10 Ways to Eat Your Way Gorgeous

By InStyle.com
Dec 16, 2013 @ 4:58 pm
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10 Ways to Eat Your Way Gorgeous
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Try Lobster

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Why It Makes You Pretty: In addition to offering a good, low-fat source of protein (key for healthy hair growth), shellfish contains high amounts of zinc, a mineral which may help prevent acne and boost your immune function, says N.Y.C. nutritionist Keri Glassman, author of The O2 Diet. Shellfish also has pantothenic acid, a B vitamin that makes hair look shinier.

Also Try: Oysters, clams and mussels
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Sprinkle On Some Chia Seeds

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Why They Make You Pretty: These antioxidant-rich seeds are great sources of vitamin E and omega-3s, essential fatty acids that make skin glow and hair shine. And unlike their cousins, flaxseeds, they don’t need to be ground up for their beneficial oils to be absorbed.

Also Try: Flax, sunflower and pumpkin seeds

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Cook Up Some Artichokes

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Why They Make You Pretty: Anything with lots of fiber-and one artichoke supplies 25 percent of an adult’s daily quota-is detoxifying because it helps rid the body of waste. The result? Clearer, more radiant skin. Artichokes also contain rutin, an anti-oxidant that reduces inflammation throughout the body, so skin appears plumper and less red.
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Eat Strawberries

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Why They Make You Pretty: This sweet fruit is loaded with vitamin C, an immune-boosting antioxidant that stimulates collagen production and reduces damage from free radicals, those nasty molecules that cause skin to age prematurely. Strawberries also contain malic acid, a natural astringent that can help remove discoloration from teeth.

Also Try: Blueberries, kiwis and oranges

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Bake Some Sweet Potatoes

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Why They Make You Pretty: Full of fiber, this tasty, orange complex carb is also high in vitamin A, an antioxidant that keeps skin fresh, smooth and clear. (The topical version of vitamin A—a derivative known as tretinoin—is the main ingredient in many prescription acne and anti-wrinkle creams.)

Also Try: Carrots and tomatoes

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Try Açai Berries

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Why They Make You Pretty: Known as a super-fruit, this reddish purple Brazilian berry is full of omega-3 fatty acids and antioxidants (a couple of ounces have more free-radical fighting power than a glass of red wine). Though it’s difficult to find the real fruit outside of Brazil, many companies (like Sambazon) sell açai capsules, sorbet and other products.
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Eat Wild Salmon

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Why It Makes You Pretty: One of the best-known sources of skin-beautifying omega fatty acids, salmon reduces inflammation more effectively than almost any other food. "It enhances radiance and reduces wrinkles and puffiness," says Connecticut dermatologist Nicholas Perricone, who is so enamored with the fatty fish that he created a beauty diet based on it (The Wrinkle Cure).

Also Try: Mackerel and sardines

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Cook With Kale

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Why It Makes You Pretty: This dark green, leafy vegetable offers lots of fiber (for clear skin) and plenty of vitamin A and C (take that, wrinkles and discoloration!). Kale also has lutein, a nutrient that makes the whites of your eyes look brighter.

Also Try: Spinach

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Embrace Quinoa

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Why It Makes You Pretty: B-complex vitamins in this nutty grain help skin glow and hair feel less dry. Unlike many starches, quinoa does not contain gluten, a common but often overlooked source of food allergies that can irritate the skin, according to Idaho nutritionist Ann Louise Gittleman.
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Drink Kefir

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Why It Makes You Pretty: Probiotics in this tangy drink cleanse the digestive tract, so skin appears clearer and more luminous. Studies also show faster weight loss among people who drink kefir or eat yogurt, says Perricone.
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