weight without feeling hungry. And my answer is simple: your diet is the best beauty secret you possess. You are in control of everything that goes into your body. All you need is a little time and patience to allow your body to heal and reap the numerous benefits of my tried and trusted way of eating, designed to give you the body, skin and hair you have always dreamed of. Best of all, it really isnt complicated.

I understand how intimidating it can be to navigate the seemingly endless world of nutrition brands, superfoods, supplement powders, vitamin pills, high-protein diets, low-carb diets, fat and weight loss, so I have explained it all for you in this book. Whether you eat meat or just plants, are watching the pennies or are happy to spend, my advice suits every taste, budget and lifestyle. This isnt about restriction. I dont count calories or ever go hungry, and I dont expect you to either. My food and health philosophy is all about eating high-quality, nutrient-dense foods that nourish your body and help to regulate your appetite, weight, hormones and cravings naturally. You will be feeling fully satisfied and bursting with health, vitality and boundless energy.

I hope you enjoy reading this book as much as I have enjoyed writing it. Its a true work of love and the result of many years spent on a food and health journey. Ive made my fair share of mistakes and have asked more questions than Ive answered at times, but it has been absolutely worth it. I am delighted to share this journey with you as you bring out your most beautiful self.

In beautiful health,

Rosanna x

INTRODUCTION: MY STORY

THE FOOD YOU EAT CAN BE EITHER THE
SAFEST AND MOST POWERFUL FORM OF
MEDICINE OR THE SLOWEST FORM OF
POISON. Ann Wigmore

AS A LITTLE GIRL, my family called me the cream monster. I was utterly in love with the taste and texture of whipped cream and ate it on everything from my grandmothers homemade treacle tarts and apple pies to bowls of crackling Rice Krispies and even with a side of gravy, mash and peas! At least I was an active child and my mum made sure we ate a healthy diet most of the time, with plenty of home-grown fruit and vegetables. At that age, I naturally had no idea of the impact of nutrition on the human body.

For most people, food serves two purposes: it should taste good and it should fill you up, providing energy. Big multinational food and drink corporations have made billions selling us taste and energy. Indeed, food should tick those boxes. Food that doesnt taste good wont exactly fly off the shelves. But the most important purpose of food is nourishment. The trillions of cells in our bodies all rely on certain nutrients to be delivered to them every single day via our bloodstream to help keep us alive. You literally are what you eat.

I clearly remember the first time I made the connection between what was on my plate and what my body was made from, and it was drawn from my lifelong love of animals.

Rosanna with granny Maeve Davison, brothers Hubie and Michael and dog Milly in 1995

Rosanna with cousin Genevieve Davison, friend Sarah and pet lambs

Sarah, Genevieve and Rosanna with pet lambs

Rosanna and dog Milly

Rosanna with Harley Davison

My wonderful grandmother Maeve Davison, a former spy in the Cold War (yes, really!) and now a retired farmer, used to own a large flock of sheep. Each Easter, my parents brought me and my two younger brothers to her Wexford farm for a week or two, where we would help out with lambing season. All the heavily pregnant ewes were housed in a large barn, each in a spacious pen with a cosy straw bed, which we dubbed The Shepherds Hotel. With the help of the farmhand, I used to get stuck in with the lambing, rolling up my sleeves and pulling out a tiny squealing newborn. Bringing a new life into the world was a magical feeling. Some lambs were either rejected by their mothers or were orphaned if their mum died during the birth, so I was always given a number of lambs to care for in the first few weeks of their lives. A few times a day, I would prepare bottles of warm milk to hand-feed to the newborns.