I love reading about simple household remedies that don’t require a lot of effort on my part—just some food in my kitchen. You can bet that grapes will be a staple in my home from now on! Ha, ha, ha.
For: Little Age Lines, Try: GRAPES
What’s so special about antioxidants like the vitamin C found in grapes? They act as your skin’s bodyguards, repairing and even preventing premature dryness, fine lines and sagging caused by tiny molecules called free radicals, by-products of normal cell function that wreak havoc on your skin, says Dr. Roizen. One to one and a half cups of grapes deliver close to 20 percent of your daily C needs, and will also supply a chemical that helps preserve the protein elastin, which keeps your skin plump—not prune-y. (And, yes, red wine has it too.)
For: A Bad Mood, Try: HEALTHY CARBS
When you’re blue, you probably crave sweets, and there’s a biological reason why: Simple carbs prompt the brain to secrete serotonin, the calming hormone that can ease stress and depression, says Kelly O’Connor, R.D., of the Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore. But after the initial spike in mood, sugary treats set up the body for a blood sugar crash that can make your bad mood worse. A better food group for a boost in spirits: complex carbs like chickpeas, lentils and whole-grain bread.
For: Acne, Try: FISH or WALNUTS
What you don’t want: anything made with white flour, especially refined, processed carbs like white bread and sugary cereals. (One study found that these foods triggered more breakouts than a diet rich in fish, fruit, whole grains and legumes.) What you do want, according to Nicholas Perricone, M.D., adjunct professor of medicine at Michigan State University’s College of Human Medicine: “Foods high in omega-3 fatty acids, which help control inflammation throughout the body, including inflammatory acne,” he says. That means halibut, walnuts, flaxseeds—and especially salmon, which Dr. Perricone believes should be the one food on every woman’s clear-skin plan.
For: Bad Breath, Try: PLAIN YOGURT
Breath mints may be a quick fix, but they don’t combat the main cause of bad breath—a buildup of bacteria on your tongue, in between your teeth and in the back of your throat (often caused by food left behind from not brushing thoroughly enough). In fact, if your breath mint contains sugar, it’ll actually feed those microbes and can make odor worse in the long run, according to Kraus. But Japanese research has found that eating plain, sugar-free yogurt may help get rid of the stinky sulfur compounds.
For: Thin, Dry Hair, Try: GREEN TEA
The benefits of green tea keep piling up, and here’s another one: The caffeine in tea slows the production of a chemical that shrinks hair follicles and results in thinner strands, says Dr. Roizen. He recommends two to three cups of tea daily. (Coffee drinkers, your morning cup of java can have the same effect.) But if you’re plagued with dry, flaky scalp or hair loss, it may be a sign that you’re not getting enough zinc, says Lisa Drayer, R.D., author of The Beauty Diet. Meet your 8 milligram daily quota with a variety of zinc-rich foods like crabmeat, yogurt, baked beans, green peas and pumpkin seeds.
For: PMS, Try: MILK or CHEESE
When women don’t get enough calcium, they may experience more severe cramps, mood swings and bloating, says New York City endocrinologist Susan Thys-Jacobs, M.D. Her research found that 1,200 milligrams of calcium a day (the amount in about two slices of Swiss cheese plus a glass of skim milk and a yogurt) can cut premenstrual symptoms by as much as 48 percent. If you tend to get headaches during your period, you may be low in magnesium. A quarter cup of almonds or cashews can help you meet up to 30 percent of your day’s needs for the mineral.
