Food to Eat for Healthy, Beautiful Skin and Hair

Whole grains for healthy, strong hair

Treat your tresses to some TLC by adding wholegrains to your daily diet. Wholegrains such as brown rice and oats are supercharged with B vitamins including biotin (B7), which can help alleviate alopecia and brittle hair. Oats (in their raw state) are also a great source of silica, which can protect against hair breakage and also the mineral zinc, which (if at low levels in your diet) can lead to hair loss. Say hello to healthier hair by combining oats with yoghurt. Yoghurt is rich in calcium – another essential mineral for healthy hair growth.

Tomatoes for firm, healthy skin

If there were an award for a bargain superfood the tomato would get top honours.  You see tomatoes are two pronged in the quest for firm healthy skin. First off, as these red beauties are power packed with Vitamin C, they help aid collagen production, which helps keep the skin firm, tight and taut. Secondly they have a stimulating affect on blood circulation to the skin as they contain lycopene. In fact, British research studies have shown a diet including lycopene-rich tomato paste can protect against sunburn and sun-induced skin aging.

Kale for healthy, strong nails

If you look down at your hands and see brittle, ill-formed nails then work some kale into your weekly diet. Kale is rich in iron and this nutrient is essential for nail health and strength.  As well as bringing beautiful nails, kale has become one of the go-to foods for those following a healthy diet and lifestyle. Sometimes referred to as the ‘Queen of Greens’ Kale is packed with several antioxidants including vitamin K, which, according to a study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, can reduce the risk of developing or dying from cancer.

Avocado to banish under-eye bags

If you suffer from under-eye bags and a generally ‘puffy’ complexion on your face you could be experiencing fluid retention. First step (of course) is to increase the amount of water you drink. However you can also beat the bloat through your diet by looking at your intake of sodium and potassium filled foods. Slash sodium rich (salty) foods from your diet and increase your intake of potassium rich goodies – here’s where the humble avocado comes in. Avocado is not only high in potassium but also is plentiful in ‘good’ fatty acids which help keep your skin soft and supple too.

Green tea for healthy, bright eyes

Ditch the drops and go to the food, well drink, which has been bringing health benefits for thousands of years. Green tea boasts a cocktail of health-bringing antioxidants and there is an established body of evidence of its power to help protect against cancer and heart disease. However, more recent studies have focused on the effect of green tea on eye health investigating its ability to promote eye tissue health and also to protect against sun damage, like a natural SPF for eyes. Whilst evidence of its effects on humans are still being identified research carried out by Kai On Chu of the department of ophthalmology and visual sciences at the Chinese University of Hong Kong suggests that drinking green tea could be protective of the eyes.