1. BLUEBERRIES
Prevent long-term cell damage with the powerhouse antioxidants found in blueberries. Antioxidants fight free radicals to protect your skin from environmental aggressors.
"Consuming food high in antioxidants is one of the simplest, most natural things you can do when it comes to enhancing your health and beauty," says Drayer, MA, RD, author of "The Beauty Diet: Looking Great Has Never Been So Delicious".
Toss a handful into your morning cereal or oatmeal, or pack a Ziploc full for a mid-afternoon snack.
2. CHOCOLATE MILK
Improve your skin health by drinking flavanoid-rich dark chocolate milk.
"One recent study, where women regularly drank a high-flavanoid cocoa beverage once a day for 12 weeks, revealed an increase in blood flow to skin tissue, with improved skin hydration and decreased roughness and scaling," says Drayer.
The great news: You can get the same high-flavanoid Cocoapro they used in the study with CocoaVia, $39.95 for 30 packets. The Cocoapro (329 mg), is made using a patented process that helps retain a consistent level of flavanols that occur naturally in cocoa beans and it's only 30 calories per serving. We'll drink to that.
3. KIWI, GUAVA AND STRAWBERRIES
Prevent wrinkles and stimulate collagen by snacking on vitamin C-packed strawberries, guava and kiwi. Vitamin C is good for more than just warding off colds.
"In a study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, vitamin C-rich foods were associated with less noticeable wrinkles and less dryness," says Drayer.
Vitamin C "also reduces inflammation and helps minimize puffiness under your eyes," explains Zuckerbrot, MS, RD, creator of the F-Factor Diet.
Because kiwis are also antioxidant all-stars, they can help neutralize free radicals, which cause damage to cells that can lead to inflammation, cancer and heart disease.
4. OYSTERS
These slimy little creatures are choc full of zinc -- a major player in skin repair that helps create collagen, which provides the structural support in skin (sayonara sagging). Zinc also has antioxidant properties, and it's been shown to be a protective nutrient at the cellular level.
Zinc also helps maintain stronger nails, keeps your scalp and hair healthy and helps protect your eyes from vision problems. How's that for multitasking?
Not into oysters? Hold your nose and swallow them quick. Kidding, er, somewhat. No, really, you can find zinc in red meat and poultry, beans, nuts, certain types of seafood (such as crab and lobster), whole grains, fortified breakfast cereals and dairy products. Though oysters are truly the best source of zinc.
5. TOMATO PASTE
Protect your skin from sun damage by feasting on lycopene-full tomatoes.
"Research has shown that daily consumption of lycopene in the form of tomato paste results in less sunburn," explains Drayer.
And cooking tomatoes actually boosts absorption of lycopene. Other foods that do similar jobs include sweet potatoes, spinach and fruits like watermelon, cantaloupe and mangoes.
"Like tomatoes, these foods also contain carotenoids, which protect against sunburn, so keep these on your shopping list too," says Drayer.
6. WILD SALMON
Keep skin soft and supple by adding omega-3 fatty acid-rich wild salmon to your diet¬. These omega-3s replenish the lipids in your skin, which helps keep it flexible and moisture-full.
"Omega-3 fatty acids also reduce inflammation on the cellular level that can lead to dry scaly skin, redness and acne," explains Drayer.
Other good sources of omega-3 fatty acids for you fish haters -- flaxseeds and walnuts.
Source: TotalBeauty
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