Making meals with more superfoods is key because they contain the perfect mix of vitamins, minerals, and high water content. Here’s my cast of superfood all-stars, selected for their superior vitamin content and because they’re also incredibly easy to make into fast snacks and meals: Broccoli, spinach, kiwi, mesclun salad, romaine lettuce, collards, kale, and grapefruit. Why will these veggies and fruits add more sparkle to your looks? For one, staying well hydrated is crucial for beautiful skin. If your body doesn’t get enough water, your skin is the last place to get supplied. It’s important to drink plenty of water, of course, but adding in these hydrating foods will help keep liquid in your system longer than just plain water alone. Getting enough water also helps your liver and intestines flush out toxins that can make your skin look dull.
Superfoods also give you a super dose of vital vitamins. They provide vitamin C that helps you fight free-radical damage to your skin and internal organs. Vitamin A is used in expensive wrinkle creams in the form of retinol because of its ability to maintain the structure and quality of skin tissue, but eating foods rich in vitamin A like spinach is a cheaper—and tastier—way to keep wrinkles at bay. Kiwi Salsa Kiwi is a vitamin C explosion! It’s tart and refreshing and makes a colorful salsa that will brighten up so many of your favorite dishes, like salads, rice and beans, and even as a topping on your sandwich. Just 1/4 cup of this salsa gives you 100 percent of your daily vitamin C needs. Serves 4 2 kiwis, peeled, cubed 1 cup minced fresh pineapple 1/4 cup chopped cilantro 1/2 small white or red onion, minced 1 jalapeno, seeded, chopped 1 lime, juiced 1/8 teaspoon salt Combine all ingredients in a medium bowl and toss to coat. Serve immediately. Nutritional Stats Per Serving (1/2 cup): 55 calories, 0 g protein, 13 g carbohydrates, 0 g fat (0 g saturated), 0 mg cholesterol, 1 g fiber, 90 mg sodium. *Don’t miss Jennifer Iserloh’s weekly Skinny Chef column for Prevention. Also see: Gluten-Free Orange Cream Cupcakes, How To Lose The Last Five Pounds, Is Butter Really That Bad?
