They say that beauty comes from within, and with good reason. You can use all the treatments you like to nurse hair, skin and nails back to health, but there’s only so much difference you can make – and if you don’t eat well to support healthy growth, then chances are that it is all pretty futile.
The key to keeping all three at the top of their games is a healthy, balanced approach to food and a clean lifestyle – making sure that they are consistently nourished with all the right nutrients and protected from harmful environmental factors. Missing out on your daily dose of vitamins and minerals can have a detrimental effect on the appearance of skin, hair and nails – so here are some changes you can make to keep them looking their best.
Dry skin could be down to a lack of vitamins A, C and E, or a deficiency of essential fatty acids in your diet. Load up on veggies that are bursting with beta carotene – like kale and carrots – to get your fill. Beta carotene is turned into vitamin A by the liver, and is a vital antioxidant for skin health, helping to destroy the free radicals picked up from the environment that can damage skin cells irreparably.
Vitamins A, C and E are also key for combating the signs of ageing. Vitamin C, in particular, helps the body to build collagen – a protein that forms the main connective tissue in skin and helps to fight against the dreaded sag. Eat plenty of fruit and veg to get your fill – citrus fruits and dark green leafy vegetables are great sources.
Meanwhile, vitamin E will help the skin to heal, so it’s vital for those with skin problems – and will help to prevent lines and wrinkles, too. Add some spinach, kale, nuts or olive oil to your daily diet – and have eggs for breakfast to get your selenium hit, too.
Squeeze in some oily fish, too – salmon and mackerel are great sources of essential fatty acids, and will help to keep hair shiny and skin smooth. You knows those awful bumps you can get on the backs of your arms? Well watch them disappear.
If you suffer from acne or the odd spot, then get plenty of zinc into your diet. Find it in nuts, oysters and red meat – or take a daily supplement of no more than 30mg a day.
For healthy hair, protein is your biggest ally. If you don’t get enough, then you could find yourself suffering from hair loss – and let’s be honest, that is something that none of us want. Protein is the precursor to keratin, which is vital for healthy skin and hair, so add whey, pea or hemp protein to your morning smoothie for an early morning hit. Tofu, yoghurt, eggs and meat are also great sources – have some with every meal and flowing, shiny locks will be yours in no time.
Of course, it can’t hurt to take a supporting supplement or two to help you along – so here are our favourites:
Philip Kingsley PK4 Hair Soya Protein Capsules – £49.50 for 90 day supply, QVC
Encourage healthy hair growth from within with these vegetarian protein capsules. PK4 capsules are an effective holistic alternative to traditional gelatine-based proteins derived from cattle, and combined with a healthy diet geared towards supporting hair health and growth, will provide your hair with the essential building blocks for beautiful, healthy locks. Improvements can be seen after just four months.
Ingenious Beauty Ultimate Collagen – £75.00 for a 40 day course, Ingenious Beauty
Ultimate Collagen+ is scientifically formulated to replenish collagen and hyaluronic acid in the body, and improves skin damage caused by sunlight and environmental pollution. Clinical tests show a reduction in wrinkles and fine lines within 10-20 days of use, and an improvement by 26% in 40 days. The Ultimate Collagen capsules promise to enhance radiance and overall vitality of the hair, lips and nails with continued use.
