Summer fruits for a glowing skin

Has your skin lost its sheen? Rather than lathering too many creams and cosmetics on it,  all you have to do is head to your closest fruit mart.    Eat local, in-season fruits. Their nutrients are at their peak in the summer.  
 They’re healthy, low-calorie snacks that deliver a wide range of essential nutrients, including fibre, vitamins   and minerals. Fruit contains powerful antioxidants, carotenoids that help in guarding skin against cellular damage.
An old adage says that what you eat shows on your skin.    Eating fruit regularly not only helps your overall health but also keeps weight in check, supports cardiovascular wellness, increases collagen production which is essential to keep your skin looking taut, supple, soft, and glowing.No beauty cosmetics or beauty treatments can replace the natural way of nourishing the skin.
 Eating these summer fruits every day will make your skin healthy,  young, attractive, and radiant.
Watermelon
Summers are incomplete without this red and juicy fruit which is named as "Hydration Hero" by nutritionists.
Watermelon is a sweet and refreshing low-calorie summer snack.
  A relative of plants such as the squash, pumpkin and cantaloupe, is member of the Cucurbitaceae family.
  Watermelon constitutes only 6% sugar but a hydrating 92% water making them ideal for flushing out the harmful toxins from the skin and it also keeps the digestive system in track.
   Watermelon is a boon for the skin, especially for women who have oily  acne-prone or sensitive skin – ideal for rehydration during the hot summer months. Watermelons are available all year round  commonly red on the inside, however, can be found with orange, yellow or even white flesh. There are five common types of watermelon: seeded, seedless, mini, yellow, and orange.
 Full of vitamins such as vitamins C, A, B1, and B6,  carotenoids, flavonoids, and lycopene, watermelon is also packed with lycopene and amino acids, all combining to contribute towards healthy, hair, skin, aiding the immune system, and benefiting from antioxidants. It has zero fat and is cholesterol-free. Recent scientific studies suggest that lycopene may help lower cholesterol and blood pressure. It can also help prevent oxidative damage to cholesterol According to studies in obese, postmenopausal women and Finnish men, lycopene may also reduce the stiffness and thickness of artery walls. Have a medium bowl of watermelon fruit  /  fresh watermelon juice as an  mid morning    snack or for breakfast. Make a fruit salad with watermelon. You may add watermelon to your smoothies, desserts or puddings too.
Mango
Mangoes, “king of fruits.”  are a rich source of Vitamins and Minerals, like Vitamins A, C, E, K, phosphorous, potassium, calcium and magnesium. Mangoes are sweet, creamy fruits which vary in colour, shape, flavour, and seed size. Mangoes are stone fruit, which means that it has a large seed in the middle. Mangoes are loaded with skin healing nutrients; for example, the fibre in mangoes cleanses your gut that is overloaded with toxic substances. .It also contains bioflavonoids, which are powerful antioxidants and help to neutralize free radical damage. Being rich in Vitamins A and C, mangoes help to tone and rejuvenate the skin and hair health. It helps to delay the visible signs of skin ageing. Apart from restoring the normal balances, it has a softening effect on the skin and hair. It is said to tighten the pores and strengthen the hair roots. Mango pulp can be added to fruit packs and applied on the skin and hair. Mangoes are used to make cosmetics like Body and Hair Butters for beauty care.  Mangoes also support hair health, as they provide a good amount of vitamin A. This nutrient helps the skin provide an oily substance called sebum, which moisturizes the hair. Vitamin A is also necessary for the growth of all bodily tissues, including skin and hair. Mangoes shouldn’t be put in the fridge. simply keep unripe fruits at room temperature in a basket /paper bag for a few days to speed up the process. As soon as they are ripe, store in the fridge for up to few days but it is better to consume ripe mango at the earliest. In order to observe if it is ripe, just gently squeeze it – it should feel soft and you may be able to smell a sweet scent from the stem-end of the fruit. 
Ripe Papaya
 Papaya “the food of the angels.”  are used in a number of forms – ripe, unripe, and dried.
 They are rich sources of antioxidants, like Vitamins A, C and B, folate and pantothenic acid; and minerals like potassium, copper, and magnesium. Papaya contains papain, an enzyme, which helps to soften and remove dead skin cells, making the skin clearer and brighter. It also helps to lighten skin colour if used regularly over a period of time. Papaya reverses the skin ageing owing to its skin repairing, exfoliating and hydrating action. Few hypotheses support it has direct anti-ageing action as well; papain enzyme reduces wrinkles by modulating the collagen and elastin fibres in the dermis.
Ripe papaya pulp can be applied on the face or can be mixed with other ingredients like oatmeal, curd and honey to make face masks. Leave on for 20 to 30 minutes and wash off with water. Papaya pulp mixed with curd can be applied on the body.
Natural conditioner: As it is rich in minerals, vitamins and enzymes, papaya acts as a natural conditioner, making your hair softer and smoother. Blend papaya, banana, yoghurt and coconut oil together into a thick paste. Apply it to damp hair. Wrap a towel or use a shower cap for half an hour to generate heat in your scalp. Rinse with warm water.
Banana
Banana, one of the most popular fruits, packs quite a punch in terms of nutrition and health benefits. It is one of the richest sources of potassium and also contains Vitamin C and B6. Bananas are beneficial for both skin and hair treatments. Its potassium content helps to soften both the hair and the skin. Bananas can be made into a pulp and added to both face and hair packs. Bananas help hair that has been damaged by repeated colouring and other chemical treatments.  Bananas can be made into a pulp and applied on the hair like a pack. Leave it on for 20 to 30 minutes and then wash it off. Egg yolk or curd may be added to mashed bananas and applied as a hair pack. If the hair is very dry, add one teaspoon pure glycerin or honey to the banana pack. Almond oil may also be added to the banana hair pack. Mash a ripe banana in a small bowl and apply it to your face and surrounding uncovered areas, avoiding contact with your eyes. Leave on for 20 minutes, then wash off with fresh  water for instantly moisturized skin 
Bananas offer many natural benefits to keep your hair looking fabulous, like folic acid that makes hair shine, while also keeping it moisturized and well hydrated. 
Take one ripe banana mash it in a small bowl gently to make it soft and creamy paste. Add half tsp honey and mix them well to make a paste. Clean your scalp by mild shampoo and then Part your hair into sections. Generously apply the mixture from the roots to the tips. Pile your hair on top of your head and cover it with a snug shower cap. Let the mask sit for  30 minutes and wash it with fresh water. 
Lemon
We all know that lemon is a rich source of Vitamin C and minerals.  As a cosmetic ingredient, lemon can be used in various ways, but avoid using it undiluted, as it can be harsh on the skin. However, on areas where the skin is thicker, like elbows and knees, rub lemon halves and wash off with water. Over a period of time, it cleanses and lightens skin colour. Lemon can also be used as a hand lotion. Mix it with rose water and rub it into the skin of the hands.  For rough hands, rub granulated sugar and the juice of a lemon together on the hands, till the sugar dissolves. Then rinse off with water. Done regularly, it will help to improve skin texture.
Mix a little lemon juice with some brown sugar to create your own lip scrub. The lemon juice's AHA will work as a chemical exfoliator to loosen up dead skin cells while the sugar will work as a physical exfoliator to slough them off. 
Mix baking soda and lemon juice, and apply it to your teeth with a clean Q-tip. Then, use your toothbrush to scrub your teeth and rinse.  It will brighten your teeth
Take  ½ a lemon juice and mix it with 2-3 tsp of water. Pour this liquid onto a cotton pad and gently dab it all over the areas that you wish to brighten in the skin and wash the skin after  30 minutes. Do this 2-3 times a week for more effective results. 
Prevent your nails from getting discoloured by soaking them in a bowl of lemon juice, and then rinsing it off after a few minutes. 
  Add lemon juice to “tea water” for a hair rinse, to make the hair silky and shiny.  Boil used tea leaves in enough water and cool the liquid. Add the juice of one lemon and use it as a last rinse. Lemon peels can be dried and powdered and used in face packs and scrubs.  
The author is an international fame beauty expert and is called Herbal Queen of India