You Are What You Eat
Top 10: Foods That Improve Your Appearance
“You are what you eat,” or so the saying goes. While it’s a bit of a stretch to directly relate a man’s appearance to his diet, food does have some aesthetic impact on the human body and, more specifically, your skin, teeth, hair, nails, and muscle mass. So the next time you’re cruisin’ down the aisles at your local grocery store,
why not take a look in the mirror and stock up on foods that’ll help
your body both inside and out? Here are the top 10 foods that improve
your appearance.
No.10 Oregano
At first glance, it’s tough to see how oregano could help your appearance. Despite being high in vitamin K,
a fat-soluble vitamin that helps reduce bruising (but only when applied
as a cream), oregano will really only help your looks when used as a
salt substitute. Too much sodium
in the diet can make the body retain more water, and, unfortunately, we
often retain that water in areas we’d rather not -- like under the
eyes. Just reach for the oregano the next time you look to add some
extra flavor to your food.
No.9 Onions
Boasting a range of healthy flavonoids, antioxidants and sulfur-containing compounds, the onion -- like garlic, which will help you live longer -- is a member of the Allium family, which lays claim to many nutritional superstars. What makes halitosis-inducing
onions unique, at least in terms of appearance-improving traits, is
their anti-bacterial properties, ironically, in regard to the mouth and
gums. Led by quercetin, a flavonoid, onions have been found to lead the
charge against a whole host of oral bacteria and should therefore help
to keep your gums healthy and your bad breath in check (at least bad
breath that’s due to bacteria).
No.8 Grapefruit
As a citrus fruit, grapefruits are loaded with vitamin C, an essential vitamin that the male body simply shouldn’t ignore. Vitamin C
helps the body produce collagen, a protein used to make skin,
cartilage, tendons, ligaments, and blood vessels -- you name it. Vitamin
C is also essential for healing wounds and repairing and maintaining
bones and teeth.
As an antioxidant, this powerhouse vitamin also helps counter the aging
effects of the sun on our skin. Since one grapefruit contains our daily
recommended intake of vitamin C, you’d be wise to include it in your
breakfast menu.
No.7 Blackberries
By now, every man, woman and child knows the health benefits
of blueberries, but there’s another berry that’s gaining recognition in
health circles -- the blackberry. Blackberries consistently rank tops
among fruits with the highest concentration of antioxidants
per serving size. Add in the fact that blackberries are an excellent
source of folic acid (vitamin B9), and it's clear that these berries are
vital to maintaining healthy skin. Did we mention that they’re also
delicious?
No.6 Brazil nuts
Like most nuts, Brazil nuts are chock full of vitamins and minerals,
many of which can improve your appearance. Aside from zinc and copper,
Brazil nuts are high in magnesium. Magnesium is needed by nearly every
organ in the body and also contributes to the makeup of teeth and bones.
Brazil nuts are also a rich source of thiamine (vitamin B1), which,
along with other B complex vitamins, helps to maintain the appearance of
your skin, hair, and eyes. But be careful before you overindulge.
Brazil nuts are actually so high in selenium that eating too many too
often could, in fact, be detrimental to your health!
No.5 Shiitake mushrooms
Long a symbol of health and longevity in Asia, shiitake
mushrooms have recently forayed into North American food culture -- and
we couldn’t be happier. Not only do these 'shrooms have a rich and smoky
flavor, but they’re also full of minerals (specifically, zinc and
copper) that will keep your looks sharp. Zinc deficiencies have a
profound effect on the appearance, causing potential weight loss, skin
problems like acne or psoriasis, hair loss, and fingernail
discoloration. Copper, on the other hand, plays a role in the production
of melanin, the pigment that colors hair and darkens our skin when we
tan.
No.4 Swiss chard
Belonging to the goosefoot family of vegetables that includes
spinach and beets, Swiss chard is a veritable valedictorian when it
comes to nutritious vegetables. It’s teeming with various vitamin and
mineral antioxidants as well as phytonutrient ones, many of which also
serve an anti-inflammatory function. As an excellent source of vitamin K
and calcium, Swiss chard also helps to maintain healthy-looking bones
and teeth. This bitter leafy veggie is also rich in vitamin A, known as
retinol, which often forms a key ingredient in oral treatments for acne
and psoriasis.
No.3 Avocados
Sometimes referred to as an alligator pear, the stocky
avocado stems from a tall evergreen tree that can grow up to 66 feet in
height. With its spectacular array of B vitamins, the avocado is great
at maintaining healthy skin and hair. The rich monounsaturated fats in
avocados have also been found to help maintain skin pH, while the
omega-3 fatty acids further prevent your skin from drying up. From now
on, when you think healthy skin, think avocados (and not scaly
alligators, which aren’t all that conducive to good health in general).
No.2 Eggs
When it comes to boosting appearance, eggs attack your looks
from all angles. Firstly, egg protein is considered to be the most
readily utilizable protein with the highest biological value of any
whole food, meaning it’s key to building lean, strong muscles. Secondly,
being rich in vitamins A, B2, B5, B6, B9, and B12, eggs will help you
maintain glowing skin. Lastly, as a source of biotin, a B vitamin (B7)
that’s actually prescribed alongside medical treatment for hair loss,
eggs might even help slow baldness.
No.1 Oysters
Like eggs, oysters have your looks at heart. Of course,
unlike eggs, they may also help out with matters of the heart, but
that’s a different story altogether. Offering one of the most complete
array of B vitamins, most notably B12, as well as zinc and omega-3 fatty
acids, oysters are to healthy skin what Jean-Claude Van Damme
was to action movies once upon a time. Speaking of Van Damme, oysters
are also high in protein but low in fat, which may very well interest
bodybuilders (and over-the-hill action-movie stars). Lastly, oysters are
an excellent source of iron. Iron deficiency anemia is a common
condition that can lead to visible changes in the hair, skin and nails.
Put it all together and you have yourself one admittedly ugly food that
leads to good looks.
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