May be not, but you do look the way you eat. Putting your best face forward starts with putting the right ingredients in your mouth.
'The same foods that are good for your health are good for your skin," says Valori Treloar, a dermatologist based in Newton, Mass.
Experts say these nine skin-boosting choices will do as much for your appearance as your inner health:
TOMATOES
They're full of lycopene, a phytochemical that provides red pigment and health benefits. Lycopene helps eliminate skin-aging free radicals caused by ultraviolet rays - in other words, it protects against sun damage.
To reap the most benefits, heat them up : A half-cup of cooked tomatoed, for example, packs 16 miligrams of Lycopene. a daily dose coupled with sunscreen will help block the bun.
Mangoes, Papaya and apricots
Got that washed-out look?
Load that up some fruits. Mangoes, Papaya and Apricots are full of pigments called carotenoids which are stored in the layer of fat directly beneath the skin and can improved color.
"They peek through, giving you a rosy flow," says registered dietetian Karen Ansel, a spokeperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and co-author of "The Calendar Diet, A Month by Month Guide to Losing Weight While Living Your Life."
COCOA POWDER
Flavonals, the antioxidants in the dark chocolate, reduce roughness in the skin and protect against sun damage.
A study published in the Journal of nutrition found that women who drank cocoa fortified with 326 milligrams of flavonals a day had a better skin texture and stronger resistance to UV rays than those who didn't get as much of the antioxidant. Just a few ounces a day - or a standard Hershev's dark chocolate bar - is sufficient.
Another tasty way to get enough? Spoon some cocoa powder into your morning coffee, Ansel suggests.
FLAXSEED
Think of these as tiny wrinkle fighters. They're packed with omega-3 fatty acids, which erase spots and smooth fine lines.
In one study, participants who had about half a teaspoon of omega-3s daily for six weeks had less skin irritation and redness, as well as better-hydrated skin, according to findings published in the British Journal of Nutrition.
That's likely because fatty acids attract water to skin cells, plumping the skin and reducing wrinkling.
SWEET POTATOES
They're full of vitamin, which smooths wrinkles by stimulating the production of collagen.
One study, published in the American journal of Clinical Nutrition, found people who consumed 4 milligrams of vitamin C - about half a small sweet potato - daily for three years reduced the appearance of wrinkle by 11 percent.
MUSSELS
If you're not getting enough iron, your skin will turn pale and pastry. Ansel says, the solution? Iron-rich choices like mussels. One 3-ounce serving delivers a third of the daily recommended amount. The government recommends men ages 19 to 50 get 8 milligrams of iron a dy, while women in that age group should aim for 18 milligrams.
SPINACH
Want to protect yourself against skin cancer? Take a page out of Popeye's book. A study published in the international Journal of Cancer found that folks who ate the most leafy greens (more than four times a day) develop half a many skin tumors over 11 years as those who ate the smallest amout (once a day or never).
That's likely because the folate in spinach helps maintain and repair DNA, reducing the likelihood of cancer-cell growth.
CANNED TUNA
It's packed with Selenium - a nutrient that preserves elastin, which keeps skin smooth and tight. Selenium also prevents free radicals that are produced by UV rays from damaging skin cells, protecting against sun damage.
SUNFLOWER OIL
If you have dry, flaky or itchy skin, take note: this common cooking oil doubles as a moisturizer. It contains omega-6 fatty acids, which keep cell walls supple, allowing water to reach the skin. Some research suggests consuming sunflower oil can help ease skin problems such as dermatitis, inflammation, acne and dry skin.
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