Did you spend the pre-Diwali weeks attending to your looks by making several trips to the spa? There`s an easier, cheaper and a healthier way to look better and it leads straight to the refrigerator (now, isn`t that a sentence you have always wanted to hear?). Just by adding a few ingredients to your diet on a regular basis, you can make a difference to a receding hairline, dull nails and skin. And here`s the best part, they work for men and women equally. So eat up and look good for Christmas.
Guavas for younger skin
The next time you want a quick snack while on the road, don`t make a vada pav stop. There are plenty of roadside vendors that sell guavas and this is the best time to dig in, since they are in season.
If the calorie difference isn`t your only concern, think about your skin. Guavas are high in antioxidants which counteract free radicals in your body. These damage your skin, leaving you looking prematurely old. Guavas are also good for your vitamin C fix — with five times the amount of a regular orange.
And here`s the good news, if you are not a fan of this fruit, you could even mash them and rub some on your skin.
Water and veggies for nails
You spend nearly a grand every month on a manicure and pedicure. And while that may be relaxing and give you much-needed time off from your chores, how about digging into some food to get naturally pink (read healthy) nails? Drink enough water through the day. Keep four bottles of water at your desk each morning and put finishing them on your to-do list. The next thing on that list is getting enough protein. So pack in a lot of veggies and fruits, especially the rainbow coloured ones. If you are nonvegetarian you could also treat yourself to some turkey soup, which is 151 calories per serving is also good for your waistline.
Eggs for your tresses
The next time you are out late partying and there`s no midnight snack at home, stop at a roadside vendor and dig into some eggs — boiled or in omelettes. Not just will they help prevent a hangover the next morning, but with their high iron (which help prevent hair loss) and sulphur (which keeps them soft and smooth) content, will also keep your tresses in ship shape for the next time you want to let them down. If eating eggs doesn`t isn`t exciting you, break one and apply the white to your hair covering the strands well. Wash it off after an hour and your hair will look like you`ve spent the day at a salon.
Spinach for dreamy eyes
When the love of your life is looking deep into your eyes, you don`t want them distracted by black spots. Spinach is rich in the carotenoids lutein and zeaxanthin, which together form an oily, yellow substance at a central point of the retina known as the macula. This yellow oil, called macular pigment, is thought to protect the macula from age-related macular degeneration. So the next time your mom serves you palak for dinner, let your eyes reflect how grateful you are.
Beets to fight fat
Colours are not just good for your clothes, but your body too. Beetroot, for instance, contains betaine, which is a bioactive agent that helps to break down fats. Beetroot juice also contains a form of chlorine that aids digestion by doing the same thing. Beetroot juice is great to be had the first thing in the morning. Add a pinch of black salt to help you gulp it down. Else, include it in your salad.
Bananas for young skin
Your dietician may frown upon this fruit, but your skin loves it. Forget collagen implants, at less than Rs 50 per kg bananas are a safer and far cheaper way to keep the elasticity in your skin. The fruit is rich in Vitamin A, B and E and works well to keep the elasticity in your skin.
Red cabbage for internal cleansing
This is one veggie you can`t apply externally, but it has great benefits if eaten. The bright purple cabbage is packed with sulfur and iodine which help clean your insides. Just as you wash your body every day to get rid of the pollution, your insides too need a regular cleansing to help rid the body of toxins.
BDST: 1629 HRS, Nov-24, 2013
