Foods to eat for perfect skin

There's an old saying - you are what you eat - and nowhere is this truer than with your skin. The foods you eat have a direct impact on all areas of your health, including, of course, your skin. As the largest organ in the human body, your skin is impacted by everything you do, and because it is external, it also suffers from all the environmental torments that daily living inflicts on us.

It should be no surprise that foods affect your skin - most of the highly priced skin lotions that are sold contain ingredients taken from natural foods. So what foods should you eat for perfect skin? We look at a variety of everyday foods that can help your skin.

Cherries:

Cherries are simply packed with anti-inflammatory substances. Two key nutrients found in cherries, quercetin and ellagic acid, have been shown to inhibit the growth of tumors and even cause cancer cells to self-destruct without damaging healthy cells. Cherries also have antiviral and antibacterial properties.

Beans:

Beans are a vastly underrated food. They have been shown to lower cholesterol, regulate blood sugar and insulin production, promote digestive health, and protect your body from cancer cells. In addition, they combine fiber, protein, and antioxidants in one low fat, low calorie package. Numerous studies show that eaten regularly they reduce your risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and breast and colon cancers.

Kiwi Fruit:

These hairy little things have double the Vitamin C of oranges, more fiber than apples, and are higher in potassium than bananas. Their unique blend of phytonutrients, vitamins, and minerals can help to protect against heart disease, stroke, cancer, and respiratory disease. Their ability to reduce oxidative stress and damage to DNA and prompt damaged cells to repair themselves means they are superb for improving skin health.

Spinach:

We all seem to know that spinach is good for us - remember Popeye? - but few people realize just how good. Spinach is a powerful cancer fighter, lowers blood pressure, is good for your bones, and can also help to protect against eye disease and vision loss. How can one leafy green do so much? Just look at what's in it - high levels of Vitamin K, Calcium, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Folate, Magnesium, and Iron.

Onions:

Did you know that onions contain powerful cancer-fighting enzymes? They can help to reduce the risk of stomach, prostate and esophageal cancers, and can lower your risk of heart disease. They are also super antioxidants, containing quercetin, a natural antihistamine that reduces airway inflammation and helps relieve symptoms of allergies and hay fever, plus high levels of vitamin C.

The beauty of all these foods is that they are everyday items that you will find in your local grocery store. And that, really, is the secret to great skin - eat a wide variety of fresh fruits and vegetables, including beans, and avoid processed foods. No miracle, no expensive creams or lotions, just pure, simple nutrition. What could be easier than that?