Healthy Hollywood: Wellness Wednesday – Eva Mendes’ Rx For Radiant Skin!

Eva Mendes is one of those lucky stars who never seems to get a breakout and always has the most gorgeous skin.

Skin-care junkies, like Healthy Hollywood, are always up for the latest product/remedy/diet that promises to fulfill our quest for a flawless complexion.

So, what Eva’s secret? She’s a big fan of Dr. Nicholas Perricone’s skincare line and his wrinkle-free regimen, which is revealed in his book, “Forever Young.” “I carry Dr. Perricone’s No Foundation Foundation with me everywhere. It has SPF, moisturizer and a little tint all in one. I always put it on when I land at LAX. I never want to be that girl who applies makeup because the paparazzi are camped out around the corner. I don’t want to succumb to that because then they win. But this product doesn’t feel like makeup, so it doesn’t count!”

Besides Dr. Perricone’s products, Eva also follows his rejuvenating Metabolic Miracle diet, which includes high-quality protein, like fish and poultry, and low-glycemic carbs, such as colorful fruits and veggies and whole grains. “Certain foods cause inflammation in our bodies at the cellular level, which greatly accelerates the aging process in all organ systems including skin! This results in an increased risk of degenerative disease and inflexible, wrinkled, sagging, dull skin,” reveals Dr. Perricone.

Dr Perricone’s radiant skin Rx is to, “Avoid foods that provoke a “glycemic” response in the body, i.e. cause a rapid rise in blood sugar – this is the key to health, longevity, mental clarity, well-being and beautiful youthful skin. Foods that are pro-inflammatory, such as all forms of sugar, processed foods, pasta, breads, pastry, baked goods, and snacks foods such as rice and corn cakes, chips, pretzels, etc., cause a highly destructive pro-inflammatory response in our bodies.” In other words, just say “no” to junk food!

Instead of indulging in those nasty skin-sabotaging foods, Dr. Perricone shares with Healthy Hollywood a sampling of his favorite superfoods.

1. Wild salmon and other cold water fish (salmon, sardines, herring, trout, etc.) are great sources of protein, necessary to maintain and repair the body—including the skin on a cellular level.

2. Green Foods are young cereal grasses like barley grass and wheat grass. Nutritionally, they are close cousins to dark green leafy vegetables, but offer greater levels of “nutrient density.” An ounce of concentrated green foods contains more of the beneficial phytonutrients found in an ounce of green vegetables. Green foods, such as Green Magma™ detoxify the body to keep skin clear and radiant.

3. When it comes to maintaining beautiful skin and keeping unwanted pounds at bay, beans and lentils are a body’s best friend. They are very low-glycemic and unlike sugary, starchy foods, won’t cause a rapid rise in blood sugar. They are anti-inflammatory foods, key in preventing dull, dry, wrinkled sagging skin and body fat.

4. We need a source of good fats in our diet to help us absorb nutrients from our vegetables and fruits, keep our cells supple, skin glowing and wrinkle-free, brains sharp and mood upbeat. We also need dietary fat to burn fat. Extra virgin olive oil contains oleic acid, which helps us to absorb the omega-3s and other vitamins and nutrients from our foods. Oleic acid is vital in keeping the outer portion of the cell, known as the cell plasma membrane supple, thereby allowing nutrients to enter the cell and wastes to exit.

5. Green Tea contains polyphenols, which help eliminate inflammation-producing free radicals. Polyphenols protect healthy cells from cancer causing DNA damage, while ushering cancer cells to their death. Another remarkable finding is the power of green tea polyphenols known as EGCG to reactivate dying skin cells. Researchers consider this amazing energizing of dying skin cells to potential benefit skin diseases such as psoriasis, ulcers, rosacea, wounds—and wrinkles.

For more information on Dr. Perricone, check out www.perriconemd.com.