Before you buy the latest anti-aging skin cream or conditioning hair product, consider this: Your diet plays a key role in how you look.

In other words, if you're not taking care of yourself on the inside -- drinking enough water and eating healthy foods -- all the expensive beauty products and makeup in the world won't stop you from looking pale and exhausted on the outside.

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Michele Pavia, wellness expert and author of Lose Your F in Attitude, explains how by simply including the five following foods in a well-balanced diet, we can look radiant and gorgeous from the inside out:

From What Works What Doesn't

To be fit you need to stop letting myths like these hold you back.

1. Walking is not as effective as running.
Sure, you'll burn about twice as many calories running for 30 minutes than walking for 30 minutes. But if a runner and a walker cover the same distance, they burn about the same number of calories. So if you're willing to take the 'slow route,' you'll likely lose just as much weight. In fact, studies have proved that how long you exercise matters more than how hard you exercise.

2. Exercise increases hunger
It's a common misconception: If you burn hundreds of calories during a workout, you'll end up eating more. But research shows that exercise has no effect on a person's food needs, with the exception of endurance athletes who exercise for two hours a day or more. In fact, research shows that exercise often suppresses hunger during and after the workout.

Plus: 12 Ways to Jump-Start Your Metabolism

3. It doesn't matter where your calories come

If your answer is yes, well, join the club-it's the rare woman who doesn't have some body part that she would prefer to keep under wraps. But it's hot out, and chances are you look better than you think. So suit up with confidence-we have five self-empowerment tips from Pamela M. Peeke, MD, MPH, clinical professor of medicine, University of Maryland, and author of Body For Life for Women.

1) Change your perception of the season. Instead of apprehension ("I look sweaty and my inner thighs rub when I walk) see possibilities. Imagine living each day richly, breathing in the sweet air and basking in the warm glow of the sun. Close your eyes, and suddenly you're taking hikes, biking with friends, splashing in the water-not bemoaning the state of your thighs.

Secrets to a healthier, happier vacation

2) Do this self-assessment. Ask yourself, Am I doing all that I can to keep my mind and body fit and healthy every day? If the answer is no, then reorganize and patiently start to

Sun and age spots, also known as solar lentigines, are flat and dark spots that commonly appear on sun-exposed areas in people over age 40, according to The Mayo Clinic. Although sun and age spots are harmless and they don't require any treatment, they can be a cosmetic nuisance. The best way to have fewer of these spots as you age is to use sunscreen and avoid sitting out in the sun for extended periods of time. However, if you already have sun and age spots and you want to minimize them, you're not entirely out of luck.

Hide your spots with make-up. This method doesn't get rid of the spots for good, but it is a simple method of making them invisible until longer-lasting methods kick in. To neutralize the appearance of individual dark spots, apply a peach-toned concealer to each spot before you apply your foundation, suggests "Good Housekeeping" magazine. You will see best results by applying your concealer with a flat make-up brush and patting it with your finger to

By Jenny Everett, SELF magazine

Sometimes weight gain is the result of everyday habits such as stuffing our faces with fries and beer at the beach, or flaking on our workouts. But, it's not always as simple as calories in and calories out. When those stubborn pounds won't disappear no matter how healthful you are, it's worth investigating whether another condition is causing the excess weight.

"Some people find that despite proper eating and exercise they simply cannot lose the extra weight," says Jacob Teitelbaum, MD, medical director of the Fibromyalgia and Fatigue Centers and author of Beat Sugar Addiction NOW! and From Fatigued to Fantastic. "Our research has shown that there are a number of surprising things contributing to this and that when you treat them the weight will often begin to disappear."

Related: Look divine from behind with just a few simple moves

Healthy SELF asked a team of smartie docs what some of the most common medical culprits are when it comes to weight

Even the most confident women have not-so-thin (okay, fat) days. Whatever the reason-PMS, a fight with a partner, workplace drama, thighs that rub together in hot weather-it doesn't take much to throw our self-perceptions out of whack. Fortunately, you can feel good about yourself again fast. Here's how:

Hit the gym. A simple workout can be enough to boost your confidence, according to a University of Florida study. Researchers found that even people who don't achieve common fitness goals, like dropping pounds or upping strength, feel good about themselves after exercising. The key is to focus on your body as a process instead of an object, says Stephen Franzoi, PhD, a professor of psychology at Marquette University. He suggests concentrating on how your body feels instead of how it looks by thinking about internal factors, like flexibility, strength, and movement, rather than external appearance. Swap out inner dialogue, like Everyone is looking at my thunder thighs, for

We have everything you need to get hot-weather ready - from buffing your bod to scoring a perfect self-tan to updating your look. Do one each day of the week.

MONDAY: Slim down fast.
Gina Lombardi, celebrity fitness trainer, author of Deadline Fitness and host of Fit Nation on the Discovery Channel's FitTV, recommends this meal plan to her Hollywood clients when they want to shed lbs in little time: Four times a day, have 3-5 ounces of protein (like chicken or fish), along with one cup of raw or steamed colorful vegetables. And drink plenty of water and green tea (it's a natural fat-burner). Start eating this way today, and you'll see visible differences in two weeks. Check out how to drop five pounds in one week.

TUESDAY: Get in sick shape.
This workout is designed to tone you up super quick. First, do 8-12 reps each of squats, bicep curls (using 5-8 pound weights), lunges, and push-ups (you can do them on your knees). Don't take any breaks in between. Follow

When I read the news that a new study reveals that women hit their beauty and confidence peak at age 31, I immediately began mentally preparing my retort. Well, first I pulled up a photo of myself taken when I was 31 and compared it to the Facebook profile pic up right now. Then I started outlining my strongly worded end of the debate.

Then I noticed that this study, the one that got me riled up and is splashed across several sites and papers today, was commissioned by QVC.

Yes, THAT QVC. The network I'm pretty sure also hawks Marie Osmond's creepy dolls and special, spendy scrubby pads you can use to clean crayon off of walls. Why in the world, I wondered, are they suddenly the purveyor of scientific inquiry? And how will Bravo and Nick Jr. and MTV ever keep up?

Once I moved the ranty response to the research findings to the side of my brain, I realized what a strategic business move this is for the cable shopping network. After all, they sell beauty and anti-aging products. Their