You've heard the old adage "You are what you eat." And now science is proving it's actually true, especially when it comes to your looks! So you can stop spending money on pricey skin creams-finding the Fountain of Youth is as easy as indulging in these delicious summer foods!
Cherries
make you bikini-beautiful!
Are you one of the 24 million Americans with varicose veins? Try some cherries or blueberries! "Varicose veins occur when the veins weaken and lose elasticity, causing blood to pool," explains Luis Navarro, M.D., of the Vein Treatment Center in New York City. But dark-colored berries contain anthocyanins and proanthocyanins, two compounds that strengthen vein walls and boost blood circulation. In one study, these nutrients improved varicose veins within just 60 minutes, and the effect was still prominent four hours later!
wipe out wrinkles!
Want to turn back the clock and say goodbye to wrinkles? Eat an avocado! Israeli research found its compounds-including fatty acids and vitamins E, C and K-boost collagen in the skin, decreasing wrinkling and sagging, and plumping up fine lines. Avocados are also one of the few food sources of sterolins, proven to reduce age spots, heal scars and encourage cell turnover! Just eat a few each week to get the benefit from the inside out, or mash one up and apply topically as a facial mask.
reduces roughness!
In a German study, women given a chocolate drink each morning for three months had better skin texture, less roughness and 25% less redness when exposed to UV light than those who weren't, thanks to its wallop of anti-aging flavonoids! To get the same benefit, indulge in a few ounces a day of dark chocolate that contains at least 70% cacao, like Hershey's Special Dark, since it has the most flavonoids.
give you a peachy glow!
You really can get a "peaches and cream" complexion just by eating them, promises Maoshing Ni, Ph.D., author of Second Spring. Research at the University of California at Davis found peaches-as well as nectarines and plums-are packed with specific phytochemicals that protect skin cells and counteract damage from UV rays and aging, leading to more elastic, smoother, and younger skin! "They also give a nice, rosy glow to your complexion, which makes you look radiant," he says.
keep off pounds!
Worried about looking good at the beach? Just have some pistachios! The fatty acids in these nuts stimulate production of cholecystokinin, a hormone that sends an "I'm full" signal to the brain. They're also packed with calming magnesium and B vitamins that increase GABA levels, an amino acid that eases anxiety and balances brain chemicals-so you're less likely to want to snack!
keep skin moist!
These crunchy summer staples are loaded with two potent phytonutrients-lutein and zeaxanthin-that strengthen skin cells so they can lock in moisture. An Italian study found these two nutrients-also found in Kale, spinach and broccoli-make skin 20% more elastic and a full 60% more hydrated in just 60 days! Sugar snaps are also rich in vitamin A, which scientists at The Hebrew University of Jerusalem in Israel found clears complexions and reduces pores in as little as two weeks.
erase dark circles!
Didn't get enough sleep? Snack on some walnuts! They're packed with the amino acid arginine, which relaxes blood vessels and improves circulation throughout the body. Walnuts also contain skin-smoothing vitamin E, and they're one of the few non-fish food sources of omega-fatty acids, which fight the inflammation that causes undereye circles and puffiness.
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Created by Sindy Williams
The above information was taken from an article written in Woman's Day Magazine August 2009
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