Dr. Kassam Superfoods for Healthy Hair, Skin and Nails
Easy Tips for the Winter to Keep Your Hair and Skin Looking Beautiful
Written By: Dr. Saira Kassam, ND
There are a lot of great things to look forward to about the fall and winter months - Cuddling with warm blankets, movies by the fireplace, hot chocolate after a long day, cozy wool sweaters, knee-high boots and the list goes on! Unfortunately, with the cold weather and dry air come the dry skin, dry hair and brittle nails. (Uh-Oh!) With constant exposure to central heat and the cold air outside our skin receives less moisture. This results in chapped lips, dry/cracked/red skin. There are definitely some things we can do to minimize the lack of moisture and combat dry skin. For example, (1) avoid long hot baths and opt for quick/warm showers. Treat hair with a mix of (2) coconut, castor and jojoba oil. Simply massage your scalp and make sure to get the ends! Do this 1-2x a week to keep the moisture locked in and avoid dry split ends. (3) Keep hydrated! Dehydrated skin is common in winter. We need to keep our skin hydrated from the inside out. Remember the skin is an organ of elimination and it needs water to properly perform its duties. So make sure you are upping your water intake. If you do not enjoy the taste of plain water try adding some mint, lemon, cucumber slices or some raspberries to add some flavour! There are also quite a few things we can do in the kitchen to keep our hair, skin and nails looking and feeling great! Eating tons of fruits and veggies throughout the day can provide you with antioxidants that reverse the damage of free radicals in your body. Free radicals can be caused by pollution, diet, and stress. Antioxidants help to reverse this damage. When you think of antioxidants, think of fruits and veggies with lots and lots of colour! Here is a list of foods you can pick up on your next grocery run:
Don’t forget to take this list with you the next time a grocery run is due! Make sure to incorporate these superfoods into your meals and enjoy plump looking skin, heavy hair and shiny nails even in the dry winter months! Below I have added two of my favourite superfood recipes that are simple, quick and easy to have every day! Give them a try! Pomegranate, Strawberry and Chia Smoothie
Directions: Soak the chia seeds in 1 cup of water for 30-35 mins. Blend the strawberries and pomegranate juice together in a blender. Pour in soaked chia seeds and blend. Sprinkle with some ground cinnamon and enjoy! Spiced Mixed Nuts:
Directions: Preheat the oven to 350o F. In a large mixing bowl, mix the nuts with the dry and wet ingredients. Mix well and spread on a baking sheet. Bake in the oven for 10-12 minutes.
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