| Beauty foods are not new or exotic. However, | | | | for the skin at a fraction the cost of the same |
| they have emerged as a new category, now that | | | | ingredients when present in the tiny quantities |
| our understanding of their benefits for our skin | | | | provided in specially-formulated skincare products. |
| has become more clear. One of the best ways to | | | | You'll notice that the things we are advised to eat |
| get an idea of what to eat for beauty is to look | | | | for beautiful skin -- fresh fruits, a variety of |
| at what manufacturers are putting into their | | | | vegetables, oily fish like sardines and salmon, plus |
| cosmetic products. There is so much food being | | | | beans, eggs, and good hydration -- are also basic |
| put into them that they are sometimes even | | | | to being healthy and having abundant energy. |
| called "cosmeceutricals" or "nutricosmetics". There | | | | There is nothing surprising about that. The skin is |
| are skincare products containing added | | | | one of the organs of the body (actually, the |
| antioxidants, vitamins, omega-3 oils, minerals; yet | | | | biggest) and it has similar needs as the rest of |
| all these things are found in abundance in | | | | the organs. Like the rest of the body, it needs to |
| everyday foods. | | | | be protected from free radicals and inflammation, |
| One of my favorite beauty foods, for instance, is | | | | and to be provided the basic building blocks that |
| cabbage. Nothing particularly glamorous about | | | | enable it to create new, healthy cells. |
| cabbage, I agree, but it is packed with | | | | The rest of the body is nourished via the mouth. |
| skin-friendly goodies at a fraction the cost we | | | | The skin can be nourished in just the same way. |
| pay for the same things in skincare formulations. | | | | It helps the skin when we make sure we are |
| Green leafy vegetables, brightly colored | | | | eating a diet rich in skin-friendly ingredients. Then |
| vegetables, and tea - especially white and green | | | | our beauty program can become a lot more |
| tea - are all similarly packed with antioxidants | | | | effective, and a lot simpler. Once the basics are in |
| known to improve the condition of the skin. | | | | place, we have an inside program that builds |
| The same goes for oils. Take sardines, for | | | | healthy, beautiful skin. It is then easy to |
| instance, another humble food, but one that is | | | | supplement it with an outside program that |
| packed with omega-3 oils vital for healthy, glowing | | | | comprises a good cleanser, moisturizer, toner, and |
| skin. Beans (high in zinc) and eggs, garlic and | | | | exfoliant. Once the basics are right, there is usually |
| onions (high in sulfur) all deliver specific benefits | | | | no need for more than that. |