5 HERBAL SUPPLEMENTS FOR HEALTHY HAIR SKIN AND NAILS
If your hair skin and nails have lost their usual lustre and plumpness, chances are your body is not obtaining the required nutrients from your diet.
Skin, being the largest body organ is always the first to show any outward signs of inner disharmony. Supplements are not a replacement for a well-balanced diet, food can heal so many ailments but during times of stress or sickness, they aid in giving the body the minerals and vitamins needed to keep us at our best.
Hair loss, brittle hair and nails cracked swollen skin, rosacea, eczema and a number of other skin and hair disorders provide visible warning signs of vitamin and mineral deficiencies. Below are five vital ingredients to look for in supplements and in the food you ingest.
OMEGA-3 ESSENTIAL FATTY ACIDS
Vital to every living cell in the body.
Combats dry and brittle hair, hair loss, dry, flaky scalp and reduced circulation to the scalp.
Add lustre, sheen and elasticity to your hair.
Two components of Omega 3 EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) are vital for the nourishment of the hair follicle. EPA regulates oil production in the skin.
Containing anti-inflammatory properties, Omega-3s can also help relieve skin conditions like rosacea, psoriasis, and eczema.
More and more hair care product manufacturers are starting to include Omega 3 in their range of products to help manage curls, kinks and locks.
Omega-3 fatty acids can help protect your skin from damage by acting as an antioxidant.
BIOTIN- ALSO KNOWN AS THE HAIR GROWTH VITAMIN FOUND IN MANY COSMETIC PRODUCTS
B-Complex vitamin.
Deficiencies in Biotin show as brittle nails, baldness, thin hair and rashes.
Processed foods, pregnancy, dermatitis, and antibiotics lower Biotin levels.
Essential for normal growth and many biological functions.
Can be found in cauliflower, egg yolks, some dairy products, nuts, oatmeal, peanut butter, some types of fish, meat products, whole grains and legumes.
Helps with hair breakage, a variety of skin conditions, and hair thinning, strengthens hair follicles, nails and bones, helps to stimulate the renewal process of dead skin cells, and keeps skin hydrated from the inside out.
ZINC- A NUTRIENT THAT IS INVOLVED IN ALMOST EVERY BIOCHEMICAL REACTION IN YOUR BODY, BUT IS ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT FOR SKIN CELL RENEWAL
Zinc is vital for healthy skin and is involved in normal oil gland function.
Supports the body’s defences against free radicals.
Helps maintain healthy, supple, elastic skin.
Supports acne-prone skin and dermatitis.
Repairs wounds and other skin problems.
Supports wound healing.
HORSETAIL
The horsetail plant is said to be 300 million years old and was even recommended by Roman Physician Galen for various bladder and kidney disorders. Like MSM, another supplement sold to help promote hair growth there is NO scientific proof that it helps with hair loss, it does however rejuvenate the scalp and therefore the hair through improved circulation and blood flow. Horsetail extract has high silica (a collagen-forming protein found in the skin) and sulphur content both of which are vital for strong, healthy hair growth.
CO-ENZYME Q10 - A POWERFUL ANTIOXIDANT FOUND IN EVERY CELL AND TISSUE PRODUCED IN THE BODY
Co-enzyme Q10 Fights free radicals (one of the major causes of ageing) within cells. Since the body produces less CoEnzymeQ10 with age, skin cells become more vulnerable to damage over time.
Manufacturers claim that skin care products containing CoQ10 work to protect the skin’s outer layer from oxidation and aging therefore Co-EnzymeQ10 has a role in maintaining younger-looking skin.
Skin lacking in the enzyme results in the skin’s inability to produce collagen, which gives skin firmness and elastin.
5 HERBAL SUPPLEMENTS FOR HEALTHY HAIR SKIN AND NAILS