The scoop: In addition to heart-healthy fats, almonds have loads of vitamin E, which is great for beauty because as Bauer explains, it "is a nutrient that protects skin cell membranes from damage to keep your complexion radiant and youthful." And, as Dr. Steven Pratt says, "almonds are an excellent source of biotin" (AKA vitamin B-7) which is instrumental in keeping hair and nails (and skin and muscles) healthy.
Tip: While the debate about whether raw nuts are better for you than roasted ones rages on (all sides agree that salted nuts are a no-no), one thing to keep in mind is that roasted nuts will turn rancid much more quickly than raw ones because the oils oxidize when exposed to heat and then air. Nutritionists recommend keeping all nuts refrigerated in airtight containers.
February is all about hearts. And, not just the fuzzy red and chocolate-y marshmallow Valentine's Day kind. Nope. February is also all about your heart's health, and beauty, believe it or not, factors into it too.
You see, since 1963, the second month of the year has been deemed American Heart Month by the American Heart Association. The AHA, in association with the President of the United States, launched the program to help raise awareness about the cardiovascular diseases -- specifically strokes -- that kill more than a million of us each year.
Happily, there are steps (including diet and exercise) that we can take to help reduce the risks of developing these diseases and there are even a bunch of nutrient-rich foods that experts recommend we all eat to help stave off cardiovascular -- and other -- illnesses.
The fact that a lot of these healthy foods also offer beauty benefits is just a bonus -- one that we're hoping may just persuade you to eat healthier. After all, vanity can be quite the motivator.
To get the full scoop on precisely which beauty bonuses we can expect from eating the top heart healthy foods, we talked to three experts in the field. "TODAY Show" health and nutrition expert Joy Bauer, plastic surgeon (and anti-aging and rejuvenation authority) Dr. Frank J. Ferrin and nutritionist (specializing in beauty) Paula Simpson were all happy to help educate us on the benefits to be reaped from eating these "wonder" foods. After all, clichád as it may sound, you are what you eat and, as Simpson says, when it comes to beauty, "It all starts with what you put into your body."
