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You may be confused by this title, and are probably wondering: "eating will make me beautiful?" Well, it helps, if you do it right. There are a few types of foods you may already be eating that are beneficial to your hair, skin and nails. But the bad news is, if you really want to see great results you might have to give up some of your favorite foods. I urge you to try this for a week as a detox, perhaps before a special occasion or a first date, and then judge for yourself.

So what should you eat and what should you cut out? The most obvious foods to cut out are processed foods. Basically anything that isn't in the fresh grocery section, and comes in a box or a sealed bag. Think potato chips, cereals, muffins, cookies. You know, all the fun stuff that we love to munch on!  

Next is refined sugars. No sugar? I already see you shedding a tear. But before you do, remember that there is plenty of good-for-you sugar in fruits. Fruits also give you a beautiful glow with all those antioxidants they provide. So try a new fruit you have never tasted, and if you are hoping to lose weight while doing this, perhaps stick to fruits that are lower in sugar, like berries.

Don't hate me for this next one: dairy. Yes, that includes yogurt in all its variations, and cheese. Yes, all kinds of cheese! And, sorry to break it to you, but eggs are also considered dairy.

This next one should never be consumed, not just for our detox purposes, but really, never! The culprit? Artificial sweeteners. I know what you're thinking: "what should I put in my tea or coffee?” Try honey!

Probably the toughest to give up though, is good old gluten. You know, that yummy loaf of bread that calls out your name every time you sit at a restaurant. Also, as Middle Easterns, we love our Tabbouleh. But don't you always feel really bloated after a serving of it? It's most probably the bulgur that is causing that. For a gluten free version try it with quinoa instead and load up on parsley because its cleansing qualities can reduce the appearance of cellulite!

So what else can you eat? Lentils are gluten free. And did you know that cabbage helps get rid of crow's feet? So, a usual dose of cabbage salad with mint, lemon and oil is great, filling and attacks those wrinkles. For an added bonus, throw in some beets with your salad, because they can make the whites of your eyes brighter, which make you look more youthful.

Chances are you like to enjoy hummus, and rightfully so as the tahini comes from sesame seeds that contain vitamins which keep your hair hydrated and prevent it from thinning.

Snack on Vitamin C packed citrus to help repair collagen in your skin, and reverse all the sun damage you did this summer by eating walnuts and sunflower seeds.

In general, try to eat lots of plant based foods. Load up on veggies and fruits. Not only will you look good, you will feel amazing too!

Aline Agopian