The lovely attributes of British model and former Victoria’s Secret angel Rosie Huntington-Whitely are the envy of many. I, for one, am particularly obsessed with her smooth, glowing skin. While I realize that genes (and estheticians) may have a role to play in the gorgeous complexions of others, I always want to know what those glowing gals are eating—because not only is a nice complexion pretty (like having a built-in filter!), it’s also a sign of good health, which is kinda important, too 😉
When it comes to RHW, my hunch wasn’t wrong. The model is a devotee of Dr. Nigma Talib’s Younger Skin Starts in the Gut, a book about how certain foods can contribute to the aging process (and acne, puffiness, uneven tone, dark circles…). Talib’s dietary recommendations focus on eliminating gluten, wine, dairy, and sugar. (We’ve tested the no-sugar theory at PD—and the results of a sugar detox can be profound!) Talib also promotes frequent consumption of mineral-rich veggies, including cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, and kale. Furthermore, the philosophy espouses that consuming onions, garlic, turmeric, rosemary, thyme, oregano, sage, and avocado can help support the liver.
“We just shared so many of the same philosophies,” Huntington-Whitely told E! News. “Once you change some things in your diet and you remove certain things, you’re going to see a difference in your skin and a difference in your well-being.”
Indeed, healthy dietary changes may affect more than the numbers on the scale—eating well can revamp other areas of your life, too. “Right now I’m on Nigma’s plan, which is: no dairy, no gluten, no sugar, and no alcohol! And it’s been really tough, it is, but there’s no doubt in my mind that start to see and feel results; it’s really been transformative for me. I can feel it in my skin, I can feel it in my body, I feel lean right now, and I feel strong, and I feel energized.”
The results of Huntington-Whitely’s diet shift were so convincing that her fiancé Jason Statham hopped aboard Talib’s regimen: ”He’s equally obsessed about this as I am,” the model said.
Of course, eliminating certain popular foods isn’t always easy, but Huntington-Whitely stresses that it’s important to be patient with yourself. “I miss a lot of things,” she said. “I miss a glass of wine, I miss my cheese plates, and I miss my croissants. But interestingly you can still eat so beautifully and so wholesome and you can really be still so satisfied through healthier choices. It’s just switching your mindset a little bit and it takes a couple of weeks to kind of adjust.”
Another way Huntington-Whitely stays sane while maintaining dietary restrictions is by following the 80/20 lifestyle, which advises eating healthy 80% of the time and allowing yourself to indulge 20% of the time. This may translate to letting yourself enjoy items on the naughty list at parties or special occasions but sticking to healthy stuff at home.
“Enjoy life and, you know, celebrations!” she said. “My kind of balance is trying to eat really well at home and then when I go out…I try and still make smart choices but you know, if I’m going to have some French fries, or if I’m going to share a pudding or a dessert with somebody, you want to enjoy those things in life.”
Whatever balance Huntington-Whitely has going, it seems to be working for her!
What are your favorite healthy eating tips?
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Photo: Rosie Huntington-Whitely via Instagram
