Nutrition

This post is a brief touch on the importance of diet in ensuring we keep our skin and hair looking it’s best.
Many people want strong & healthy hair, smooth clear skin. How to achieve this more often than not is attempted through a single approach. Thinking that one cream or a shampoo will work a miracle, when in fact the answer lies in a holistic approach. One key factor being what we eat.
Of course things like age & genetics equally effect the outcome but one thing we do have control over is our diet.
Consuming a diet lacking nutrients has been proven to lead to hair loss & dull looking skin, acne, eczema etc. The foods we eat directly affect hair growth & it’s quality and overall appearance of skin. Consuming a varied diet of vitamins, minerals, proteins and fats increases skin & hair health.
Protein
Both our skin and hair contain large amount of protein. Our body make these proteins using amino acids which come from our diet.
Fats
Omega-3 and omega-6 essential fatty acids helps you achieve healthy skin and hair. Omega-6 fatty acids promote hair growth and support skin cell renewal, and omega-3 fatty acids moisturise your skin and hair follicles for long radiant hair and a smooth complexion.
Vitamins
Just like vitamins can strengthen your immune system regular consumption of certain vitamins may have measurable positive impact on the health of your hair and skin.
Vitamin A
Vitamin A is one of the most important and controversial vitamins for hair health. The reason for the controversy surrounding this vitamin is that while healthy amounts can stimulate hair growth, large doses of vitamin A can cause scalp oil issues that can cause you to shed hair, so moderation is key.
Vitamin C
While you might not think of it as an important vitamin for hair health, vitamin C plays a major role in keeping your hair thick, strong and healthy.
Studies show that vitamin C is an important component in collagen synthesis. Put simply, this means that getting your daily dose of vitamin C is important for ensuring your hair, skin, nails and other body parts strong, since collagen is the most abundant protein in your body.
Vitamin E
Vitamin E is arguably the most important vitamin for promoting hair growth, so much so that it’s widely used in homemade topical formulas to encourage the rapid growth of thick, strong and healthy hair.
In fact, scientific study data shows that supplementation of tocotrienols, which are antioxidants in the vitamin E family, contributed to a 34.5% increase in hair growth over eight months of use in study participants.

Some of our everyday items that help promote healthier skin and hair are:

Avocado:
A fantastic source of Vitamin E, Vitamin B and healthy fats (rich source of omega-3 fatty acids). These work at the cellular level to protect and strengthen hair. Vitamin B is essential for hair growth. Vitamin E is an antioxidant that helps repair damage on the scalp, which may slow or prevent hair growing. Antioxidants are powerful, fighting harmful free radical. They also fight the signs of aging and prevents against inflammation of the skin. Avocados also contain fiber and Vitamin C.

Sweet potato:
Sweet Potatoes consist of beta-carotene, which helps keep your skin healthy by acting as a natural sunblock. It has also been proven that beta-carotene adds warm tones to the skin, which shows an overall healthier look.

Nuts:
Rich in omega fatty acids, vitamins, antioxidants and minerals, which are all beneficial! When consumed in moderation, their nutrients help the body a tonne, while also encouraging the healthy growth of hair, skin and nails.

As mentioned at the beginning this is just a brief touch on the importance on diet on the journey to healthier skin and hair, the main purpose of this post is to encourage you to do further research into a holistic approach to your overall health and well being.

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. The information contained herein is not a substitute for and should never be relied upon for professional medical advice. Always talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of any treatment.