To have glowing skin, strong nails and shiny hair, don’t necessarily think of beauty products for the answer. Think about the health of your skin, nails and hair from the inside out. There are some delicious foods that contain substances that support the health of your skin, nails and hair and you should know what they are…
Strawberries and Kale
Both high in Vitamin C, an antioxidant that protects skin from oxidative damage. It also speeds up the healing of bruises and wounds. Other good sources of Vitamin C are papaya, peppers, broccoli, Brussels sprouts and pineapple.
Almonds are rich in Biotin, a B-complex vitamin that helps prevent hair loss and keeps hair shiny and strong. Balancing intake of biotin with foods hight in pantothenic acid, (Vitamin B5) is thought to be especially helpful to hair, skin and nails. Other foods that contain biotin are mushrooms, avocado, sweet potato, lentils and chicken.
Brown Seaweed is rich in a compound called fucoxanthin, which protects the skin from cellular damage and wrinkle formation and may prevent sun-induced skin cancer. Seaweed is also rich in minerals and vitamins that encourage hair growth and health. Fucoxanthin is also found in seaweeds such as kombu, arame and wakame.
Green Tea contains a substance called epigallocatechin gallate (ECCG), a powerful antioxidant that may prevent skin tumors, protect the skin for aging and potentially repair existing damage, especially if applied topically.
Pomegranates are rich in polyphenol antioxidants including ellagic acid, which acts as a free radical scavenger to ward off sun damage and slow skin aging, and it may help prevent skin cancer. This fruit also helps reduce inflammation an speed wound healing. Other good sources of ellagic acid are strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, walnuts and pecans.
Parsley is rich in chlorophyll, which has long been used to purify blood and heal skin conditions like eczema, rashes, wounds and acne. Other foods rich in chlorophyll include beet greens, spinach, bok choy, broccoli, green cabbage, collard greens and turnip greens.
Pumpkin Seeds, called Pepitas, are high in copper, a mineral that helps develop collagen and elastin to keep skin strong and supple. Collagen is a lubricating substance that makes skin look fuller and plumper. Other good sources of copper are sesame seeds, cashews, soybeans, mushrooms, and tempeh.
Supplements to improve the condition of your skin, hair and nails
Skin Elasticity
Supplementing with collagen can have a big impact on improving the elasticity of your skin.
Hair, Skin and Nails
Cynatine HNS (Keratin) Taking Keratin can have a positive benefit to both hair and nails. It also improved moisture content of the skin, elasticity, wrinkle reduction and skin compactness.
Clear Complexion
Probiotics may help treat acne and rosacea. Probiotics contain Lactobacilli and or Bifidobacterium which could positively affect what is called the gut-brain-skin axis by helping good bacteria outweigh the bad. Lining the gut with good bacteria helps create a barrier against the inflammation that leads to acne
Turmeric, when taken internally shows significant improvement in skin conditions including acne and eczema. More studies are needed to confirm the potential as a skin aid. Early research suggests it reduces inflammation.
