Did you know retinol, a popular skincare ingredient, comes from vitamin A?
This nutrient can help improve the appearance of wrinkles, as well as reduce hyperpigmentation, and can help improve acne.
Orange-coloured foods like bell peppers, sweet potato and pumpkin are excellent sources, as they’re high in betacarotene, which the body converts into vitamin A.
The citrus vitamin, vitamin C, can promote radiance, plus it’s good for the immune system, which can also have an impact on your skin if it’s not functioning as it should.
Vitamin C is also key for helping your body to create collagen, the scaffolding of the skin.
Some of the best sources of vitamin C are citrus fruits like orange and grapefruit, red pepper, strawberries, broccoli, and kiwi fruit.
Last month I posted an article explaining which foods you can fill up on to see an improvement in your hair health. Here are some more foods you can try adding into your diet to help you achieve lovely locks!
Fill up on beans for longer lengths: Zinc is also an important mineral for lovely locks. It helps maintain hair condition and is involved in the metabolism of proteins, carbohydrates and fats, and influences hair follicles and hair growth. A deficiency of zinc can lead to brittle hair and hair loss. Food providing zinc include beef shellfish, dairy foods (especially cheese), eggs, beans and chickpeas, bread, wholegrain cereals, nuts and seeds such as pumpkin seeds.
Avoid breakage with sweet potatoes: You might often noticed biotin mentioned in hair supplements. This vitamin is crucial for hair health, acting like a catalyst in the production of keratin, the protein that forms the hair shaft. Without enough biotin, hair can become brittle and prone to breakage, and growth may be hampered. Thankfully, biotin deficiency is rare, and incorporating foods like eggs, nuts seeds, sweet potatoes and mushrooms into your diet can help maintain healthy levels.
Protect your locks by eating olive oil: Vitamin E can protect cells from damage. It helps to provide protection to hair from the negative impact of strong sunlight, pollution, smoke and chemicals. It may also help prevent scalp dryness. Good sources include plant oils such as rapeseed oil, olive oil and sunflower oil, nuts and seeds and wheatgerm (found in cereals and cereal products).
Eat the rainbow for all round hair health: Eating a variety of colourful foods is vital for her health. It’s important to increase antioxidant consumption to maintain a healthy scalp and hair. The easiest way to do this is to aim to eat at least one serving per day from each colour group – red, orange/yellow, green and blue/purple. This way you’ll get the full spectrum of powerful antioxidants such as resveratrol, chlorophyll, beta carotene and anthocyanins.
Beautiful hair starts from within and it all comes down to the nutrients you feed it in fact, scientists have found evidence that your hair is a living record of your diet. The following explains which foods you can fill up on to see an improvement in your hair health. And be sure to check out next month’s post to find out some more!
Fill up on protein for stronger: Protein foods are vital for maintaining healthy and strong hair, as it is made of protein. Not having enough in your diet could lead to dry, brittle hair. Always include a form of protein such as, lean, unprocessed meat, fish, eggs and dairy. There are also lots of plant protein sources that are useful to include in your diet such as soya and soya products, lentils, beans, chickpeas, quinoa, buckwheat, nuts and seeds.
Choose Brazil nuts for a healthy scalp: Studies have found that selenium is an important mineral for hair health. This nutrient is a powerful antioxidant that keeps cells healthy, including maintaining a healthy scalp. It is found in fish, meats, eggs, bread, cereals, and nuts. Brazil nuts are a particularly good source, and eating just two or three a day will help provide you with adequate selenium.
Eat shellfish to keep your colour: Copper has been found in scientific studies to contribute to hair pigmentation melanin is a natural pigment that determines the colour of your hair. The mineral copper is involved in the production of melanin and therefore can help maintain the natural colour of hair. Copper is found in a variety of foods such as shellfish, almonds, peanuts, wholegrain cereals and dark chocolate.
Superfood salad for thickness: Iron deficiency is the most common in the world, especially in women, and it’s seen in many women experiencing hair loss. The hair follicles and roots are fed by a nutrient-rich blood supply. Iron is essential for healthy blood, and therefore, a deficiency in this mineral can disrupt the blood supply to hair follicles and impact their hair growth. To get adequate iron in your diet. try adding more lean red meats, tofu, eggs, beans, lentils, chickpeas, and green leafy vegetables, such as spinach and chard.
Treat toothache
Sesame seeds contain natural pain-relieving compounds. Soak four teaspoons in boiling water and when the mixture’s cooled, apply it around the painful area.
Brighten your eyes
Camomile tea has natural anti-inflammatory agents. Make a mug of it with boiling water and add a little salt. When cool, soak two cotton pads in the tea and relax with them over your eyes.
Soothe skin
Olive oil is a multi-purpose moisturiser, packed with skin-nourishing vitamin E. Rub it onto flaky patches on your face, chapped lips, dry heels or rough elbows.