by Molly Carter

Created on: October 12, 2007

We've all heard it..."You are what you eat." To keep that youthful glow, the foods you eat help you from the inside out. By nourishing our bodies, we live longer, are healthier, our skin is clearer, our eyes are brighter, and our bodies are stronger.

Before we delve into the "beauty foods" let's take a moment to discuss the number one beauty necessity - water. Although water may not be included in one of the food groups, it's imperative for healthy body function. Not only does it help internally regulate our bodies, but externally it keeps skin moist preventing flaking and dryness. Water consumption also makes us feel full longer helping in weight control, and the more we drink, the more our body flushes out toxins and relieves bloating.

Here is the must have list of beauty foods:

APPLE CIDER VINEGAR:
Apple Cider Vinegar speeds up metabolism and helps food digest properly. It is also loaded with enzymes that help strip away dead skin cells keeping skin smooth and moist. Apple Cider Vinegar has been used for centuries as a healing agent. Many models take a spoonful of apple cider vinegar after every meal to increase metabolism.

GREEN TEA:
Green tea is laden with antioxidants and boosts your metabolism slightly because of the caffeine. Antioxidants make your skin clearer, your eyes appear brighter, and help maintain overall health.

MEAT, CHICKEN, AND BEANS:
These are important staples to get the proper amount of protein in your diet. Protein forms strong nails and healthy hair. By eating either red meat, dark veggies, or eggs, you can help prevent premature graying of your hair also.

FISH:
Fish Oil helps maintain the correct amount of moisture in your skin and add body to your hair.

OLIVE OIL:
Olive oil is not only rich in antioxidants, but also provides healthy oils to make our skin glow and our hair strong.

CARROTS:
Carrots are loaded with Vitamins that help maintain the outer layer of our skin and prevent premature aging. They also help your hair grow healthy and keep your eyesight strong.

CITRUS FRUITS:
Citrus Fruits contain collagen which is integral to holding our skin cells together. Since we can't apply collagen to our skin directly, it's important that we eat foods with high amounts of collagen in our diets. These fruits also have high levels of Vitamin C which helps skin stay clear and our bodies fight damage by the sun and environment.

CHEESE:
Cheese is loaded with Calcium for strong bones, but also helps prevent cavities by blocking bacteria that forms in your

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