6 Natural Ways to Look Amazing for Years

Like the old saying goes, "You are what you eat." And health and beauty experts agree that what you eat can make you beautiful, both inside and out. Read on……

According to Keri Glassman, nutritionist and registered dietitian, scientists have been pursuing the answer to ageless beauty for years. "There aren't any foods that will turn back the clock -- at least, not that we know of yet." Glassman told AOL Health. "But there are foods that can make you look much better and slow down the aging process."

Check out these double-duty foods that have been proven to enhance your beauty, whether eaten or applied to your body directly:

Olive Oil
The food: "Besides being among the healthiest types of fats, olive oil tends to be rich in polyphenols, which aren't just antioxidants," explained Glassman. "They're also antifungal and antibacterial agents." Dr. Howard Murad, associate clinical professor of medicine (dermatology) at UCLA's Geffen School of Medicine and founder of Murad Skincare Inc., agreed. "Essential fatty acids, in particular, and other healthy fats keep us hydrated, supple, youthful and beautiful," he told AOL Health. "Fat sounds like a four-letter word today, but the right fat in the right amount will feed your skin, as well as your brain and your cellular membranes, like no other nutrient." Murad suggested three to four servings a day of this good fat.

The mask: "Eating olive oil is great, but you can put it right on your skin, too," said Glassman. "I like to mix it with a little avocado, apply and leave it on for 10 minutes. It's so nourishing, you can almost feel your skin drinking it up."

Honey
The food: "Nature's bacterial agent." said Glassman. "When eaten, its antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal properties can protect your body." She added that daily consumption of this sweet additive boosts the level of polyphenolic antioxidants in the blood, improving blood flow to the skin.

The mask: When used on the skin, honey is good for treating acne and reducing redness. "It's also a natural humectant, which means it keeps all the water you're drinking in the right places," added Glassman. According to The Bastyr Center for Natural Health, the teaching clinic of Bastyr University in Seattle, honey contains anti-inflammatory properties that help to decrease pain and the appearance of scars. Here's Glassman's recipe for Sweet Honey Cleanser: Mix 1/2 teaspoon honey, 2 teaspoons yogurt and 2 teaspoons brewed green tea. Apply to face and leave on for about 10 minutes.

Papaya
The food: "The rejuvenating enzymes and vitamin A found in papaya can benefit many skin issues and can be safely used by all skin types, including those with sensitive skin or rosacea," Louisa Maccan-Graves, celebrity beauty expert and author of "Hollywood Beauty Secrets: Remedies to the Rescue," told AOL Health. Glassman added that his tropical fruit also contains the skin-loving vitamins C and E. "Besides promoting healthy cell turnover and aiding in the formation of collagen and elastin, vitamin C is key in countering the effects of sun damage," she said. "Vitamin E is also vital because it's an important way the body wards off sun damage, such as age spots and wrinkles."

The mask: "When applied topically, papaya helps exfoliate skin, repairs sun damage, fades age spots, and helps smooth the complexion," said Maccan-Graves. "Papaya is nature's Retin-A." She offered this recipe: Cut a slice of ripe papaya, remove the seeds and pulp, then rub the inside peel of the papaya peel on a clean face, focus on lines around the mouth and eyes, crow's-feet, thinning temples, neck and hands. Leave it on for 15 to 20 minutes, then rinse off with tepid water. "Do this mask twice weekly," she advised.

Coconut
The food: "This tropical wonder does more than make a good pina colada," said Glassman. According to the Coconut Research Center in Colorado Springs, Colo., the coconut has numerous beauty benefits, including supporting the natural chemical balance of the skin, relieving dryness and flaking, and protecting the body from harmful free radicals that promote premature aging. "Coconut also improves the absorption of the minerals calcium and magnesium, which are crucial for a gorgeous grin," added Glassman.

The mask: The Coconut Research Center also states that when applied topically, the oil in coconuts can help form a chemical barrier on the skin to ward off infection. Glassman's "Tropical Skin Rejuvenator" mask is as follows: Mix 1/2 teaspoon coconut oil, 1/8 cup ripe mango and 1/8 cup ripe papaya. Apply to face and leave on for about 10 minutes.

Pineapple
The food: "When eaten, pineapple contains a large dose of vitamin C, a necessary element to fight off free radical damage," said Murad. The percentage of water in pineapples is nearly 90%, which he said is essential for youthful looking skin. "Vibrant health from the inside out lies in maintaining strong cells that can attract and keep water the way younger cells do," he explained. "So if you can repair your cell membranes while attracting water nutrients to them, you can fight aging, as well as disease."

The mask: "Applied to the skin in a mask, pineapple contains natural fruit enzymes that will exfoliate your skin, leaving the complexion smooth and with a natural glow," he said. The web site beauty-soap-and-bubbles.com offers this recipe for homemade pineapple mask: Puree one slice of pineapple, then mix in a bowl with 2 tablespoons yogurt and 4 tablespoons cornmeal. Leave on for five minutes. "Incorporating exfoliation into your skincare regimen three to four times a week will provide you with less breakouts, a brighter, healthier complexion and improve the tone and texture of the skin," added Murad.

Rosemary
The food: Glassman stated that there's a reason why so many beauty products, both skin and hair, contain this herb -- and it's not just for its scent. "Whether we eat it or use it topically, the fragrant oils stimulate circulation and act as an anti-irritant." This potent plant has also been known to help fight acne, clear blemishes and moisturize dry skin. The University of Maryland Medical Center states that rosemary can also neutralize free radicals (harmful molecules that cause premature aging, as well as diseases). And according to the blog on Sephora.com, rosemary oil boosts hair growth, while improving texture, shine and thickness.

The mask: Glassman offered the recipe for her "Go Green Face Scrub:" Mix 1/2 teaspoon rosemary, 1/4 avocado,1 teaspoon parsley and 2 tablespoons kosher salt and apply to face. Leave on for about 10 minutes.

WHAT’S FOR DINNER ?!

Linguine with Clam Sauce

Prep Time:

15 mins

Total Time:

45 mins

SERVES 4

INGREDIENTS

Directions

Place clams and cornmeal in a sealable container. Add water to cover, place lid on container, and soak, refrigerated, for at least one hour and up to overnight.

Heat a skim of oil (about 2 tablespoons) in a large pot over medium heat. Add the garlic, parsley and pepperoncini and cook, stirring frequently until the garlic softens, about 3 minutes.

Lift the clams out of the soaking liquid and into the pot (the sand they release will have settled to the bottom of the bowl -- be sure to leave it there). Add the wine, raise the heat to high, cover the pot and cook until the clams open, about 7 minutes.

Transfer the clams to a bowl. Allow them to cool then remove them from their shells; reserve the juice. Chop the clams. Strain the juice through a very fine sieve or a coffee filter and reserve.

Start the soffritto (sauce). Heat ½ cup of oil over medium-high heat in a high-sided skillet large enough to hold the cooked pasta.

Add the onion, celery and fennel and fry, stirring frequently, until the vegetables soften, about 7 minutes.

Add the garlic then the peperoncini and oregano. Fry, stirring frequently, until the garlic softens, about 3 minutes. (The soffritto can be prepared in advance and reheated.)

Meanwhile, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the linguine and cook until it is not quite al dente -- flexible but not done.

Add the clams and their broth to the soffritto and reduce the heat to medium-low. Season lightly with salt and pepper and bring the sauce to a simmer. Taste and adjust the seasoning with salt, pepper and lemon juice.

Lift the pasta out of the cooking water and put it into the clam sauce. Raise the heat to high and cook the pasta in the sauce, stirring frequently, until the linguine absorbs much of the sauce, and is nicely al dente, 2 to 4 minutes.

Add the parsley and re-adjust the seasoning with salt to taste and lots of black pepper. Serve topped with additional olive oil if desired.