We've been drinking coffee for more years than we can remember. A good cup of joe from our local coffee shop or The Mudtruck right outside of our offices is how we prefer to jumpstart the day. Plus, we can proudly brag at family dinners about the many health benefits of latte-sipping[1] . (Coffee can make us less stressed AND make us smarter? We'll have another cup.)


There are beauty benefits worth nothing, too. Coffee is loaded with antioxidants[2] , which can prevent premature skin aging[3] . And some research even suggests an association between intake of caffeine (which we all know coffee has[4] in spades) and decreased risk of skin cancer[5] . Here are three beauty benefits of coffee:


1. It gets rid of puffy eyes.

Caffeine works as a constrictor to reduce swelling and inflammation[6] , according to Dr. Amy Wechsler, M.D., who is both a dermatologist and a psychiatrist. She recommends applying eye creams[7] that contain caffeine, as opposed to drinking coffee, because topical treatments target this skincare problem faster.


2. It minimizes the appearance of cellulite... temporarily.

You've probably read accounts of women proclaiming that they got rid of cellulite by scrubbing with coffee[8] , but this isn't accurate. "No matter what's in [the scrub], if you scrub hard enough it will irritate the skin," Wechsler explains. "And when you irritate the skin, it brings in more water, hence inflammation, so you get swollen." So if you're going to the beach and want to scrub the heck out of your tush, the doctor warns us that the skin-firming effects will only last for about three hours.


3. It exfoliates dry skin and makes it feel silky smooth.

While coffee beans may be a bit too harsh to use on your face, Wechsler believes using a homemade scrub made out of coffee bean grounds is safer option for exfoliating the body. "Scrubs shouldn't hurt. You can grind the coffee beans so that it becomes a manual exfoliant and not a sharp one. I find some of those seed exfoliants hurt because of the irregular shape," she adds.


Below is a simple coffee scrub recipe that certified nutritional consultants and health coaches Marra St. Clair and Lori Kenyon-Farley shared with us from their book "The Juice Cleanse Reset Diet[9] ."


What you'll need: 1 cup of warm coffee grounds, a half cup of sea salt and two tablespoons olive oil.


Directions: Lay newspapers (or an old towel) down on your bathroom floor. Stir all ingredients together and apply the mixture to dry skin. Brush thoroughly onto skin, giving extra attention to your elbows, feet, and other extra dry areas. Leave on for about two minutes. Brush off as much of the mixture as possible before hopping in the shower. Alternatively, you can apply and wash off in the shower, but cover the drain with mesh to avoid clogging the drain.


Remember: You are what you eat:



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  • Do Not Eat: Fried Food


    Fried food is loaded with fat and calories while offering zero nutritional value. It's a lose-lose! Sure, fries and chips TASTE good, but healthier items also taste good. Just say no to the deep fried items on your menu. You'll be thinner, healthier and won't have greasy fingers.




  • Try This Instead: Broiled


    If you simply must have a French fry, then make them at home in your oven. Use sweet potatoes, as these are a more complex carbohydrate. Cut into matchsticks, drizzle with a tablespoon of olive oil along with a dash of salt, then place in your oven on broil. Turn every five minutes until the fries are tender on the inside and crispy on the outside.




  • Do Not Eat: White Bread


    White bread products have minimal nutritional value and are quickly converted by your body into sugar. So you may as well eat a cupcake. Even breads that are technically wheat, but are as soft and smooth as white bread, should be avoided. Don't be afraid to discard the bread from your sandwich or to push away that bread basket. Your waist will shrink and you'll lose that bloated feeling that high carbohydrate meals give you.




  • Try This Instead: Sprouted Grain Bread


    If you must have bread, then stick with sprouted. Sprouted grain bread is a lot easier on your digestion and is packed full of nutrients. Two delicious brands are Food For Life's Ezekiel bread, and Manna Organics. Sprouted grain breads are often kept in the freezer section since they don't contain preservatives to prolong shelf life.




  • Do Not Eat: Creamy Salad Dressing


    You were so good to order a salad, but then canceled out the low-cal benefits by drenching the salad in fattening creamy dressing. Just a few tablespoons of creamy dressing contain more than 20 grams of fat and hundreds of calories.




  • Try This Instead: Vinegar Dressing


    Vinegar-based dressings pack amazing flavor in with minimal fat and calories. You can even mix your own dressing at home. Take high quality vinegar, fresh lemon juice, salt and pepper, your choice of dried herbs, and a bit of olive oil.




  • Do Not Eat: White Rice


    Just like white bread, white rice has minimal nutritional value, and the glycemic load will quickly prime your body for storing fat.




  • Try This Instead: Brown Rice


    Brown rice has three times the amount of fiber, more B vitamins as well as other nutrients and will keep you feeling fuller for longer. That should be enough to convince you to swap your large pile of white rice out for a small pile of brown rice.




  • Do Not Eat: White Sugar


    Sugar and high fructose corn syrup are the epitome of anti-fitness food. Nothing will destroy your progress, expand your waist and plummet your energy levels like sugar. If you only take away one do-not-eat food from this slideshow, please let it be sugar.




  • Try This Instead: Fruit


    Don't turn to artificial sweeteners to get your sweet fix, instead turn to nature's wholesome source of sugar: fruit. Eat organic fruit that is seasonal and locally grown. Stay away from dried fruit and fruit juices, as these are high in simple calories.





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