Keep Skin Smooth with This Creamy Snack

The right foods can help you put your best face forward. And here's a creamy, savory snack to help get you started: hummus.

This dip, made from pureed chickpeas and spices, packs several skin-smoothing nutrients, according to Allison Tannis, author of Feed Your Skin, Starve Your Wrinkles. We're talking manganese, folate, and molybdenum, just to name a few.

Pureed Perfection
The manganese in chickpeas helps skin cells produce energy and fights wrinkle-causing free-radical damage. The molybdenum in chickpeas helps detox skin by aiding in the removal of sulfites -- a common food preservative that can mess with skin's smoothness. And chickpeas contain ample amounts of folate, too -- a B vitamin that helps provide the fuel that skin cells need in order to repair damage from sun and toxins. (Find out how hummus can help lower cholesterol.)

More Peas, Please
As if that weren't enough, chickpeas are also high in fiber and protein -- two great snack ingredients for appetite control. If hummus from the grocery store doesn't tickle your taste buds, try making your own so you can spice it to your liking. It's super easy to do. Watch this video for a quick demo and simple recipe.

If you're not a hummus lover, canned chickpeas are great on salads and in stews. And here's more on why chickpeas and other staples of Mediterranean fare are so good for your overall health.