Best Food For Hair And Skin

In the past couple of years, our collective consciousness towards living a well balanced life has increased manifold. The one thing that has caught everyone's eyes is the plethora of ways we can use foods and superfoods to our benefit, particularly towards the health of our skin and hair alike. Consuming a healthy diet has always been beneficial for our body, but its benefits aiming at improving the appearance of our skin and hair have gained the common folks’ attention much recently. The first step to achieving healthy skin and hair is not the products that you purchase and apply, but the things you feed your body with.

There are certain foods that have been directly linked with clearing up your skin and growing a gorgeous mane. Read on to know about them:

1. Probiotics and prebiotics: these are foods either rich in microbes or ones that help in the growth of gut-friendly microbiota. Consuming quality probiotics and prebiotics has been proven to promote skin healing and reduce inflammation. These are also proven to promote hair growth and increase the moisture content of your hair. Kombucha, pickles, and sourdough bread are great examples of probiotics. On the other hand, garlic and asparagus are excellent prebiotics as they essentially “fertilize” the already existing bacteria in your gut.

2. Berries like blueberries, gojiberry, and the Indian gooseberry (popularly known as amla) are packed with antioxidants and also anti-inflammatory ingredients. These protect your skin cells and hair follicles against the DNA damage produced by free radicals. Berries are also rich in vitamins and certain trace minerals.

3. Eggs are a wonderful source of "complete protein", which means eggs provide you with all essential and non-essential amino acids, which help in the formation of proteins which are the main building blocks of the cells of your hair and skin. Additionally, egg yolks are a rich source of vitamin A, biotin, as well as folate which helps in the regeneration of skin cells. In terms of hair health, egg yolks make your hair damage proof, and may help in faster hair growth.

4. Nuts: almonds, for example, are rich in magnesium and vitamin E. These can help reduce inflammation and calm down conditions like rashes and eczema. Brazil nuts are rich in selenium and phosphorus and in a similar fashion, help in reducing the oxidative damage in the body. They improve the skin’s hydration level and strengthen hair and nails. Pumpkin seeds are a good source of iron and protein, and can help reduce hair fall. Interestingly, they can also reduce the appearance of facial hair.

5. Teas: green tea is rich in antioxidants and anti-inflammatory ingredients. It helps soothe the skin when it is highly inflamed (for example in an active acne situation). It also scavenges free radicals to minimize the signs of ageing. As it reduces the production of sebum, it can help you control excessive oiliness in your scalp and give you more days in between washes. Spearmint tea is an excellent choice for someone who wants to reduce their facial hair.

6. Salmon, a rich source of omega 3 fatty acids, has profound health benefits. It reduces sun damage (including sub burns and certain photo-sensitivity disorders), and reduces the formation or severity of acne by acting as potent anti-inflammatory agents. It also reduces the side effects (i.e. irritation and dryness) of tretinoin, which is a common prescription medication for hormonal and cystic acne. Omega 3 fatty acids also boost hair growth.

7. Fig: being an abundant source of calcium, figs are deemed important to improve the health of your hair as they can make it stronger and increase its density. As calcium deficiency is linked to hair breakage and thinning, figs can be consumed as a delicacy that prevents this issue.

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