Inside Out
Nutrients for skin and hair are fast appearing in our creams and hair products. What really gets under my skin is that many of these serums and treatments only scrape the surface. If you really want the ageing process to recede and to iron out a few wrinkles then start ingesting your vitamins and minerals.
If you read the labels of hair and skin products you’ll probably see keratin, collagen and elastin mentioned. These are proteins that make up our skin and hair. It makes sense that we should consume plenty of protein from meat, chicken, fish, legumes, eggs and dairy foods. No need to overdo it though. Huge quantities won’t change your skin or hair. They will just get stored as excess fat.
Wrinkles can certainly be helped with diet. Not drinking enough water can lead to flaky, dry, dull-looking skin. Investing in a few extra glasses of miracle water in the morning before your coffee is going to be much cheaper than reaching for your miracle day cream.
In order for skin cells to stay hydrated they also need to contain fatty acids that hold water. Fatty acids - omega-3 and omega-6 - have been shown to have a positive effect on skin. Try, increasing your oily fish intake by eating salmon, sardines and tuna. If you’re not a fishy person then eat more flaxseed oil and increase your intake of nuts such as peanuts and walnuts.
Antioxidants play a big role in skin thinning and wrinkling. Over time the body’s natural antioxidant levels decrease leading to an aged appearance. It is far better to eat your antioxidants than to rub them in via a facial. Remember, alcohol has a big part to play in destroying antioxidants, as you get older.
Vitamin E is an important fat-soluble antioxidant to add to your skin menu. It is found in foods such as vegetable oils, seeds and meat. Vitamin C is also an antioxidant, which is in fruits and vegetables. Increase your consumption of tomatoes, oranges, strawberries and red capsicum to give your skin a boost.
We can’t do much about our grey hair genes but a diet low in antioxidants has been shown to accelerate the greying process. This is another reason to eat a variety of fruit and vegetables every day. Vitamin B12 has also been linked to the old grey mare. Foods high in B12 to include are shellfish, fortified milk, cereals, and red meat. If you enjoy your offal then liver is also an excellent source.
If your mane problem is hair loss then what you eat can make a difference too. Vitamin D has been linked to hair thinning so make sure you consume plenty of eggyolks, dairy products and fatty fish. Omega-3 and omega-6 have also been shown to assist with hair regeneration so fish consumption will help with locking in those tresses.
The good news is that you can improve your appearance now by improving your diet. Next time you peel open your day spa menu consider your food one. Including plenty of nuts, seeds, fruit and vegetables and fish will have lasting impact on your strands and complexion. You are what you eat.
Photo by Abigail Keenan on Unsplash
