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Hair, Skin and Nails
How our hair,
skin and nails look, for both women and men, tell a lot about the type of people
we are, and how we care for ourselves. Also, health and nutrition problems will
often manifest themselves by dull, lifeless hair, brittle and ridged nails and
blotched skin. Proper care of hair, skin and nails is essential and the proper
nutrition for them often reflects the nutrition that is best for our bodies
overall.
Skin is the largest detoxifying organ in the body. That's right, skin is an
organ and it is responsible for eliminating impurities, by sweating. Healthy
skin has an elasticity that declines as we age. Drinking 6 to 8 glasses of pure
water daily is the first step in maintaining healthy skin, since it hydrates the
skin and flushes impurities from the body. The most harmful threat to healthy
skin is sun exposure, which can even result in skin cancer. Sun exposure should
be limited to non peak times of the day for, avoid being in the sun from 11 am
until 3 pm, and always use a sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15. Keep the
skin free of bacterial build-up and cleanse the face twice daily with a gentle,
pH balanced cleanser and tepid water, not hot water. The second largest cause of
skin wrinkling, is smoking. One more reason to quit or never start.
Hair care is a
bit simpler. Cleanse hair with a mild shampoo and replace the lost sebum, or
natural oil with a good conditioner. Avoid or limit caustic procedures such as
perming or coloring the hair.
Keeping the
nails and hands clean is essential to good hygiene, but also remember not to
bite or pick at the nails. Rim the nails every few weeks, leaving a rounded tip
with slightly square corners to increase nail strength. Always wear plastic
gloves when handling detergents and take a break from using nail polish. Never
wear artificial nails. The glue used is toxic, the process is very destructive
to your natural nails and fake nails can give rise to hard to treat bacterial
and fungal infections.
Hair, skin and
nails share similar nutritional requirements and respond well to supplements.
Biotin or Vitamin B6, natural sulfur, protein, and vitamin C are essential to
the production of collagen and keratin, which are vital components of hair skin
and nails. Omega 3 fatty acid has been shown to contribute to skin elasticity
and is a powerful antioxidant, which is good for general health.
Following these
simple steps and good nutrition should maintain your hair, skin and nails in
optimum condition. But don't rule out the occasional profession makeover,
manicure or facial, which are all good for the psyche too.
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