Easy Ways To Eat Your Way to a Healthy You

Photo by Penelope P. Miller, all others courtesy of Wikimedia Commons unless otherwise noted.
We’ve all heard about the many benefits of eating a healthy diet, but did you know that you ARE what you eat?
Massive scientific evidence proves that a healthy diet is directly associated with intrinsically and extrinsically aging at a slower rate. That simply means that your looks and body will suffer from a crap diet, and you will look beautiful and feel great if you take care to eat a well-balanced diet.
Eating to boost health and beauty doesn’t mean boring or complicated. Here are my top seven tips to getting gorgeous while eating better.
1) Low-fat dairy

These products will provide you with essential Vitamin A. This is of utmost importance if you have diabetes or a thyroid condition, but it is a necessity for us all. Low-fat dairy usually will not irritate skin conditions that may be sensitive to regular dairy and the body converts the beta carotene to Vitamin A a lot easier from low-fat dairy than from other foods such as carrots. Don’t forget that you will also be getting a daily dose of acidophilus, which is the live bacteria that keeps your intestinal tract healthy. In layman’s terms, that means a healthy gut equals proper detoxification through filtration and elimination.
2) Berries for beauty

Blueberries, blackberries, strawberries and plums (yes plums!) are super high in antioxidants. In a study recently published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, “… these four fruits weighed in with the highest "total antioxidant capacity" of any food.” By eating a lot of berries, you’re boosting your body’s natural ability to combat sun and cellular damage created by the pollution we are invisibly bombarded with on a daily basis. Berries are a tasty way to eat your way to a healthy, beautiful you.
3) The “fat” that we need

Photo by Melissa Bauer-Herzog
Essential fatty acids are key for healthy skin, and don’t forget that your skin is your largest organ! Unless you have a food allergy to any of the following, try to eat these on a regular basis – salmon, flax seed and walnuts. I’m sure you’ve heard about omega 3 and omega 6, which must be in balance for good skin and health but while we seem to get enough omega 6, many of us lack omega 3s, so eat up. If you think that this isn’t a big deal because you were blessed with good skin, think again. Essential fatty acids are vital to avoiding blockage of the arteries and heart disease! 
4) Consume “good” oils for fast absorption

Cooking with Canola oil, and olive oil plus tossing back a daily teaspoon of flax seed oil are great ways to further boost your Omega 3 and 6 intake. Always shop for “cold pressed, expeller processed or extra virgin” for oils that do not contain added solvents or have their goodness literally cooked out of them at really high temps.
5) Tuna, turkey and brazil nuts

What do they have in common? Selenium, which plays a key role in keeping skin cells healthy. It’s important to keep up your selenium levels, because this will boost your ability to recover from sun damage. Skin cancer is a real danger – one in five people will develop skin cancer within their lifetime.
6) Green Tea

Consume one cup of naturally decaffeinated green tea daily to help your body combat development of certain cancer cells, to aid in detoxification and to keep your cells strong. Polyphenols in green tea are anti-inflammatory and protective to cells’ membranes. Just remember that green tea can be very diuretic when consumed in quantity, so keep it minimal but daily for healthy and bouncy skin.
7) Water

Drink up ladies and gents! You’ve heard this a million times, but why? Because our bodies are made up of approximately 60 percent water and like a car, we can’t run without gas. Pure filtrated water is necessary for a healthy body, clear and youthful skin, and a clear, sharp mind. You will also sweat more proficiently when you’re properly hydrated, thus naturally expelling harmful toxins without stressing your internal organs. Pure, unadulterated water is truly your “Fountain of Youth,” so choose water over soft drinks every time.