by Melissa Raissa

Created on: August 29, 2009   Last Updated: May 21, 2010

At this day and age, most people already know a thing or two about how to improve their appearance. Some people are so competitive when it comes to their looks that they are willing to do anything to get that edge, ranging from simple makeovers to drastic body-altering procedures. Ironically, the best - and safest - ways to achieve beauty can be done through simple, non-expensive habits. For simplicity, here's a new acronym for P-R-E-T-T-Y that I hope will help make these habits easy to remember.

P ~ proper diet
R ~ rest
E ~ exercise
T ~ training
T ~ thoughts
Y ~ youthfulness

Proper Diet

Skin is the first place to start if you want to be beautiful. Many foods have the vitamins and nutrients that you need to have beautiful skin. Of course, the said vitamins and minerals can also be found in top-of-the-line cosmetics but foods are much more tastier. They're also less expensive and just as effective, with added benefits if they're eaten and not just smothered on your face or other body parts.

The most useful vitamins for healthy skin is vitamins A, C and E. Vitamin A which you can get from egg yolks, nonfat milk, and oysters, helps to protect and repair the skin. Vitamin C which you can get from citrus fruits maintains collagen for skin firmness. Vitamin E has antioxidants that protect skin from pollution and sun exposure. Food sources for vitamin E include lean meat, salmon, almonds, legumes and leafy vegetables.

There are many more vitamins that are beneficial to the skin as well as the entire body such as vitamin B, D and K. Vitamin B, from poultry, red meat and fish, maintains our normal skin function. Vitamin D which you can get from sunlight and food sources like salmon and mackerel, helps absorb calcium and prevents flaky skin problems like psoriasis. Vitamin K from green leafy vegetables, avocado, bananas, cereals and eggs, helps to heal bruises and dark under-eye circles.

There are also several minerals and compounds that help to protect our skin such as beta carotene, selenium and zinc. Beta carotene reduces redness and can be found in dark colored produce like carrots, broccoli, tomatoes, watermelon, spinach and sweet potatoes. Selenium which you can get from tuna, sesame seeds and whole grains, helps to reduce sunburn and also protects against cancer. Zinc from mushrooms, seafood and turkey, helps in acne and wrinkle prevention.

Rest

There's a reason they call it "beauty sleep". Getting a full 8-hour sleep is not only good for your skin, it helps in your

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