20 foods for 'forever beauty'!

A well-balanced diet is not only about health -- it also serves to enhance your beauty!

Beauty is not only about good features, or a toned body. It's the whole package -- thick, lustrous hair; soft, supple and blemish-free skin; baby-pink nails; and a perfect set of pearly teeth all contribute towards enrolling you in the 'beautiful' list.

And what you eat goes a long way in achieving all of the above. Certain foods help stimulate DNA repair, improve your blood circulation, and increase collagen production, giving your skin a supple and youthful look and feel. All food groups have their contribution to make in terms of beauty and health.

In the following pages, we bring you a list of 20 that will set you on the path to natural beauty!

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Papaya is rich in Vitamin C, which is useful in maintaining healthy skin. Apart from this, when eaten regularly it helps in proper evacuation of stools, which indirectly keeps your skin clean and clear.

Collagen helps to keep your skin taut. When collagen levels decrease, your skin starts wrinkling. Strawberries help protect the collagen structure of the skin. They are also rich in Vitamin C.

Blueberries help in protecting your gums, as well as in maintaining beautiful eyes and the elasticity of your skin.

These are rich in Vitamin C and antioxidants, helping to maintain healthy-looking skin. They are also a rich source of calcium, potassium, and magnesium for healthy nails and teeth.

These are rich in phytontrients like lycopene and beta-carotene that are good for the skin.

Pomegranate contains polyphenol antioxidants, which neutralise the free radicals that damage your skin.

Tomatoes are a rich source of lycopene. Lycopene increases the body's natural sun protection factor, minimising the damage caused by the harsh rays of the sun.

A good source of beta-carotene, carrots help prevent premature aging of the skin.

Broccoli contains a compound called sulforaphane, which prevents cell damage. It is a high-fibre diet food, which will keep your digestive system healthy, preventing unhealthy eruptions on the skin.

We all know that cucumber juice, when applied to the skin, makes it soft and supple. Eating cucumber also helps your skin. It is a good source of vitamins and minerals that increase collagen production, making it a very skin-friendly food.

These are good sources of vitamins, minerals, phytonutrients and antioxidants. Regular intake is beneficial for your skin.

Hydration is what keeps your skin supple and soft and dehydration causes it to sag. Therefore, keep your skin hydrated with regular intake of clear, pure water.

EGCG, which is the primary compound in green tea, protects the skin from the damage caused to the DNA by the UVA rays, which could also result in skin cancer.

The abundant enzymes in this vinegar help peel off the dead skin and keep it youthful and soft.

Rich in omega 3 fatty acids, eating this fish protects your skin from harmful UV rays.

Walnuts are rich in alpha-linolenic acid and keep your skin moist, providing it with lubrication.

Olive oil contains essential fatty acids, which help the cell membranes hold onto moisture, thereby making the skin soft and supple. This also helps the skin shield itself from harmful UV rays.

Flaxseed is rich in omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids, which help your skin stay soft. It prevents clogging of the pores and enables elimination of toxins. Being a good source of fibre, flaxseed also helps regular evacuation of digestive waste, thereby helping your skin steer clear of eruptions due to constipation.

Apart from other rich nutrients oats contain silicon, which is very beneficial in maintaining collagen levels in the skin, making it elastic and supple.

This is very beneficial to eradicate pimples. It is good to add two tablespoons of wheat germ to your diet regularly.

Apart from streamlining your food habits, staying stress-free and happy contributes a whole lot in maintaining beauty. Worry lines tend to prematurely age your skin. Therefore stay happy, include all these fresh goodies in your diet and stay forever beautiful.