5 Healthy Tips to Improve Hair, Skin and Nails Health

The beauty industry generates billions of dollars in revenue yearly. Women contribute to the majority of revenue through the purchase of items like makeup,skin-careproducts, personal care products, cosmetic procedures, etc. Yet it’s often forgotten that beauty comes from within and works its way outward. What's happening inside your body ultimately determines what you see on the outside.The best approach is one that addresses the body internally and externally. We need to provide the right building blocks for health and beauty, such as a nutrient- dense diet, hydration, healthy digestion, good gut health, exercise, quality sleep, and natural non-toxic products.

Essentials for healthy hair, skin, and nails include:

1) Protein: skin, hair and nails are mostly protein. Proteins, such as collagen, keratin, and elastin provide strength and elasticity. Protein rich foods include meat, chicken, fish, legumes, and eggs.

2) Antioxidants:toxins, pollution, and lifestyle practices, like stress cause oxidative stress. Higher doses of vitamins C, E, and beta-carotene help protect the skin and improve its resilience to irritants. Vitamin C is also essential for iron absorption and collagen production. Collagen is the fibrous tissue  under the skin that plumps it up, providing support and shape. As skin ages it loses collagen, which is where collagen peptides and bone broth can be helpful. Antioxidant rich food sources include kiwi, citrus fruits, blueberries, goji berries, and bell peppers.

3) Minerals: deficiencies can cause hair strands to thin and weakenand nails to become brittle and spotted. Calcium, magnesium, iodine, zinc, selenium and silicon are important minerals to include in your diet. Good food sources include, sesame seeds, leafy greens, pumpkin seeds, dark chocolate, kelp, seafood, poultry, legumes, and brazil nuts. However, food sources have lower amounts of minerals due to modern farming practices, pollution, and soil degradation so a mineral supplement is recommended, such as Genestra’s Multi Mins or Colloidal Multi Mins Liquid.

4) Omega-3 Fatty Acids:  hydrate your body at the cellular level, decreasing inflammation, which is the root cause of disease and accelerated aging. Omega-3’s are accredited for boosting the skin’s resistance to UV rays, reducing acne, improving hair growth, reducing breakage, and protecting the skin against dryness, redness, and itchiness. Good food sources include fatty fish like salmon, sardines, mackerel, flax seeds, chia seeds, walnuts, and hemp seeds.

4) Water: adequate water intake helps reduce dryness and wrinkles by plumping the skin. As a bonus, it'll also help reduce bloating, promote weight loss, and assist with weight maintenance. For increased benefit, ensure that you are consuming filtered water to avoid the toxins normally found in tap water.

5)Clean Beauty Products: preservatives, sulfates, alcohols, mineral oils and chemicals often dry skin out and increase the development of fine lines and wrinkles. Since skin is porous, these toxins can easily be absorbed into the blood stream and circulate throughout the body, creating long-term health issues.  Making your own simple and natural products or ensuring that you are using natural skin care, without harmful chemical additives, is one way to slow down the aging process. Two of my favourite skin-care lines are Mad Hippie and Skin Essence Organics.

I like to keep my skin-care routine simple and use only a limited number of products. My favourite skin mask can be made at home and consists of only 3 ingredients. I am sharing this skin-nourishing recipe with you so you can make it at home.

Yogurt and Manuka Honey Mask with Cinnamon

Ingredients:

• 1 tsp coconut yogurt or plain organic yogurt
• 1 tbsp real Manuka honey (ensure it is from New Zealand and has a UMF and MGO rating)
• Pinch of Ceylon cinnamon

Directions:

• In a small bowl, mix all of the ingredients together well.
• Steam your face or apply the mask after a shower or bath when your pores are open. Leaveon for 15-20 minutes, then gently wash off with warm water, and follow with your normal skin routine (tone and moisturize).
• Place leftovers in a glass Tupperware in the fridge and use within the next 7 days.

Benefits:

1) Yogurt - adds moisture, fights acne, improves elasticity, and tones and brightens the skin.

2)  Manuka Honey - balances skin’s pH level, exfoliates, and reduces inflammation. It's also known to help speed up healing time.

3) Ceylon Cinnamon - increases blood flow, giving you plumper healthier skin. The antibacterial effects also help fight bacteria associated with acne and it has skin lightening effects, which can help with any scars or dark spots.

This mask results in soft and glowing skin. It’s easy, quick, cost effective and one of my best kept beauty secrets.