Foods Korean celebs eat for good skin and hair

IU – Strawberries

Credit: IU/Instagram

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Looking camera-ready all the time is part of the job, but like us, singer IU has her off-days - inadequate rest and punishing work schedules can make looking picture-perfect an uphill task. The secret to the “Hotel Del Luna” star’s lit-from-within glow and silky tresses? Strawberries. The fruit is packed with Vitamin C and powerful anti-oxidants that works to brighten the skin tone. A natural alternative to anti-aging creams and lotions, strawberries prevents the skin from sagging and creasing.

They are also a great source of lycopene, an antioxidant that staves off the signs of ageing by protecting the skin from oxidative stress. The vitamin C in strawberries also helps with iron absorption that can promote hair growth and prevent split ends.

K-pop group Apink’s Na-eun, who recently signed a contract with YG as an actress, is all about eggs in the morning, probably for their source of protein. Egg whites are rich in lysine, proline and collagen. Hence, adding egg whites to your meals could aid your body’s natural production of collagen to combat fine lines and other signs of ageing.

Blackpink’s Lisa starts her day with a cup of joe. Besides making workdays possible, coffee also works overtime to give you a hand in the beauty department. Packed with antioxidants, coffee is great for overall skin health and does wonders in fighting premature signs of ageing caused by heat, light, pollution and damaging free radicals. But with any good thing, too much coffee is a bad thing and can lead to anxiety, restlessness, tremors, irregular heartbeat and insomnia. For most healthy adults, the Health Promotion Board recommends having no more than four cups of coffee a day.

To mimic singer-actress Suzy’s hydrated glow, you don’t have to break the bank. The “Start-Up” star nurtures a healthy glow by incorporating kimchi in her diet. This traditional Korean side dish is chock-full of probiotics and good bacteria that can help to stimulate the production of beneficial stomach bacteria for a healthy digestive tract. This in turn prevents acne and other pesky skin issues. What’s not to like?

How does the 36-year-old singer keep her skin looking Instagram-perfect? By indulging in her favourite bubbly drink. ICYDK, champagne has antioxidants that protect skin’s vital collagen and elastin from environmental free radicals and oxidative stress. When consumed in moderation, polyphenols in champagne can also reduce redness and inflammation. We’ll toast to that!

For skin as smooth and soft as the “Crash Landing on You” star’s, consider munching on peaches. The fruit is rich in vitamin A and C which promotes skin health. It is also full of antioxidants that help to improve skin texture and protect skin from sun and pollution.

Lee Sung Kyung – Red meat

Credit: Lee Sung Kyung/Instagram

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The model-actress who rose to fame with her leading role in “Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-joo” maintains her blemish-free complexion and gorgeous locks by noshing on red meat. Even though red meat gets a bad rap for its saturated fat and cholesterol content, lean red meat contains loads of protein and zinc which can be helpful with treating skin conditions like acne.

To produce collagen, one of the most important building blocks to beautiful skin and hair, your body needs amino acids glycine and proline, and the protein in red meat is replete with these two amino acids. Additionally, zinc, a natural anti-inflammatory agent is also crucial for collagen production.

Jessica Jung – Red wine

Credit: Photo: Jessica Jung/Instagram

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The K-pop star who has her own fashion label, Blanc and Eclare boasts luminous clear skin that has been the envy of many since her debut in 2007. The Korean-American singer, who recently released her young adult romance novel “Shine”, maintains her plump and supple skin by sipping on red wine. Red wine contains polyphenols that have been championed for its anti-ageing properties by protecting the skin against free radicals which are a big contributor to fine lines and wrinkles.

That said, since red wine also contains, alcohol, which is notoriously bad for your skin, drink in moderation. The Health Promotion Board recommends no more than half a glass of wine (approximately 175 ml) a day.

Krystal Jung – Dark chocolate

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From singing on stage to acting in movies like the upcoming Netflix romance film “Sweet and Sour”, how does the busy star keep her skin looking so fresh and vibrant all the time?

If you want to achieve Krystal’s youthful and radiant complexion, you might want to reach for that dark chocolate bar. Dark chocolate can help to reduce stress hormones which in turn leads to less collagen breakdown in the skin and hence fewer wrinkles. Additionally, the antioxidant flavonol that's found in chocolate can help the skin to protect itself from sun damage, fight free radicals and increase blood flow so you can get that lit-from-within glow.

That being said, the only chocolate that can deliver beauty benefits is dark chocolate with at least 70 per cent cocoa in it. This doesn’t apply to most sweet treats found in the candy aisles, so pick wisely.

Photo: Krystal/Instagram

Yuri Kwon – Pu Erh tea

Credit: Yuri Kwon/Instagram

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31-year-old singer-actress Yuri Kwon has always been known for her supple, flawless-looking complexion, especially during her recent appearance in the Korean drama “Breakup Probation”. If you want the K-pop singer’s glowing complexion, make sure you are sipping on some Pu Erh tea. The former Girls’ Generation member who has been picking up Mandarin gushed about the drink on Instagram, “I’m drinking Pu Erh tea. Just like a “car wash” for your body, tea cleanses your system and gets rid of unwanted toxins in your body”, she wrote. As Yuri rightly mentioned, the tea is regularly consumed with meals in China to eliminate toxins in the body, aid digestion and metabolise fat.

This is also the reason why Pu-erh is such a good beauty drink – our digestive system is where we absorb vital nutrients from our foods and where we get rid of unwanted waste. By keeping our digestive function in tip-top condition, we help our skin steer clear of dullness as well as irritation like breakouts and eczema.

Jang Na-ra – Long beans

Credit: Jang Na-ra/Instagram

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Here’s a shocker for fans of Korean dramas. The actress who has been active in both the South Korean and Chinese entertainment industries is actually 40. Na-ra’s leading role in K-drama “Sell Your Haunted House” where she stars as Hong Ji-ah, a realtor who is able to exorcise spirits from haunted properties, brought about a surge of renewed interest in the talented actress.

The doe-eyed beauty, who does not look a day over 20, maintains her flawless mien by eating long beans. This vegetable boasts an impressive antioxidant capacity as well as vitamin C, A, K, calcium, potassium, folate, fibre and iron, all of which combine to boost the skin’s ability to fight the signs of ageing.

Seolhyun – Lettuce

Credit: Seolhyun/Instagram

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The member of South Korean girl group AOA, who was recently chosen as an honorary ambassador for the Korean Liver Cancer Association (KLCA), is also known for her poreless-looking complexion and voluminous mane.

Seolhyun keeps her healthy skin by sneaking in lettuce into her diet. This antioxidant and omega-3-rich green leafy vegetable helps to fight inflammation and improve skin and hair health.

Stephanie Lee – Watermelon

Credit: Stephanie Lee/Instagram

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The model, who played the sassy and charismatic designer Jung Sa-ha in the hit series “Start-Up”, maintains her dewy complexion by loading up on watermelon. The refreshing fruit is made of 96 per cent water, but the benefits don’t just stop at intense hydration.

Packed with citrulline, lycopene and anti-oxidants, the humble watermelon improves blood circulation and is rich in anti-inflammatory properties and protects your skin from free radicals.

Lee Seyong – Greek yogurt

Credit: Lee Seyong/Instagram

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The actress who is best known for her role in the fantasy romantic comedy drama “A Korean Odyssey”, keeps her skin in tip-top condition by incorporating Greek yogurt into her diet. Greek yogurt contains calcium, protein, potassium and vitamins that are not only good for health, but are also a great source of nutrients that promote strong and healthy hair growth.

Also packed with riboflavin, vitamin B6, B12 and protein, a daily serving of plain, unflavoured yogurt can also help to detoxify your skin. It’s no wonder the leading lady of the upcoming historical romance drama “The Red-Stained Sleeve Cuff” looks great from every angle.