SKIN, HAIR, NAILS

Dry skin? Skin care from the outside

Our skin is our largest organ, measuring 1.5 to 2.0 square meters. It protects our body from external influences such as cold, heat or pathogens, absorbs shocks and excretes metabolic products. When we talk about external care, the skin basically doesn't need much: too much cleaning and many additives in cosmetic products attack the natural skin barrier and with it the skin's protective acid mantle. When it comes to cosmetic care, pay attention to products without ingredients^[1] such as hormone-active substances or contact allergens. Skin-friendly cosmetics are particularly important for skin diseases such as neurodermatitis, acne, rosacea, psoriasis and others.

Dry skin? Care for the skin from the inside

Even more important than external care is internal skin care. From diet to exercise and sleep quality, lifestyle is also noticeable in the complexion:

• Water: Dry skin in particular benefits from adequate fluid intake. Metabolism and digestion are stimulated and the skin cells are supplied with fluid. This makes the skin appear smoother and fresher.
• Nutrition: A healthy diet based on fresh organic food is the basis for us to feel really comfortable in our skin. Fruit and vegetables provide fluids and provide our skin with valuable vitamins, trace elements and minerals. Whole grain products, high-quality proteins and healthy fats such as omega-3 fatty acids round off a healthy diet and bring body, soul and skin into balance.
• Antioxidants: Antioxidants are small sentinels that ward off molecules that are prone to oxidation. They fight unwanted free radicals that are associated with the aging process. Antioxidants are mainly found in plant-based foods with an intense color. These include anthocyanins, which color blueberries, blackberries and red cabbage red to deep blue, as well as the green chlorophyll from lettuces and the orange-red carotenoids from tomatoes and carrots.
• Exercise: Moderate exercise stimulates blood circulation and metabolism and helps cleanse the skin through sweating.
• Sleep: Lack of sleep not only makes us “thin-skinned” in the proverbial sense, because dry skin in particular needs its beauty sleep. Various studies^[2] show that lack of sleep impairs skin function.

Split ends and dull hair? Help for the hair follicle

Our hair is essentially made of keratin, protects our scalp from cold and sun, can be beautiful and an expression of our personality. In our ideal, they are strong, full, shiny and intact down to the lengths. Split ends, dry ends or greasy roots don't appear in our dreams. Because hair dyes, sun rays, wind and weather put a strain on the hair, we turn to conditioners, treatments, hair oils and all-in-one miracle sprays. These products are intended to nourish the hair or repair split ends. However, they often contain substances that are not beneficial to the scalp and the environment.

Only part of the hair is visible. The other part, the root with follicle and papilla, is hidden in the skin. This is where new hair cells are created and the basis for supplying the hair with nutrients is created. If the hair substance is well supplied with nutrients, it strengthens the hair sustainably and makes it resilient.

Brittle nails? Nutrients and care

Some people like them short and simple, others prefer them long and colorfully decorated - in any case, we are happy about strong, healthy nails. Brittle nails or even splintering nails are not only unsightly, but also hinder their function: protecting the nail bed from injuries and grasping objects.

Like hair, nails are mainly made of keratin. New nail tissue is constantly created in the nail bed and grows up to 1 mm per week. A good supply of vitamins and minerals through a healthy, balanced diet supports the formation of strong nails. Brittle nails or other nail damage can be due to a lack of nutrients, but also to mechanical stress. Regular care of the nails and careful trimming support their structure.

Minerals and vitamins for skin, hair and nails

Vitamin A, vitamin B2 (riboflavin), vitamin B3 (niacin) and biotin contribute to the maintenance of normal skin, as do the trace elements iodine and zinc. Vitamin C contributes to collagen formation in the skin. Antioxidants also care for our skin by neutralizing free radicals. Zinc, manganese, riboflavin, vitamin E and selenium help protect cells from oxidative stress.

The “beauty vitamin” biotin is a particularly important nutrient for hair and nails. The water-soluble vitamin is involved in the production of keratin, the main component of hair and nails. Biotin is found in many foods such as liver, nuts, dairy and whole grain products. The trace elements selenium and zinc are important for the development and maintenance of normal hair and nails. There is a lot of selenium in meat, fish, porcini mushrooms, millet and legumes. Good sources of zinc include oysters, beef, cheese, legumes, grains and nuts.

Our tip: Some plant-based foods such as legumes and nuts also contain phytate (phytic acid). Phytate hinders the absorption and bioavailability of minerals such as zinc and selenium. It makes sense to compensate for this with a nutritional supplement.

Skin and hair during menopause

Menopause is a time of change – hormonally, physically, emotionally. They often begin long before the last menstrual period, the menopause. Menopause is a phase in which the production of the hormones estrogen and progesterone decreases in women. Hormone production also decreases in men. If the level of sex hormones falls, the likelihood of classic menopausal symptoms increases. These include hot flashes, sleep disorders - and also dry mucous membranes or overall dry skin and hair loss. In addition, the hormonal balance shifts and androgens, primarily male sex hormones, become more prominent. On the one hand, this can lead to an increase in body hair and, on the other hand, to hair loss on the scalp.

The list of potential skin problems resulting from menopause is long, and each person reacts individually. The epidermis thins, less hyaluronic acid is produced, and the collagen content also drops. The ability to store moisture in the connective tissue decreases along with the water content of the skin - it loses its elasticity. Wrinkles become more visible. Since blood circulation also decreases, the skin is less supplied with nutrients overall - so a nutrient-rich diet is more important now than ever before. A nutritional supplement with pure preparations can be useful here. You should also pamper your skin with pH-neutral, fragrance-free moisturizers.

Anti-aging for skin, hair and nails

Beautiful skin, strong hair and healthy nails even after menopause and in advanced age? One thing is clear: we cannot prevent ourselves from getting older. But we now know a lot about how we can delay our biological aging in the sense of anti-aging. With the right lifestyle, we create the conditions to feel attractive and, above all, really comfortable as we get older.

Anti Aging – 10 tips for a healthy lifestyle

1. Eat a healthy diet based on fresh organic food.
2. Treat yourself to enough restful sleep.
3. Avoid nicotine.
4. Drink alcohol only in moderate amounts.
5. Develop inner resilience and free yourself from stress.
6. Incorporate exercise into your everyday life.
7. Try to keep your weight within normal range.
8. Feed and challenge your brain.
9. Make sure you only expose yourself to healthy levels of UV rays.
10. Expose yourself to as little environmental impact as possible.

Nutritional tips for anti-aging

• Cook with fresh organic food.
• Eat a varied diet.
• Eat lots of vegetables, fruits, salads and legumes.
• Pay attention to the quality of your food.
• Prefer regional and seasonal food.
• Reduce fast food, sugar, additives and trans fats.
• Incorporate alkaline foods into your diet.
• Depending on your personal life situation and especially for people who live a vegan lifestyle or take certain medications, high-quality nutritional supplements can make sense.

Anti-aging or pro-aging?

The term anti-aging means measures that are intended to delay the biological aging process. The term pro-aging changes our perspective: we adopt a different attitude and characteristics such as serenity, contentment and inner strength come into focus. With this attitude and a lifestyle that supports our health, we have the best conditions to feel good.

_{[1] Apps wie CodeCheck oder Yuka geben Auskunft über die Inhaltsstoffe gängiger Handelsprodukte.
[2] https://ki.se/en/cns/john-axelssons-research-group}

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