Beauty Foods

Cosmetics merely enhance your body base. Experts say that there are certain food types that must be consumed to look beautiful, naturally. A diet rich in 'phyto-compounds' can stimulate DNA repair, increased collagen production, reduce inflammation, and improve blood flow. This keeps you healthy and youthful for longer.

Expert speak
"Having foods with antioxidants such as blueberries, strawberries, and spinach always gives a boost to your skin," says plastic and cosmetic surgeon Dr Meenakshi Agarwal. Antioxidants do a good job of acting as an excellent anti-ageing source. According to her, people these days are struggling to meet deadlines and have hectic schedules to follow. This not only results in lack of sleep but also induces high stress levels. Women especially, due to their menstrual cycle lose a lot of iron content from their bodies and end up having dark circles. Says Agarwal, "Removing dark circles in your younger years is easier. The problem begins when you start ageing a bit. One should incoporate fruit juices like carrot and beet root. There will be a noticeable change within two weeks."

Hair care has a lot of misconceptions attached to it, such as our hair is alive and by constant shampooing it and conditioning, it will grow long and strong. What comes as a surprise to a lot of us is that hair is alive only below the base of the scalp, which means that the hair that are visible are only dead matter. Trichologist, Dr Dinesh Jain says, "The best treatment you can give to your hair is a balanced diet. Adding proteins and vitamins like B and E naturally, rather than having supplements result in healthy tresses." He suggests eating fruits like banana, oranges, fish, chicken and dairy products like milk and curds. Adding to this he informs, that excessive shampooing and conditioning can result cause hair dryness.

Take a look at your fingernails. Are they strong and healthy looking or do you find them discoloured or with a yellowish tinge? Healthy nails are a window to a healthy you. Says, dermatologist Dr Chetna Ramchandani, "Women, especially, end up having brittle and soft nails since there nails are in direct contact with harsh detergents. Putting nails paints and going for constant manicures are a great deterant for your nails. Just like our hair, nails are also dead cells. Having a high protein diet with pulses, chicken is recommended. Broccoli, fish and onions are a rich source of silicon, which good for strengthening nails."

The primary concern behind how to look beautiful, apart from diet, is by keeping the heart and mind pure. This will keep the inner self-beautiful which in turn will attribute to body being truly beautiful. .