If you knew the secret to healthy beautiful hair and radiant, glowing skin, wouldn’t you go for it? You must think it’s about having access to expensive beauty products, a golden ticket to the stylist of the stars, or maybe following a top secret beauty regimen that only a few extremely lucky people know about. Of course it’s nice to have a good stylist who can help you get all dolled up when you need to, but if you want to be truly radiant on a day to day basis, it’s your lifestyle that you need to look at.
More specifically, it’s about what you eat. Now pause for a while and reflect on what you’re putting into your system on a day to day basis. Beauty products can only do so much, and true radiance and beauty is something that comes from within. The good news is that you can eat your way to a more radiant self. By doing a lifestyle check and making sure you’re eating right, you can already make such a big difference.
To get yourself started, make sure you load up on these items:
Water
The importance of drinking up should be underscored, because water truly is the solution for everything. It may sound so simple and so taken for granted, but that’s because a lot of people forget that they’re not drinking enough glasses of water (6-8 is recommended) during the day. Hydrating yourself with water will ensure that your skin stays supple, hydrated, and youthful.
Fatty Fish
If you like eating fish, you’re already a step ahead. Make it even more beneficial for your skin and hair by ensuring that the fish you’re eating is rich in Omega-3 fatty acids. These healthy fats, which can be found in fish like salmon, tuna, mackerel, and sardines will keep your hair nourished and hydrated, contributing to its growth. Omega-3 fatty acids will also help you get glowing skin.
Yogurt
Yogurt has a load of other health benefits like aiding you in digestion and such, but it also makes your skin firmer. As an alternative to all your calorie-rich breakfast foods or snacks, you can have a bowl of yogurt and prevent wrinkles while you’re at it.
Capsicum
The entire bell pepper family – red, yellow, green – is full of carotenoids and vitamin C. They’re packed with powerful antioxidants that can help fight free radicals, keeping your skin young and healthy. Loading up on capsicum will help your skin fight off the damaging effects of the sun and will also help you fight years off your face.
Leafy Greens
Remember your mom forcing you to eat green, leafy vegetables when you were younger? She probably had a very good reason. Leafy greens are rich in age-defying vitamins (like Vitamin A and C) and minerals (like iron). Spinach, lentils, broccoli, kale, lettuce, you name it. Your green salad could be as varied and as interesting as you make it, because your options are almost endless. All the good stuff that you get from your leafy greens will help ensure the nutrient supply to your hair follicle, preventing hair loss. They are also crucial when it comes to retaining skin moisture.
Oats, fortified cereals, and wholegrain
Perhaps you already knew that a bowl of oatmeal is a better breakfast than, say, a calorie-filled stack of pancakes, scrambled eggs, and crispy bacon. Oats are popular among the health buffs, and for good reason. Steel-cut oatmeal in particular not only helps stabilize your blood sugar, it can also help your skin heal and look younger because it’s rich in potassium, zinc, magnesium, and biotin. Aside from that, you can also turn to iron-fortified cereals and wholegrain for a boost of zinc, which is very important in scalp protection and hair loss prevention.
Eggs
You can get most of your protein and iron requirements when you eat enough eggs. Eggs are also rich in biotin, which is very important in ensuring hair growth. They’re also rich in sulfur, which produces collagen and keratin to keep your hair shiny, your nails strong, and your skin radiant.
Lean Turkey and Chicken
Every day will be as happy as Thanksgiving if your hair looks healthier and your skin looks younger. Protein is a key ingredient in hair and skin growth, but you also shouldn’t overdo your meats. It’s better to stick to the leanest proteins like turkey and chicken, which have less saturated fat compared to beef or pork.
Walnuts
Another good source of protein, walnuts are great for snacking and keeping you full throughout the day. Walnuts are also high in Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids, which maintains the moisture in your hair and skin. You can eat walnuts by itself or add it to your salad for taste variety.