Pulses Can Control High Blood Pressure: Here's How

Dealing with blood pressure is one of the most common problems faced by people in India. Living a healthy lifestyle is considered as an effective way to control high blood pressure. According to a study conducted by University of Manitoba, eating a nice mix of legumes can help in controlling blood pressure. The study was done by feeding beans, lentils, peas and chickpeas to rats suffering from heart illnesses and unhealthy blood pressure levels. It was concluded that lentils have the capability to alter physical properties of blood vessels, thereby regulating flow of blood, oxygen and nutrients throughout the body.

Clinical nutritionist Monisha Ashokan says that cholesterol lowering properties of lentils and legumes make them great for regulating blood pressure. "Lentils and legumes are very rich in both soluble and insoluble fibre. This brings down LDL (bad) cholesterol in the body," she says.

Drinking Green Tea May Be Relaxing, But It Could Also Be Good For Your Teeth.

A study that examined the dental health of 940 men found that those who regularly drank green tea had better oral health than those who didn't. Men between the ages of 49 and 59 were examined on three indicators of gum disease, and researchers found that for every cup of green tea consumed per day, a decrease in all three indicators occurred.

"Any new study which brings dental healthcare into the spotlight is a step in the right direction," said Dr. Nigel Carter, chief executive of the British Dental Health Foundation. "Like any study of a relatively small number of people we can never be certain of the results — but because tea is relatively cheap and easily available, we must take notice of studies of this type, and we at the foundation will continue to watch and report on this and similar stories."

The study was published in the Journal of Periodontology, the official publication of the American Academy of Periodontology. The British Dental Health Foundation has previously reported on studies that show a connection between drinking green tea and decreasing the growth of cancer cells in the body.

Regular dental checkups are important in the early detection of oral cancer, according to the American Dental Association.

© 2018 American Dental Association. All rights reserved. Reproduction or republication is strictly prohibited without the prior written permission from the American Dental Association.

Why your body needs sugar

Our bodies all need sugar (or glucose) to function, which in my mind is why we all should eat sugar, or at least foods that convert into sugar. But before you get up in arms over this statement, let’s take a look at what sugar is, what form we need to take it in and how we should give it to our body for best physiological functioning.

What is sugar? 

Sugar is a simple carbohydrate that comes in many different forms. In its simplest form it is called a monosaccharide and includes: 

• Glucose (occurs naturally in fruits and plant juices)
• Fructose (occurs naturally in fruits, some root vegetables, cane sugar and honey)
• Galactose (combines with glucose to form lactose)  

The "table sugar" sucrose is a disaccharide (contains two monosaccharaides) made up of glucose and fructose. All carbohydrates, once eaten, are converted into glucose during digestion, which is the form of sugar that is used in our bodies.  

It is the added sugar that gives no beneficial nutrients (just energy) and in excess can impact on our health. The World Health Organization guideline is that "added sugar" should make up no more than 10% of our daily intake. However, with sugar being used in many of our foods these days it is easy to lose track of how much "added" sugar you are eating in a day!  

The important message that I want you to remember is that glucose is necessary for our health and all of the cells in our body need it to function, but too much will increase the risk of several diseases, so we need to find the balance.

Understanding the difference between natural sugar and added sugar 

Food labels only contain information on total sugars per serving ("of which sugars"), not added sugar. It therefore becomes almost impossible for us to work out how much added sugars are in the foods and drinks. 

This is where the ingredient list becomes important. The ingredients in a product are listed in order of weight. This means that the biggest (by weight) ingredient comes first on the list and the smallest ingredient is last. Therefore if sugar is listed in the top five ingredients then the "of which sugars" is added sugar. If however the "of which sugars" is high and the first ingredient is milk or fruit, then it is natural sugar in the product

How Can Increasing Your Tomato Intake Improve Your Heart Health?

Tomatoes play a big role in many heart-healthy recipes, and these rosy-hued veggies can do much more than brighten ordinary salads and pasta dishes. Tomatoes are packed with nutrients that can help lower your risk of heart disease.

Find out about the link between tomatoes and heart health, and learn new ways to mix these power-packed vegetables into the dishes you love.

Health Benefits of Tomatoes

Scientifically speaking, a tomato is a fruit, but most people consider them vegetables because of their taste and the way in which they’re used in cooking. The U.S. Department of Agriculture, which issues Dietary Guidelines for Americans, includes tomatoes in the red-orange vegetable group.

Tomatoes are low in calories, high in fiber, and have many nutrients that are good for your overall health, including:

• Lycopene
• Folate
• Potassium
• Vitamins A, B, C, and E

And, when processed with certain types of healthy oils, the lycopene in tomatoes actually gets easier for your body to absorb, so you don’t lose out on nutrients by eating tomato paste or sauce.

Tomatoes and Heart Health

Tomatoes have two key nutrients that have a big impact on heart health: lycopene and potassium.

Lycopene is a chemical that gives a tomato its red color and is also a powerful antioxidant, a type of substance that helps keep cells from becoming damaged. Some research shows that lycopene may lower LDL, or “bad” cholesterol, and keep blood from clotting, which lowers stroke risk.

Potassium is a mineral that can help lower blood pressure by taking some of the sodium out of your body, and by relaxing the walls of your blood vessels.

Honey Boosts Brain Function

Firstly, a five-year research was conducted from 2003 to 2008 by the University of Babylon, College of Medicine, Iraq to find out the benefits of honey in preventing cognitive decline and dementia. A total of 2893 subjects, all aged 65 and older were randomly selected and studied - 2290 healthy subjects and 603 subjects with some mild cognitive decline but not demented. In the study, about half of the subjects consumed a daily dose of honey, whereas the other half received only placebo. The findings at the end of 2008 were astonishing. Altogether 489 subjects developed dementia; and amongst these, 394 were from the group which took placebo, only 95 were from the group that consumed honey. The result difference in the two groups was statistically significant (P-value <0.05). The researchers of this study concluded that those who ate honey daily were less likely to develop dementia. They believed that honey possessed natural antioxidant and therapeutic properties that were able to prevent cognitive decline and dementia and enhance the brain's cholinergic system and circulation.

Next, studies have shown that the polyphenol properties of honey can counter oxidative stress, restore our cellular antioxidant defense system and hence is helpful in improving memory deficits. (Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, Volume 2014). For instance, an Argentinian study on the chemical composition of honey found that honey helped in building and developing the central nervous system of children and could reduce anxiety, improve memory and learning, and enhance their intellectual performance later in life (Journal of the Argentine Chemical Society, Vol. 96, no. 2, 2008).

As females age, they become vulnerable to the decline of estrogen in their body, which has an adverse cognitive impact on verbal learning and memory. In 2011, a 16-week experiment conducted by Universiti Sains Malaysia found that post-menopausal women who received honey showed improvements in their concentration and immediate memory power. (Menopause: The Journal of The North American Menopause Society, Vol. 18, 2011)

Today, sugar unfortunately has become a nasty word because of the rising consumption of refined sugars such as high fructose corn syrup, one of the worst forms of processed sugar that has been linked to obesity, diabetes, and heart diseases. Honey is often immediately associated with sugar and because sugar is perceived as bad, honey is also seen as bad. However, if we truly understand that sugar is the main energy source for our bodies and a critical source of fuel for our brains, we would surely think twice about choosing which kind of sugar to feed our body and brain.

Garlic as Cancer Treatment

Cancer. Few words cause more fear than this one. And why is cancer so prevalent in our modern day society? Alarming statistics show that one in four will get cancer in their lifetime. Why is that? No doubt that our exposure to toxins don’t help, like pesticides, chemicals found in our foods and lotions and cleaning agents, preservatives, hydrogenated oils, high fructose corn syrup, aspartame and artificial sweeteners, refined sugar, white flour, genetically modified produce, artificial colors, and the antibiotics dumped into the foods fed to livestock that we eventually consume.

Think about food this way: Every morsel we put into our bodies is either helping it recover and stay healthy, or feeding a disease. And one powerful natural agent with powerful anti-cancer benefits is garlic. Not only does it smell delicious, but research shows that it packs an incredibly nutritious punch. And when it comes to its anti-cancer benefits, garlic is powerful. According to the American Cancer Society, cell culture studies have shown that garlic can help cancer cells die off.  The National Cancer Institute also says that garlic can induce the deaths of cancer cells and that garlic can reduce the rate at which cancer cells proliferate, thereby slowing the progression of cancer in the body. In laboratory studies, garlic has killed leukemia cells, and in animal studies, garlic has killed cancer cells in the lungs, breasts, stomach, esophagus and colon.

The protective effects from garlic may arise from its antibacterial properties or from its ability to block the formation of cancer-causing substances, enhance DNA repair, reduce cell proliferation, or induce cell death. Garlic strengthens and stimulates the immune system’s response to disease: it will fight the threat from malignant cells and tumorous growth from getting a foothold. Garlic also helps the liver to remove toxic substances and harmful chemicals from the body.

So how much garlic should myeloma survivors be eating? There is no clear answer but adding some garlic to your diet most every day is a great idea. You can sauté it, bake it, or press fresh garlic in your soups, over your veggies, or add it to your favorite dips (like hummus or guacamole). Try getting garlic infused olive oils. (Note that garlic supplements are not the same as consuming real garlic!)

Word of caution: garlic is a natural blood thinner. Additionally, garlic may interfere with some medications. Consult with your doctor about your consumption of garlic.

Red grapes 'are wonder cure for high blood pressure and cholesterol'

Red grapes are more than just the source for the world’s finest wine - the fruits themselves are a wonder cure against heart attacks, according to new research.

And while a glass of wine is a recognised part of a healthy Mediterranean-style diet, it seems the bits of the grape thrown away to make the tipple could be even healthier.

Researchers made a cocktail extracted from the most fibre-rich parts of the grape such as the skin and seeds which are the waste byproduct in vineyards.

Tests on human volunteers found the extract was extremely rich in both fibre and antioxidants which reduce the risks of cardiovascular disease - the world’s biggest killer.

Most other superfoods for the heart, like the plant extract psyllium or healthy oats for instance, are usually good for either fibre or antioxidants rather than both together.

But the tests at Madrid University using a concoction called Grape Antioxidant Dietary Fibre (GADF) was high in both potentially lifesaving ingredients.

Over a 16 week period, adding the extract to the volunteers’ regular diet ‘significantly’ reduced their ‘Lipid Profile’ - the range of tests to determine a patient’s risk of heart disease.

This included reducing blood pressure by up to five per cent and cholesterol by up to 14 per cent among the volunteers, said the research.

A Mediterranean-style diet including components like red wine, olive oil and tomatoes has long been considered healthier than other Western diets rich in deep fried and fast food.

Drinking milk every day does this to your body

Calcium  

Milk is the best source of calcium for our body. Calcium protects our bodies from bone loss, migraine headaches, obesity in children and aids in losing unwanted fats. It is essential to get the recommended amount of daily calcium intake in order to maintain strong bones and health benefits and prevent future health risks due to lack of calcium.

Vitamin D  

Vitamin D actually helps the body absorb calcium. Therefore, almost all milk produced within the United States has been fortified with 100 to 120 IU of Vitamin D. Vitamin D helps bone strength by promoting bone growth and reducing the risk of brittle bones. It also reduces inflammation and increases immune function.

Healthy Bones

There are three main factors that contribute to healthy, strong bones. Genetics, physical activity, and proper calcium intake. With one eight ounce serving of milk providing 290 mg of milk, it is an excellent source of calcium. You can also offer a serving low-fat cheese which boasts 204 mg of calcium. Since milk is rich in calcium, which is essential for growth and proper strong bone structure milk helps prevent bone growth disorders and decrease the chance of bone fractures when injured.

Healthy Teeth

Encouraging young children to drink milk will result in great dental health. Milk protects the enamel surface against acidic substances. Drinking milk for energy and good health with help children reduce the consumption of soft drinks, thus reducing the risk of decayed teeth and weak gums.

Rehydration

Milk contains a good amount of water molecules so it helps keep bodies hydrated. Especially for children who are constantly active and running around it is important to stay hydrated. Therefore having a glass of milk is a great resource for hydration.

Improving Vitamin Intake

Milk contains vitamins and minerals to keep you fit, healthy and strong. These vitamins and minerals are good for eyesight, carbohydrates that increase energy and protein for body repair and growth.

Key Takeaways

• Milk is one of the best sources of calcium for the body.
• Milk is filled with Vitamin D that helps the body absorb calcium.
• Proper calcium intake contributes to strong and healthy bones.
• Drinking milk provides other benefits such as healthy teeth, rehydration and improves vitamin intake.

Magic of fruits to shine your face

An apple juice is a very refreshing tonic for your skin, makes an excellent remedy for fine wrinkles, cracked skin, itching and inflammation. It’s a great skin care treatment for oily skin and the peel of apple can also be used as a good skin cleanser.

Avocado can be used as an effective facial mask to take care of your dry skin. It can have the reputation of being very good natural moisturizers.

Cucumber is used for treating skin eruptions, bulges and for whitening skin which also prevent pimples, wrinkles, blackheads and dryness of your face.

Lemon was a common home beauty ingredient. It almost used to soften rough skin spots like elbows and heels. You can also mix few teaspoons of lemon juice in your bath to feel fresh for the whole day. It’s also helpful to prevent dandruff.

Peaches were serving as an excellent skin care solution. It will provide a careful cleansing action on your skin .It take off all the dirt that might have accumulated in your pores during the day.

Orange is an effective remedy for pimples and acne. It can be used for scar and blemish removal.

Watermelon is used to remove ugly blemishes on your skin. Extract enough juice from a small slice of watermelon and apply it over your face and neck. Splash your face and neck with cold water to close your pores.

Breakfast

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The Clear Skin Diet: How To Eat For Better Skin

We spend lots of time and money considering what we put on our faces. But how much do you think about whether or not you're following a clear skin diet? In the past, dermatologists maintained that unless you wipe greasy fingers on your face, food doesn't cause zits. But some are rethinking the party line. In the past decade, we've learned more and more about how much the foods we eat impact our complexions. But with all sorts of supplements, special eating plans, and complexion drinks out there promising glowing skin from the inside out, it's tough to tell what's actually legit.

SELF digested the research and polled experts to determine which foods you should add to your diet to truly benefit skin, which may be worth an occasional munch, and which to pass up. Here's what we found.

These foods are proven complexion perfecters:

Pile these on your plate. All pack nutrients essential for healthy skin.

Strawberries, citrus fruits, red peppers, and broccoli

Beauty benefit: a smooth texture

Eat-right evidence: Vitamin C, plentiful in this produce, is vital for the production and formation of collagen, skin's support structure, Toby Amidor, R.D., director of nutrition for DietTV.com in New York City, tells SELF. A strong support layer underneath helps smooth what's on top and prevent wrinkles, she says.

Can Food Actually Help Whiten Your Skin?

Who doesn’t love glowing white skin with no traces of blemishes? It is a natural desire. Clearer, fairer and healthy looking skin is a sign of beauty. Whitening your skin is neither about spending a fortune in state-of-the-art skin whitening procedures nor about putting creams on your skin although the latter works just fine.

What’s the solution? Can foods actually help you whiten your skin?

Yes.

Without using any chemical products, skin care creams and treatments, you can naturally whiten your skin with foods.

Healthy Diet – The Key to Bright and Radiant Skin?

The key to whitening your skin starts from following a healthy colorful diet and active lifestyle. Without a proper diet, it is not possible to improve your skin tone.

Fresh fruits and vegetables contain most of the nutrients required by the body. When you eat a healthy diet, it reverses many health problems, which can improve the skin tone.

These foods contain fiber and nutrients to flush away the accumulated toxins. They cleanse the body internally, which also gives a natural glow externally on your skin.

The following is a list of skin whitening foods you can eat regularly to improve your skin tone and complexion:

1. Tomatoes

Here is a secret about tomatoes. Tomatoes are natural the sunscreen! Eating tomatoes protects your skin from harmful rays of Sun. It can treat the uneven skin tone.

2. Watermelon

Watermelon is not just a summer fruit, but a great skin friendly fruit for brightening and lightening.

3. Lemon

Lemon is a natural bleaching agent enriched with antioxidants and vitamin C. Drink a glass of lemon juice a day, to cleanse your body, improve your skin tone and brighten the complexion.

4. Orange

Orange contains Vitamin A and Vitamin C, the skin friendly vitamins. Orange helps in collagen production, which keeps the skin plump and glossy. Similarly, you can include kiwi, grapefruit, etc.

5. Pomegranate

It is the elixir of youth. Poms are a super fruit that can make wonders on your skin. It helps in secretion of fresh and pure blood, which itself naturally enhances your skin tone.

6. Cucumber

Loaded with Vitamin B and micronutrients, this watery vegetable is a natural skin whitening food you can relish.

7. Beetroot

Known for the richness of iron, copper and manganese, beetroot flushes away the toxins from the body. When the toxins are eliminated, it automatically enhances the skin. Drink a glass of fresh beetroot juice a day and notice your skin turning brighter and fairer with a beautiful glow.

Foods to Avoid if you Want Whiter Skin:

While we do have healthy skin whitening foods, we equally have unhealthy foods that damage the skin tone and accelerate aging.

Stay away from these foods if you want to enhance your skin complexion.

• Colas, sodas and carbonated beverages
• Tetra packs and tinned / canned juices
• Coffee
• Deep fried foods
• Foods high in sugar and salt

Here Are Some Quick Tips:

Drink a lot of water and natural drinks like young coconut, fresh fruit juices, etc to keep your skin moistened and hydrated.

Drink green tea in place of coffee and other beverages to delay aging and enrich your skin with antioxidants.

Beyond foods, get good sleep and consider trying a natural lightening cream that uses natural ingredients..

Amaira is a natural skin lightener that is used on intimite areas but we recommend it for any part of your body.  You can read our review of Amaira below.

Best Fruits For Glowing Skin: Eat, Apply, Repeat

Fruits are loaded with fiber, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and phytochemicals. Apart from being good for the healthy functioning of the body, some of them can work wonders on your skin. While Indian gooseberries provide protection from UV rays, a cooling watermelon mask provides smoother skin, and papaya can be applied for a better complexion. Eat or use bananas topically to erase the wrinkles and munch on fleshy strawberries to reverse aging.

How often have you looked at someone’s flawless skin and wondered how they achieved it? Ask them, and chances are that they dedicate it to a few things – genetics, specific skincare products, lots of water and fruits.There is a lot of truth to it. We can’t do much about our genes. And skin care products are mostly chemicals. The next best thing to bank on is nutritious fruits that are excellent for your skin. Instead of slathering the skin with store-bought serums and creams, why not turn the focus inwards and get glowing from within?

Most fruits are loaded with fiber, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and phytochemicals. Not only are they great for overall health, they also contribute to the healthy, glowing and youthful skin in many ways, whether eaten or applied topically. Some fruits even protect us from sun damage! In today’s times of high UV exposure, environmental pollutants, and toxins, the skin suffers easily and shows signs of stress.

So here we are with a list of 5 best fruits for a healthy and glowing skin.

1. Sun Protection And Anti-Ageing: Get Gooseberry

This sour fruit is perhaps the richest source of vitamin C. In fact, 90 percent of its content is vitamin C which keeps your skin looking younger for longer. It has been revered in Indian culture and Ayurveda for treating liver diseases, stomach ulcers, metabolic disorders and promoting healthy skin and hair. A study shows that Indian gooseberry effectively inhibits sun damage to human skin cells.

Eat your way to fabulous skin

Everyone has a favourite face cream or treatment, but beautiful skin starts with nourishment from within. Older cells are constantly shed and replaced by younger ones and a steady supply of key nutrients is essential to support this rapid growth. Eat the correct balance of foods and you'll feed your skin the vital nutrients it needs to help it stay soft, supple and blemish-free. 

That said, as much as we may try to resist it, our skin does naturally age. Wrinkles and age spots are the inevitable result of time, but skin ageing may be sped up by overexposure to the sun and tanning beds, strong soaps, chemicals and poor nutrition. With this in mind, a holistic approach is best. Treat your skin kindly and optimise your nutrition by eating antioxidant-rich fruit and vegetables, healthy fats from oily fish and nuts, and a varied and balanced diet. This should give optimal levels of the nutrients that are crucial for radiant skin, including beta carotene, vitamins C and E, zinc and selenium.

Your Skin Is a Reflection of Your Eating Habits

No matter how many skin care products you apply to the outside of your skin, if you aren’t eating healthy food to nourish your skin from within, your skin will look dull, unhealthy and undernourished. If you are loading up on sugary drinks, junk food and processed snacks, you are very likely to have acne prone, dull looking skin. Remember the famous quote, “You are what you eat”? Whoever said that wasn’t kidding. Eating these top 10 fruits for glowing skin everyday will make your skin healthier and more radiant.

Which Fruit Is Good for Skin?

Fruit	Why it Works
Apple	Malic acid promotes firm, youthful skin.
Avocado	Biotin, or Vitamin B7, promotes cell regeneration and growth.
Banana	Potassium moisturizes and hydrates.
Kiwi	Vitamin C boosts immune system.
Lemon	Naturally lightens and tightens skin.
Papaya	Papain enzyme counters free-radical skin damage.
Pomegranate	Antioxidants reverse free-radical skin damage.
Plum	Promotes digestion to release toxins from body.
Pineapple	Bromelain naturally exfoliates skin when used topically.
Strawberry	Anti-oxidants prevent wrinkle formation.

Apples contain collagen that slows down the skin's aging process.

1. Apples

Apples are the richest source of malic acid. This type of fruit acids is also known in the health world as alpha hydroxyl acid. Malic acid is gentler than other acids used in beauty treatments, such as glycolic and salicylic acid. Malic acid promotes healthier, firmer and youthful looking skin by renewing skin cells without damaging the skin layer.

If that’s not enough to convince you that an apple a day leads to glowing skin from within, consider the high fibre content in apples. Fibre helps to clean out the colon and promotes regular bowel movements, hence promoting clear pimple-free skin.

Avocados contain biotin, a vitamin that encourages health skin cell growth.

2. Avocados

Avocados are a highly nutritious fruit, hyped in the health world as a superfood and often used to make vegan mayonnaise. Not only do they taste great, but they also offer amazing benefits for skin when consumed, as well as when applied topically.

Avocados contain biotin, also known as vitamin B7. Biotin promotes cell regeneration and growth, resulting in faster growing hair and nails. Avocados also contain Vitamin E, known as “the Protector of Skin”. The fatty acids in this naturally fatty fruit help to provide skin with essential lubrications, which promotes youthful, glowing skin.

The potassium in bananas helps moisturize the skin and keep it supple.

3. Bananas

Bananas contain high levels of potassium, which helps moisturizes and hydrates the skin, making it look fuller, more supple, and youthful. They contain various skin-healthy nutrients such as Vitamin A, B, and E.

The nutrients in bananas work to maintain the elasticity of skin, moisturise, prevent premature aging and wrinkles, soften and rejuvenate, and fade dark spots and blemishes.

You can make your own banana face mask treatments at home.

Kiwi fruit are loaded with Vitamin C, which is known to boost skin health and prevent premature aging.

4. Kiwi

Kiwi is packed with Vitamin C. These fruits even contain more Vitamin C than oranges! Every 100 gms of kiwi has about 98mg of Vitamin C, while the same weight of oranges contains about 54mg. Vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid, wards off colds and boosts the immune system. It also keeps skin looking younger and fresher.

Get more lemon into your diet by drinking a warm glass of lemon honey water early in the morning and cool lemon water throughout the day.

5. Lemon

Speaking of citrus fruits, lemons are a great addition to your beauty regimen, as they are known to be “Nature’s Bleach.” Lemons safely whiten and lighten skin and promote an even tone by reducing acne marks and blemishes. They also deep cleanse the skin by breaking down any grime clogging the pores.

For beautiful skin, drink a warm glass of honey and lemon water in the morning on an empty stomach. This miracle drink is purported to have many health benefits, including reducing the darkness of blemishes and cleaning out acne.

The enzyme papain, abundant in papaya, is a digestive aid and a powerful antioxidant. That's why papaya is so widely used in cosmetics and skin care products.

6. Papaya

Papaya extracts are widely used in the skin care industry in the form of facial peels, soaps, cleansers, and lotions. But why go after chemical treatments when you can enjoy the goodness of papaya, fresh and cheap! Eat papaya regularly. You can also mash it and apply to skin for a youthful bright glow.

Papaya contains a large amount of Vitamin A/ Beta Carotene and an important enzyme, Papain. Papain is not only an important digestive aid that breaks down inactive proteins, it also a powerful antioxidant. It counters free radical damage on skin and also helps heal damaged skin by speeding up cell regeneration.

Pineapple is rich in antioxidants and an enzyme called bromelain, a gentle exfoliant.

9. Pineapple

Ever heard of bromelain, the anti-inflamatory enzyme, which is used widely for its numerous health benefits? Well, pineapple contains an large content of natural bromelain. This enzyme has special benefits for skin as a gentle exfoliant. Use pineapple juice or pulp topically to help clear off dead skin and reveal beautiful, glowing skin.

Pineapple also contains anti-oxidants that neutralize free-radical damage. Pineapple hydrates and softens skin from the inside out and lightens blemishes, resulting in clearer-looking skin.

The fiber in plums help regulate healthy bowel movements, which releases toxins from the body and clearing skin.

8. Plum

It is a well-known fact that constipation causes acne. When you are not having regular bowel movements, at least once daily, then the toxins which were supposed to get out of your body will be reabsorbed into the bloodstream. Your body then looks for other ways to dispose of the toxins, most often through the skin, the largest organ in the body.

Furthermore, acne and pimples often leave behind unsightly blemishes and dents, which can all be avoided by simply eating fiber rich foods like plums. One plum contains 8g of fiber, which is four times as much fiber as a small apple.

Pomegranates contain the highest antioxidant levels among fruits.

7. Pomegranate

Pomegranate enjoys a special status in the health community, with "super food" qualities in similar to those of green tea and blueberries. When it comes to nutritional power, the entire fruit is rich in nutrients, including the peel, the white membrane, the fleshy part (arils), and the edible seed.

Pomegranates are packed with antioxidants which reverse free-radical damage and promote supple, youthful skin. It can be said that pomegranates are the king of antioxidant-rich fruits, as they contain more antioxidants than most. So why not treat yourself to pomegranate juice regularly? Wash and dry out the peels of pomegranate, and make your own pomegranate tea, which can even replace green tea in terms of health benefits!

Strawberries contain an alpha hydroxyl acid called salicylic acid, a common ingredient in acne treatments. Salicylic acid helps unclog the pores and stop pimples from forming.

10. Strawberries

Apart from a high Vitamin C content, strawberries also contain an important alpha hydroxyl acid, known as salicylic acid. You may have heard of salicylic acid for acne treatments. It is known to penetrate deep into the pores and clean them out. It can unclog oily pores and stop pimples from forming. This will help clear out milia, whiteheads, and blackheads before they become stubborn pimples.

Strawberries also contain a powerful anti-oxidant called ellagic acid, proven to prevent the destruction of collagen that leads to wrinkle formation. Ellagic acid has a photo-protective effect that guards against UV damage.