The beauty industry is worth an estimated $445 billion, and it continues to grow. People are always searching for something that will make them look younger and healthier, but many products, even the expensive ones, fail to provide the results people want. Fortunately, there are some foods you can eat, and some supplements you can take that may help promote healthy hair, skin, and nails from the inside out.
Beauty Products
The health of our hair, skin, and nails largely depends on what we put on the inside. Most products cannot do much from the outside. Many beauty products can even make your hair and skin look worse over time, and they usually contain lots of nasty ingredients. Nearly every conventional beauty product, from makeup to serums and creams, contains at least one known or suspected carcinogen, along with many other chemicals. Many of these chemicals can dry out the skin, and some can even speed up your skin’s aging process. Companies are not legally required to list all of the ingredients they use, so what you see on the label may not be the worst of it. Many people believe that it does not matter what you put on your skin because it’s on the outside, but the skin absorbs whatever is put on it. This is why opting for all-natural products as much as possible is so important, because things like coconut oil, aloe vera, green tea, and certain essential oils have many more benefits and less side effects than the chemicals commonly used in conventional beauty products.
Diet
Your diet can have a big impact on the health of your hair, skin, and nails. A person that eats a diet high in organic fruits and vegetables usually has healthier, glowing skin than someone who eats a diet high in processed foods. Organic produce is high in antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals that all contribute to a healthy, glowing complexion, strong nails, and strong, healthy hair. For example, the beta-carotene found in carrots, sweet potatoes, cantaloupe, and spinach can help combat the signs of aging, and even give your skin a slight “glow”. Beta-carotene is also good for eye health and reproductive health. Considering the many benefits of all of the different vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants found in fruits and vegetables, eating lots of organic produce should be a priority.
You should also eat plenty of good-quality fats like those found in avocados, olive oil, coconut oil, and wild-caught fish because they promote skin elasticity, hair growth, heart health, and eye health. Good fats help keep your skin hydrated, and the anti-inflammatory properties may help hair grow, as well as reduce inflammation throughout the body. Drinking enough water is also essential for healthy hair and skin, as well as overall health. You should drink half an ounce to an ounce of water per pound of body weight, depending on how active you are. For example, if you weigh 160 pounds, you should be drinking between 80 and 160 ounces of water each day.
Supplements
There are some supplements you can take that may help improve the health of your hair, skin, and nails. These include:
CollaGEN – Powder collagen supplement designed to help promote hair, skin, and nail health, as well as joint health. Collagen is necessary for healthy skin, hair, nails, joints, tendons, etc.
Cosmedix – Supplement containing vitamin A, D, and B12, biotin, selenium, stinging nettle, and several other ingredients that may help promote healthy skin, nails, and hair.
Orthomega 820 – Pure and stable fish oil supplement that may help promote healthy hair and skin, as well as heart, eye, brain and joint health.
The next time you go to put on your face cream, wash your face, or apply makeup, take a look at the ingredient labels. You may be surprised to see what you’re putting on your skin, so opt for more natural products whenever possible. Also, try eating a few organic carrots every day, along with other organic produce, and see if you notice your skin looking healthier and more radiant. You should also try some of the supplements suggested above and let us know when you notice a difference, and remember to stay hydrated!
You can listen to our Beauty From the Inside podcast here.