Mastering the art of living gluten-free



Aslihan Koruyan Sabanci, who once represented Turkey in the Miss World Beauty Pageant, began to follow a gluten-free diet in 2006, when painful indigestion and skin rashes led her to take a food-sensitivity test. And she hasn’t looked back since.

Koruyan Sabanci wrote Gluten Free Mediterranean Gourmet Cuisine (NTV Publishing) in 2011, which was honored with the distinction of “Best Health and Nutrition Book in the World” by the World Gourmand Cookbook Awards.

She saw such an improvement after eliminating gluten from her diet that she integrated the concept into her personal-care routine as well, concocting fresh beauty formulas in her kitchen and scrutinizing ingredient labels to find the best organic and gluten-free products available.

Now, with the release of her new book, Health and Beauty Home Remedies (NTV Publishing), Koruyan Sabanci shares some of her expert tips and favorite DIY recipes—each one gluten-free, of course.

Do food and beauty go hand in hand? Eating healthy food strengthens the immune system, and a healthy immune system translates to beautiful skin, strong and shiny hair and a well-functioning body.

Do you believe that beauty comes from within? The journey to a healthy, happy life begins by looking after your physical and psychological health. The healthier you feel, the more you glow and spread your life energy to others.

If someone was just beginning a healthy beauty lifestyle, what would be your advice? The most critical thing is to dedicate time to yourself. Try to walk, exercise, practice yoga and meditation. Get a good night’s sleep. Reduce the amount of radiation in your life (decrease cell phone, TV and computer use) and become more connected to nature.

Eat plenty of antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables, do not consume processed foods, eat organically grown seasonal foods and omega 3 fatty acids. Eat less sugar and sweetened foods, decrease the consumption of fat.

Incorporate organic fermented foods, such as pickles, yogurt, organic soy drinks into your diet, to help support the intestines with the useful bacteria found in them.

Use natural products for your skin, hair and body.

Rejuvenate with essential oils. You may use essential oils for your skincare and for your emotional balance. Aromatherapy is known to eliminate blockage and restore your balance.

Face Lift with Egg White and Lemon Zest



Ingredients:

1 egg white

1/2 teaspoon lemon zest

Directions:

1. Separate the egg white from the yolk.

2. Whisk the egg white and add the lemon zest (grated lemon skin).

3. Apply to your face and leave for 10 minutes.

4. Rinse with warm water.

Yogurt and Corn Meal Scrub



Ingredients:

1 teaspoon corn meal

1 tablespoon plain yogurt

Directions:

1. Mix together the yogurt and the corn meal.

2. Apply to your face, making circles with your fingertips.

3. Leave for 15 minutes.

4. Rinse with warm water.

Clove Therapy

Cloves are known to be naturally antiseptic and thus help cure canker sores. Take one clove and hold in your mouth for 4-5 minutes as often as you wish. Cloves also clean bad breath and therefore are very refreshing.

Refreshment with Baking Soda

Baking soda is known to help brighten the teeth. Simply brush your teeth with baking soda whenever you see necessary.

Reprinted with permission from Health and Beauty Home Remedies (NTV Publishing)