You are what you eat, and it really does make a difference in your health and overall appearance if you fill up your plate with healthy foods that pack a powerful punch. Some of the best foods to eat may surprise you, and they may already be favorites and staples in your regular diet!

Tomatoes

Eating more tomatoes in your salad at lunch will naturally boost the health of your skin. In a recent study, people who ate 5 tablespoons of high lycopene tomato paste each day for three months had a 25% higher protection against sunburn. Additionally, their skin had a higher content of collagen, which is the substance that keeps your skin firm and free from sagging. Higher skin levels of the antioxidant lycopene will result in less fine lines and deep wrinkles so that you will look younger for longer!

Coffee

There have been rumors that coffee is bad for you, but recent research has shown that is far from the truth. Coffee is a valid source of daily antioxidants, minerals, and vitamins, especially since Americans drink so darn much of it. Research has proved that drinking coffee will not cause heart disease or cancer, and if you have good health, it will also lower the risk of cirrhosis of the liver, developing type II diabetes, and boost your athletic performance. Still, it is necessary to monitor your caffeine intake if you have high blood pressure, suffer from anxiety, or are pregnant, but overall, physicians recommend to drink up to 3 cups of coffee each day. Thank goodness!

Honey

Including dark honey, like blueberry or buckwheat, within your diet will give you the antioxidants you need to fight aging, according to researchers from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. They studied more than 19 varieties of honey to find that its antioxidant content neutralizes free radical damage within the body to prevent cognitive decline, heart disease, macular degeneration, and cancer. Since honey has such a strong flavor, use a small amount in your plain yogurt, oatmeal, and tea instead of refined sugar.

Dark Chocolate

This is exciting news for many chocolate lovers because dark chocolate that contains over 70% cocoa has a number of healthy antioxidants and polyphenols. One square of dark chocolate has twice as many antioxidants as a glass of red wine and almost as much as a cup of green tea that is steeped properly. These antioxidant molecules will prevent the growth of cancer cells in the body and limit any blood vessels that feed on them. It is best to enjoy 1/5 of a dark chocolate bar each day without any guilt. However, milk chocolate is not a good substitute because dairy neutralizes the cancer protection of the polyphenols within the chocolate.

Next time that you prepare a meal, keep these powerful healthy foods in mind to improve your quality of life and benefit your health. Here's to a more youthful you!