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Some berries you should never be without
While most all berries are good for you, my
favorite would have to be
blueberries.
Blueberries are frequently ranked by
nutritional experts as one of the healthiest
foods in existence, with a ton of
antioxidants to keep your skin looking
younger, longer. They are especially rich in
fiber, potassium, manganese, vitamin A,
riboflavin (vitamin B2), vitamin C and
vitamin E. And remember, your body is better
able to absorb nutrients from berries than
from any typical supplement.
As impressive as the nutritional benefits
are, I'm not a fan of blueberries just
because they're good for you. They're also a
cheap and practical addition to your acne
diet. Compared to many other berries,
blueberries are fairly low-profile, easily
found at most grocery stores for an
affordable price. They're not overly sweet
(my taste buds tend to get tired of eating
sweet stuff every day, but blueberries I can
eat forever). And while I love raspberries,
blueberries keep longer, which makes them
easier to stock up on.
Of course,
raspberries
are great too. They've got even more fiber,
and are an excellent source of potassium,
magnesium, niacin (vitamin B3), pantothenic
acid (vitamin B5), and vitamin C. Fresh
blackberries
offer similar benefits, and are especially
rich in vitamin A and niacin. And don't
forget
strawberries,
which provide omega-3 and alpha-hydroxy
acids, plus more vitamin C than any other
berry (and even most citrus fruits!).
A few
berries that are a little less awesome
When some people think of berries, they also
think of grapes and cherries. Technically,
grapes are berries and cherries are not.
However, putting scientific classifications
aside, neither of these fruits are quite as
healthy as the other berries listed above.
The reason for this is their very high
sugar content. While the other berries
I've mentioned are low in sugar, grapes and
cherries rank near the top of the
fruit-sugar scale. That makes them less than
ideal for acne sufferers.
Also note that certain berries, such as
acai berries, can have some rather nasty
side effects when taken in supplement form,
so don't be too quick to jump on the berry
supplement bandwagon. Better to eat raw
berries that you can find at the local
grocery store.
Berries are pretty much the perfect
finger food.
So the next time you're out shopping and
thinking about buying another bag of potato
chips, do your skin a favor and pick up some
berries instead. They make for a great
snack, and by eating berries instead of junk
food, you'll not only have clearer skin, but
will probably shed a few pounds as well.
Moreover, berries mix wonderfully with a ton
of other foods, from yogurt to cereal.
Everything tastes better when you add
berries! (well, almost everything ^_^)
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