Sometimes the promise of good overall health isn't enough to lure us into eating nutritious foods and exercising our flabby bodies. Most times it takes a guarantee of something very specific and tangible to get us on board. For those who struggle with sleep, eating to achieve deep relaxation might be the draw. For others, fitting into teeny, tiny jeans might justify ditching a few diet derailers. How many of you would eat something healthy to fight wrinkles?

Papayas are your fruit if wrinkles are your curse. Why? Because of vitamin C. Papaya is stocked with the stuff and because getting lots of C means more youthful skin (less thinning and drying too), this fruit is simply fantastic. According to RealAge, a recent study of women over 40 confirms the whole papaya-skin connection.

Other foods that will keep your face fresh include walnuts, whole grains and bunches of fruits and veggies. Go easy on fats and refined carbs -- they are not friends of the face and can make you look a whole lot older than you are.

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I was a cheerleader back in my high school days. When my squad was training for competitions, we really worked out long and hard. Many times, the muscles in our legs would visibly shake with strain. Our coach, restricted from recommending vitamins or anything of that sort, always brought bananas with her to practice to help us with muscle weakness and muscle cramps. Bananas aren't my favorite fruit, but I have to admit that they helped.

While bananas are a decent source of potassium, there are many other options. Potassium-rich foods are important for your diet. Not only do they help with muscle cramps, but they can also have a positive effect on blood pressure. Good sources include:

• Avocado
• Baked potato with skin
• Edamame
• Papaya
• Sweet potato
• Salmon
• Tomato sauce
• Winter squash
• Cantaloupe
• Dried apricots

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Actress Mariska Hargitay says chocolate and Pringles were once her go-to snacks. She's finally said "no more," though, and is on to something better.

Hargitay has developed a true love for tropical fruit, she tells Good Housekeeping magazine. Her favorites are mango, kiwi, and papaya. They remind her of Hawaii. And they make her feel light.

What's your favorite slimming food? If you don't yet have one, check out this gallery, featuring 11 snacks with less than 200 calories. I bet you can find one here.

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One of the reasons I would hesitate to try a low-carb eating plan is that fruit is sometimes banned from such diets. Frankly, fruit is not something I'm willing to give up because it's one healthy thing that I really enjoy. But if you're going low-carb, you don't necessarily have to give up fruits -- some are better than others. According to Mark's Daily Apple, here's how they stack up:

• The best low-carb fruits include berries (all of them), cherries, apples, pears, grapefruit, peaches, apricots and figs.
  
• The worst low-carb fruits are mangoes, melons, papayas and pineapples.
  

I would sure miss my mangoes and melons, but I think the low-carb fruits sounds pretty tasty too, don't you think?

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