Yearning for lustrous long locks, gorgeous glowing skin and perfect strong nails? Instead of spending a fortune at the salon, invest your money in a trip to your local supermarket. Filling your basket with delicious hair, skin and nail-perfecting goodies will boost your health and ultimately reflect in your appearance.
Your skin, nails and hair are the first to reveal the state of your body’s internal environment so approach any issues in their condition as motivation to clean-up your diet and boost your health. As well as hydrating and taking steps to improve digestion, include plenty of the following ingredients in your diet to leave you gleaming from the top of your head to the tips of your toes!
Top 10 foods for healthy skin, nails and hair
Avocado – packed with vitamins A, C and D, this skin superfood helps to prevent signs of ageing while promoting skin elasticity.
Berries – rich in antioxidants like vitamins A and C, berries also contain anthocyanins and quercitin. They reduce inflammation to keep the skin young and healthy.
Citrus – such as oranges, grapefruits and lemons are great wrinkle preventers with toning properties. High in vitamin C, they help to restore collagen, important for strong, glossy hair.
Dark Chocolate – the flavanols in your favourite treat helps to protect against sun damage and reduce roughness.
Eggs – biotin, B vitamins, vitamin A and omega 3s make eggs a great skin, nail and hair enhancer.
Fish – oily fish like salmon, herring, sardines and pilchards provide omega 3s, essential for nourishing and strengthening internally and externally.
Green Leafy Vegetables – kale, spinach, watercress, rocket and similar super greens are bursting with antioxidant nutrients to cleanse and refresh your skin, hair and nails.
Nuts and Seeds – in particular almonds, flaxseeds, pumpkin seeds and walnuts are fantastic sources of strengthening essential fatty acids, zinc and selenium.
Orange Vegetables – sweet potatoes, pumpkin, butternut squash and carrots are great sources of antioxidants like beta-carotene (vitamin A) and vitamin C for a gleaming, bright complexion.
Whole Grains – including oats, wheat germ, brown rice and millet are great sources of B vitamins, zinc and silicon essential for keratin production and cross-linking of collagen. Keratin and collagen are both proteins that support the strength, integrity and elasticity of hair, skin and nails.