From time immemorial man has longed to be eternally young. And so, her interest in achieving beauty through natural nutrients goes back to the dark ages. When we think of beauty, we are thinking of feeling young and looking good, ie a person with healthy, luscious skin, hair and nails. Irrespective of gender, age, nature, occupation, lifestyle etc every human being wants to remain young and beautiful till then only God knows. But a lot of factors act as roadblocks to our desire to look good and beautify. Global economic downturn, stress, greenhouse effect, processed foods everywhere; etc. keep our aging appearance on the fast track. Healthy nutrients required to enhance our beauty are hardly found in our diet nowadays.
The old saying ‘you are what you eat’ applies not only to your overall health and nutrition, but also to how your skin, hair and nails look or feel. Hence, there is no point in saying that certain foods can affect the health of your skin and by extension your beauty. This article therefore attempts to highlight the foods that can help you achieve and maintain good health, and at the same time help you look and feel beautiful.
* Water. Many of you may not know that water is very essential when we talk about healthy skin, hair and nails. Water plays a major role in transporting nutrients to your cells and tissues. Water helps cleanse your body and eliminate toxins that cause aging through sweat, excretion and urination. It’s no wonder that you need at least 8 glasses of pure potable water a day.
* Carbohydrates. The major function of carbohydrates in your body is energy – energy to do work. However, there are some that can help you maintain or restore or bring out the beauty inside you. Some of these healthy foods are whole grains, cereals, rice, etc. They contain fiber and selenium. Fiber helps in the rapid elimination of waste ensuring that toxins are not re-absorbed in the body. You should try to include at least one of these food items in your daily diet.
* Protein. Our focus is on dairy products with the aim of achieving beauty through a healthy intake of protein. You should choose fat-free or low-fat milk and other dairy products. Did you know that low-fat dairy products are rich in Vitamin A? Did you know that Vitamin A is essential for your healthy skin? Low-fat yogurt is also good for the digestive system and by extension helps in maintaining skin health.
* fats and oils. Here we are considering essential fatty acids. They are great at nourishing your skin, hair and nails. They are found in walnuts, flaxseed and fish such as salmon, tuna and mackerel. Do not forget these in your daily diet.
* fruits vegetables. They contain vitamins and minerals. Eating a variety of fruits and vegetables will, no doubt, ensure not only your overall well-being but also your overall healthy skin. Antioxidants in vitamins C and E from fruits and vegetables have been proven to help reduce damage to skin cells caused by harmful free radicals, which contribute to skin aging . Without adequate intake of these vitamins, you can see it in the appearance of your skin, hair and nails.
* Food supplement. Since it is not always easy to combine all these food items in one meal at all times, modern science has provided a way. This is in the area of what they call nutricosmetic products. These products are taken orally in tablet, capsule or liquid form, and they provide essential nutrients for skin, hair, nails and overall well-being. Nutricosmetic is designed to provide essential vitamins, minerals and herbal extracts to keep skin, hair and nails in good shape and ensure cell recovery. They are complementary, remember! They are not meant to replace your balanced diet.
From the foregoing, you have seen that it is possible for you to extend your youth, your beauty, your healthy skin, hair and nails a little further. It’s going to cost you self-control and discipline. This is because our society today is plagued by unhealthy eating habits and behaviors – processed foods, alcohol and smoking. But let me remind you that a balanced diet rich in whole grains, water, fatty acids, fruits and vegetables is the best for truly glowing, youthful skin, hair and nails.
Source by Stan Onodu
