Skip the Fake Tan, Eat a Sweet Potato - fyi LIVING

Skip the Fake Tan, Eat a Sweet Potato

By Erica Giovinazzo on Apr 04, 2012

 

FYI Health Tip

Veggies can provide you with a healthy glow better than tanning creams.

The key to a healthy glow is not in your tanning cream, but it may be in a sweet potato. A recent study found that those people identified with a yellow “glow” to their skin were viewed as the most beautiful. Mirror, mirror on the wall who’s the yellowest of them all? Fruit and veggie eaters. That’s right, the study found that the prettiest people were the ones who ate the most fruit and veggies packed with carotenoids.

Carotenoids don’t just make us look good but act as antioxidants as well, which when consumed in our diet might be beneficial in reducing the risk of heart disease, some cancers, urinary tract infections, and possibly even lengthening our lifespan.

Carotenoids include lycopene, carotenes, lutein and zeaxanthin. You can find them in:

• Alpha- and beta-carotene: Pumpkin, sweet potatoes, cantaloupe, spinach, carrots
• Lycopene: Tomatoes (cooking increases the lycopene content), watermelon, pink grapefruit
• Lutein and zeaxanthin: Spinach, kale, collards, broccoli, zucchini

Carotenoids are best absorbed when eaten with fat, so make sure to include a little olive oil, avocado or nuts when eating these fruits and veggies to get the most out of them.
Now instead of having your next facial, you can save some money and toss a salad instead!

Read more at FYI Living: http://www.fyiliving.com/health/skip-the-fake-tan-eat-a-sweet-potato/#ixzz2HRa1uf42