Food For Thought: Eat The Way You Want To Look!

You are what you eat, right? Well if that's really true than I'm pretty sure I'm a giant slab of  cheese.

According to the beauty and well-being website RealBeauty.com, certain foods not only help you look and feel better but also help you shed a few lbs in the process. So by consuming foods rich in nutrients, anti-oxidants and vitamins, you and your body will become the pillar of health  you know you want it to be.

 

Here's what Real Beauty recommends munching on to look glowing and feel fit:

 

Wild Salmon: You knew seafood was gonna make the cut. Fish like salmon, trout and herring all contain omega-3 fatty acids which play a key role in maintaining smooth skin. They contain oils that help lubricate and reduce inflammation that causes redness, acne and scaly skin.

 

Sweet Potatoes: They are so delicious when baked and made into yummy fries. Sweet Potatoes keep your skin silky smooth. They're rich in beta-carotene which when ingested turns into vitamin A and is great for your skin. Carrots have the same effect, but I personally love me some sweet p's.

 

Watermelon, Cantaloupe, Mangoes: Lucky for us, these fruits are delicious, juicy and perfect for summer enjoyment. Melons are heavy in carotenoids which help protect your skin from sunburn-in addition to proper sunblock usage. How great does it sound to be sitting on a beach, with any of these yummy sun-protecting fruits!?

Kiwi-This little fuzzy fruit is packed with tons of vitamin C. Fruits like kiwi, oranges, and grapefruit are great for the skin. According to Real Beauty, "Vitamin C stimulates collagen synthesis and protects against wrinkles". A study done by the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, showed that women who had a diet high in vitamin C foods had fewer  wrinkles and noticeably more moisturized skin.

Dark Chocolate-Um, yes please! A small piece of dark chocolate will provide high levels of cocoa flavanols which are associated with softer, more hydrated skin. The key is portion control here! Bonus: if you stick to eating one tiny piece of chocolate it could actually satiate your sweet tooth and prevent you from grabbing a bag of candy or other dessert high in sugar and calories.

Yogurt-This versatile food makes your skin and nails glow. It's a great source of protein and has been found in studies to help stimulate fat metabolism and decrease your waistline. Plus it contains biotin , which is great for increasing nail and hair strength

Broccoli-I probably didn't need to tell you this was good for you. You've been hearing it your whole life! This super vegetable has been proven to keep your gum's healthy. Citrus and peppers also have the same effect. So once and for all, don't forget to eat your vegetables!

Oysters-Oysters can be an acquired taste. Luckily, I love them. Oysters are a great source of zinc which helps keeps your hair and scalp healthy. Dark meat chicken, turkey, crab, dairy or beans also provide zinc, as do some multivitamins like One A Day. You would probably know that for a fact, if you've had one on an empty stomach and felt immediately ill. The zinc makes you feel beyond nauseous if you don't take it with a full stomach.

Capsicum-Hot peppers will boost your heart rate and speed your metabolism by 23 percent for an hour and a half after eating a meal with them. That's because of a compound found in them. Peppers also contain vitamin C-a notorious do-gooder for the skin and immune system.

Nuts and Seeds-It's always great to have nuts or seeds on hand (in a ziplock bag) because they're portable (throw them in your purse) and filling when you need something to eat on-the-go or in a pinch. They also contain anti-inflammatory and immunity-enhancing nutrients, including vitamin E that help reduce skin flare-ups.

Dark, Leafy Greens-Another Duh! vegetable. You know these are good for you. Your parents were always making you finish your greens. Well, now you should be doing that on your own. Greens like spinach and arugula have loads of antioxidants which help keep your complexion radiant and skin blemish-free.

 

Thanks to Realbeauty.com for the fantastic article and useful tips!