Have you ever looked in the mirror after applying your make up and just thought “eww”? Sometimes no matter how hard we try with the best skincare and cosmetics our skin, hair and nails still somehow look dull and in need of revitalising. That’s when looking into what you’re eating (and to an extent, drinking) might help too. While it’s so much fun to experiment with the latest make up trends, It really helps if the canvas you’re painting on to is looking at its best, here’s how to achieve it by eating right. And I couldn't help but stuffing this post with cheesy stockphotos haha.
The best foods for beautiful skin, hair and nails
Really, what we should all be aiming for is to eat a balanced, sensible diet that includes foods from all the major food groups. That is to say protein, carbohydrate, fresh fruits and veggies and dairy. Unless, for whatever reason, you’re allergic or intolerant to something, you really shouldn’t avoid cutting out entire groups in the name of losing a few pounds quickly, nor because you heard such and such celebrity does it. Bad idea!
Our skin, hair and nails reflect what we’re putting into our bodies, so if you live on a diet of soda drinks and salty and sugary snacks you’re going to look tired dehydrated and lacklustre. Some of the best foods for beauty are as follows:
Oily fish
While it’s not the most glamorous of ingredients, it surely packs a punch where your health is concerned. Eating just two to three portions of say, salmon, sardines or herrings every week can really help to get your skin, nails and hair in tip top condition. It’s all to do with the Omega oils they contain. These are super important to help keep moisture in our locks and skin, making them supple and look in great condition. If you can’t face eating it, then you can try taking Omega 3 Fish Oil capsules, or if you’re a veggie, Flax Seed Oil.
Red meat
You might think red meat is uber unhealthy - and in certain cases, like processed burgers, you’d be right - but having one to two portions of really good lean red meat, such as steak, in your diet every week, is an excellent way of making sure you get enough of the essential mineral Zinc in your diet. Zinc is so important if you want your hair and nails to grow strong and long. It’s also really good if you suffer from acne or breakouts which don’t seem to want to go away. If you don’t eat red meat then you could always try a few Oysters or other seafood as they all contain high levels of this mineral too.
Green vegetables
Yummy dark leafy green vegetables like Kale, Spinach and Cabbage are full of calcium and vitamins A, C and K. They’re also packed with Iron too. Eating them steamed or stir fried is that way to go. The Vitamin A in particular is awesome for your skin as it helps with cell turnover and how smooth your skin looks, in a way like an edible exfoliant, but without the scrubbing beads! The calcium will help with the strength of your nails and Vitamin C is an essential anti-oxidant which fights the ageing process and keeps you looking young and fabulous.
Green Tea
Ditch the fizzy juices and sodas in favour of either plain water or even better, Green Tea. This drink is full of antioxidants which can really help with how clear your skin is and your overall energy levels. You can buy it flavoured with other things like Lemon or Jasmine if you find it unpalatable, but it’s a really healthy drink that can be sweetened with a little honey if needed.
Supplements and vitamins
Sometimes, however hard we try it just is too difficult to eat right all the time. There may genuinely be foods that we can’t stomach and as a result we worry we’re missing out on vital nutrients. You may have read through that list of foods and thought “I really can’t eat that!” In these cases it really can be worth looking into ways to supplement your diet with vitamins, minerals or protein shakes to help gain more energy. Something like a good quality protein drink can really help if you struggle to eat meat or simply don’t like fish. Protein is one of the best building blocks for maintaining healthy hair and skin and if you eat too little of it you may feel like you have no energy at all or your blood sugars crash, which isn’t great or healthy. It is best to try and get all the nutrients you need from your food, but sometimes a good multivitamin or single supplement can really help out if you’re worried.
Any dietary changes you make should start to show themselves in your skin within a few weeks, then you can really start to reap the benefits, especially when you look in the mirror and see glowing, healthy skin and hair. Happy eating! :)
