10 Foods That May Improve Your Appearance

1. Blood oranges, cherries and blueberries

Collagen is a natural protein in your skin and muscles that provides resiliency, shape and texture. Unfortunately, collagen production decreases with age— but you can fight back with dark fruit. Blood oranges, cherries and blueberries are full of antioxidants, which decrease aging and disease by lowering inflammation. Antioxidants also increase collagen production and thicken the skin, making you look younger and healthier. Blackberries, raspberries, plums, pomegranates, cranberries, Asian dragon fruit and kiwis also contain antioxidants.

2. Shellfish, sunflower seeds and sardines

These foods may not taste great together, but individually they offer a powerhouse of essential fatty acids. Flax seeds, tuna, walnuts, canola oil, soybean oil and pumpkin seeds are more good sources of essential fatty acids.

3. Dandelion, turnip and mustard greens

Foods that keep our livers cleansed of toxins, heavy metals and fats make our whole body function more efficiently. This makes us happier, which affects how we look. Plus, a healthy liver brightens our eyes and tightens our skin. Eating these slightly bitter greens has been shown to lessen your sweet tooth.

4. Oregano, thyme and parsley

If you have puffy bags under your eyes in the morning, you are almost certainly consuming much more salt than you need. Instead of salt, season your meals with herbs and spices such as oregano, thyme, rosemary, parsley and garlic. Instead of salt, season your meals with herbs and spices such as oregano, thyme, rosemary, parsley and garlic

5. Crunchy vegetables

Fresh raw veggies are as good for your grin as they are for your skin! Celery, carrots, string beans and cauliflower contain cellulose, which helps scrub stains from your teeth—giving you a whiter, brighter smile. If you've just consumed blueberries, coffee, mustard, red wine or cranberry juice, follow it up with fresh cucumber slices or an apple.

6. Sea vegetables

Polluted cells can't function at their optimum level. When our cells are functioning optimally, not only do we have more energy—we look and feel great. Sea vegetables are one of our richest sources of minerals and phytochemicals. These veggies help detoxify, rebuild and nourish all the cells in our body. Unhealthy foods, stress and environmental pollutants cause cells to age prematurely, potentially leading to thinning hair and premature wrinkles.

7. Meat, cheese and lentils

It may take 10 pounds of milk to make a pound of cheese, but fortunately you don't need to eat that much dairy or protein to repair your cells. As you age, your hair and skin cells become damaged, making you appear older. The protein in meat, chicken, low-fat cheese, cottage cheese, and certain vegetables promotes cell growth and repair, which translates to younger-looking skin, fewer wrinkles, less hair loss and a glossy mane. To take a break from meat or dairy, try soybeans and lentils instead (they contain more protein than any other legume).

8. Egg yolks, organ meats and whole-milk products

Vitamin A is especially important for skin repair, and decreased levels can lead to dry, flaky skin, lack of vitamin A may cause your skin to heal poorly and wrinkle easily. The main sources of this vitamin are foods from animals, such as liver, eggs and whole-milk dairy products. Some plants—carrots and broccoli, for example—supply beta-carotene, which your body converts to vitamin A as needed. Apricots, nectarines, plums and cantaloupe are more great sources of beta-carotene.

9. Almond or hemp "milk"

Almond milk is a nutritious dairy alternative because of its high levels of magnesium, potassium, manganese, copper, vitamin E, selenium and calcium. Licensed medical esthetician Tina Seitz says, Hemp milk is a delicious, nutty-tasting non-dairy beverage that provides essential balanced nutrition. It's a fantastic alternative to soymilk or dairy, and has a natural well-balanced ratio of omega-3 and omega-6 essential fatty acids to keep your mind sharp, your immune system strong and your skin glowing. Both almond and hemp milks are plant-based, and don't contain lactose. They offer high-quality protein that can give hair a radiant, healthy shine and helps keep skin soft.

10. Wild salmon with avocado and mango dressing


This is more than a delicious meal—it's an anti-aging feast! Wild Alaskan salmon has precious omega-3 essential fatty acids, which enhance blood flow. The pink/orange color of wild salmon is an anti-aging carotenoid called astaxanthin that protects cell membranes. Add avocado for its antioxidant properties and mango (for vitamin E and anti-inflammatory carotenoids) and you'll be sitting pretty after dinner!

4 Simple Ways to Superpower Your Salad

1. Dress for SuccessDress your salad with an olive oil-based dressing. This good fat helps you absorb the nutrients in the salad. Mix the oil with apple or wine vinegars for extra antioxidants.

2. Herb It UpLemon balm and marjoram can increase a salad’s antioxidant capacity by 150–200 percent.You can sprinkle cumin, fresh ginger, and thyme on your salad, too.

3. Vary Your Veggies Artichokes, beetroot, broccoli, garlic, leeks, radishes, spinach, and onions were the chart-topping antioxidant-rich veggies in a recent study -- though they’re not everyone’s favorites

4. Branch Out . . .. . . with new leaves. Some colorful red chicory or purple cabbage, for example, will add crunch to your salad -- as well as extra antioxidants. You can also count on cabbage to help reduce your risk of this.

Two tips to keep your greens green longer:

Pamper your lettuce when you get back from the market: Core, rinse, but don’t cut. Dry well in a salad spinner. Keep moisture away from leaves by refrigerating in a container with a paper towel at the bottom

Smart Shopping Strategies to Fight Rising Food Prices

In 2004, a gallon of milk was $1.63;
In 2008 it is nearly $3, and more if you buy organic milk!!!!

You want to feed your family healthy foods, but it can appear that purchasing less-healthful, prepared and packaged foods can save you money.

Don't fall into this marketing trap! Keep the goal on price-per-nutritional-calorie rather than paying for empty calories designed just to fill you up without any nutritional benefits.

Try these three strategies for making your food dollar go farther while eating healthily with whole foods.

1. Go to the bulk bins. Packaged and processed foods include the price of the wrapping, which then adds to our landfills. Buy rice, quinoa, couscous, pastas and other grains in the bulk food bins and store in airtight containers. While you're in that section, consider adding some of the just-add-water, great-for-a-healthy-meal-or-snack options: a refried bean mix for burrito night (typically a low-sodium, low-saturated fat and vegetarian offering), dried hummus powder and even dehydrated split pea soup.

2. Use frozen versions of out-of season vegetables. When green beans have to be shipped in from South America and look a little jet-weary, think instead of the bag of vegetables that were flash-frozen at the peak of ripeness and won't go bad before you get to use them. When cooked properly, frozen vegitables can be as appealing as fresh, and don't contain any extra additives or preservatives.

3. Purchase meats in bulk and freeze in individual portions. Look in the warehouse stores for bags of frozen fish fillets. Watch for sales on chicken, then clean and separate pieces for freezing in zip-top baggies.
One of the major advantages of buying in bulk and freezing portions is that you'll always have healthy food on-hand for a nutritious meal with very little effort. The one-pot meal below, for example, is just about as easy as it gets -- you can even just toss in your individual frozen servings without thawing!

Check our money saving recipes at www.internationalcookingportal.com

by eDiet.com