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Carla Oates, known as ‘The Beauty Chef’, is a naturalist who is passionate about nature and the profound synergy we share with it. Based in Sydney’s Bondi Beach, Carla has been researching, writing and teaching about organic beauty and health for the last fifteen years.
Carla is the author of the best selling book Feeding Your Skin, editor of Wellbeing Beauty Book and is the natural beauty columnist for both Wellbeing Magazine. She runs regular Beauty Chef workshops in Sydney. She is also the Goodwill Ambassador of Australian Organic. We are very excited to be talking to Carla about her healthy mix for life.
Firstly Carla, what does creating a healthy mix for life mean to you?
I am a big believer in maintaining balance in life. This means being conscious about putting enough time into the things that matter such as your diet, spending time with those you love, having fun and working with purpose and also keeping an open mind. While I eat a very balanced diet and take into account different ideologies of eating, I avoid extreme fad diets and belief systems. I love raw food, but I also think it is important for digestion to eat some cooked food. Some food is better for you when cooked.
I embrace many of the principles of paleo, but don’t have a completely paleo diet. The only thing I am quite extreme about is wholefoods. I choose low HI foods wherever possible – (low human intervention foods!). There is not much room in my world for processed food!
Speaking of foods, What is one super hero food that you love?
I love fermented foods! By lacto fermenting foods, the nutrients become more bio-available for the body and skin to use and you create probiotics, which help to balance digestion. It is a powerful natural biological process that supercharges ingredients. At The Beauty Chef, we believe that beauty begins in your digestive system. Beauty begins in your belly!
If beauty begins in the belly what does your plate look like?
Lots and lots of plants, all different varieties, herbs, spices, organic wherever possible. 70% plants and some fermented in there, 20% good quality protein: grass fed or wild caught fish and sometimes 10% complex carbohydrates, but always gluten free – sweet potato, quinoa for example.
Living a healthy life doesn’t mean just eating well..how do you keep your mind and body healthy?
I absolutely love walking, it is like a natural therapy, stress release and natural filing system for my brain. I try and go for a long walk around centennial park at least 3 times a week. I also love pilates. I find it very strengthening for both body and mind.
Who is your health and fitness guru and why?
I really admire Lorna Jane. I think she is an inspiring woman. She is honest, motivated and dedicates a lot of her time to inspiring others to be the best version of themselves. She has been very supportive of other brands in a similar space such as The Beauty Chef. I am a very healthy eater, but sometimes exercise is where I slip and I find her very motivating in that area.
If you could share with the raw blend family one piece of wisdom what would it be?
Beauty begins in the belly. If you work on balancing digestive health, beautiful skin and vibrant health will follow. Our guts are where we make nutrients, metabolise hormones, neutralise pathogens, make neurotransmitters and where 70% of our immune system lies.
Today you are sharing with us your Glow, Blueberry & Cinnamon Smoothie. Why do you love this recipe?
This smoothie is very delicious and the great news is that it is so good for you! It’s jam packed full of nutrients that feed your skin on the inside so it GLOWS on the outside. Blueberries are rich in anti-oxidants that are anti-inflammatory and give your skin a boost in radiance. Chia seeds are a great source of fibre, omega 3’s and protein, which makes them super nourishing and collagen building as well as great helpers for eliminating toxins from the body.
Plus your body and skin will soak up all the amazing nutrient dense fermented super foods found in The Beauty Chef’s GLOW Inner Beauty Powder including prebiotics and probiotics. This not only helps to support and balance digestive health – remember, “Good skin begins in your gut”, but the nutrients in fermented foods are five times more available to the body than non-fermented foods.
Get ready for a huge boost in energy! Last but not least, almond milk for it’s skin protective and repairing vitamin E content and a good burst of cinnamon that acts as a fabulous anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory and wrinkle fighter.
Ingredients
- 2 cups frozen blueberries
- 1/4 tsp cinnamon
- 1 banana
- 2 tsps The Beauty Chef GLOW Inner Beauty Powder
- 2 tsps chia seeds (ideally soaked overnight or for at least one hr)
- 2 cups almond milk
Method
Blend all ingredients together well in your Vitamix and serve.
