YOU: Being Beautiful

Background

YOU: Being Beautiful: The Owner’s Manual to Inner and Outer Beauty is the follow-up to the best-selling book “YOU: Staying Young,” and is written by Dr. Michael F. Roizen and Dr. Mehmet C. Oz.

The authors emphasize that beauty is not about vanity but has been an important part of human evolution because it served as an indicator of health and our ability to procreate. They say we all have beautiful elements in us and looking, feeling and being beautiful are goals that any woman can achieve.

They explain how small adjustments in your daily routine can help you to bring out your natural beauty and become healthier and happier.

YOU: Being Beautiful Diet Basics

To get started you take the YOU-Q test to help you evaluate where you are on the beauty scale and where you would like to be. By using the information in the book you will be able to improve your score.

YOU: Being Beautiful discusses the three levels of beauty and how they work together to enhance health and happiness.

• Looking Beautiful
  Involves ways you can improve your appearance in such areas as your skin, hair and body shape. Specific suggestions are offered regarding foods that can give you stronger nails, smoother skin and whiter teeth.The authors emphasize that this is important because how you look influences your self-esteem, which has a big impact on how you feel.
• Feeling beautiful
  Outlines ways that you can overcome the things that may be preventing you from feeling beautiful such as fatigue, chronic pain and an inability to cope with stress.
• Being beautiful
  Addresses ways that you can improve your personal relationships to become happier and more authentic and offers helpful strategies to do so.

The general dietary recommendations in You: Being Beautiful are to eat a low glycemic index diet with a variety of wholesome foods including fruit, vegetables, whole grains, nuts and lean proteins. Dieters are advised to avoid aging foods, which include trans fats, saturated fats, simple sugars and refined grains.

Recommended Foods

Apples, celery, carrots, spinach, broccoli, lettuce, oranges, whole grains, nuts, fish, beans, low fat dairy products, green tea, red wine.

Sample Diet Plan

Breakfast Steel cut Irish oatmeal Low fat yogurt Fresh berries

Morning Snack Apple or carrot Handful of nuts

Lunch Broth based soup Vegetable salad

Afternoon Snack Orange

Dinner Grilled salmon Brown rice Steamed vegetables 1 glass red wine

Exercise Recommendations

The benefits of exercise for physical and psychological health are explained. Yoga is especially recommended in addition to aerobic exercise and strength training.

Costs and Expenses

YOU: Being Beautiful: The Owner’s Manual to Inner and Outer Beauty retails at $26.99.

Pros

• Takes a holistic approach to feeling and looking healthier and more beautiful.
• Advice is based on scientific research.
• Addresses the importance of stress reduction and positive self-esteem.
• Challenges common ideas regarding beauty.
• Encourages a diet based on a variety of healthy foods.
• Includes unique dietary advice to enhance beauty.
• Entertaining and easy to read.

Cons

• Does not include a meal plan or recipes.
• Some readers may be overwhelmed with the amount of information.
• Female readers may have difficulty accepting beauty advice from male authors.

Conclusions

YOU: Being Beautiful offers readers tips and suggestions on how to improve health and physical appearance though a variety of ways including dietary adjustment, fitness, beauty regimens, and stress management.

It takes a holistic view that moves beyond the superficial to look at a range of factors that are involved in the creation of beauty in all of its aspects. YOU: Being Beautiful will appeal to women who want to enhance their natural beauty through making positive lifestyle changes.