5 Food Secrets For Healthier, More Youthful Skin

1. Tomatoes

Tomatoes are one of the best foods you can eat for your skin's health. They contain Lycopene, a very powerful antioxidant. While studies aren't complete, they do suggest that Lycopene plays a role in protecting the skin from damage caused by UV rays from the sun.

The body absorbs Lycopene best when it has been cooked, so for the best effect you should eat plenty ketchup and foods that contain tomato sauce or paste rather than just raw tomatoes.

Tomatoes are also known to be fat soluble, which means your body absorbs it better in combination with fats, like that in olive oils or high fat veggies like avocado.

2. Red Meat

While an excess of red meat can be unhealthy because of the quantity of saturated fats and cholesterol it contains, in moderation it can be very good for the skin because its high levels of protein and zinc. Some studies are suggesting that it can treat acne better than antibiotics.

It seems that your skin uses the amino acids Proline and Glycine to produce collagen, which helps prevent wrinkles and aging. The protein found in red meat is where you'll find them in the greatest concentrations.

Zinc, a mineral also important for collagen production, has also been found to have anti-inflammatory properties.

3. Green Tea

There's been plenty of press over the last few years about the antioxidant properties of green tea. Its strong anti-aging and anti-inflammatory powers are credited to Catechin compounds that it has in high concentrations.

Green tea is beneficial when consumed as a drink and also when applied topically. Used directly in the skin, it can help prevent sunburns and other UV sun damage.

Some studies are showing that sun damage can actually be reversed by drinking a cup of green tea twice a day for six months. It can also improve skin redness and broken capillaries in the skin.

4. Green Beans

Green beans aren't necessarily a boon for the skin, but there are few foods better for your hair and nails! These low-calorie superstars of the veggie world are one of the best sources of the mineral silicon (not silicone, the stuff used in breast implants), which is known to help strengthen the hair and nails.

While there is no USDA recommended daily allowance for silicon, studies have shows that 10 mg daily is sufficient for health nails and hair.

5. Walnuts

We all know that omega-3 fatty acids are important for health, and we've all been told that eating salmon is one of the best ways to get it - but surprisingly, walnuts provide a very significant dose of omega-3s too! If you have problems like acne, blotchy skin, redness or wrinkles, it just might be walnuts to the rescue!

Omega-3s from plant sources like walnuts have proven to have natural anti-inflammatory properties. They also work wonders to help your skin stay hydrated and can provide protection from chemicals and other outside toxins.

One compound in particular, alpha-linolenic acid, has been shown to fight the signs of aging in the skin. And walnuts aren't the only source; find more omega3s in other plant sources like flax seeds, almonds and olive oil.