The right diet for healthy hair & skin

Hair and skin are the two components of our physical being which reflect our health. Dry lusterless hair, dull sallow skin, and broken chipped nails are a sure indicator of deterioration of health which we do not need a doctor to diagnose. Many people wonder why despite eating a lot they do not look healthy ! There are many reasons why some people may have problems with the skin and hair some of these may be : 

• Too much processed food in the diet, besides being low in nutritional value, is also acidic and may lead to dandruff and hair fall.
• Not enough raw salads in the diet due to which the diet is enzyme deficient and results in a dull sallow complexion.
• Constipation is the mother of all ills.
• High stress lifestyle with inadequate mental rest.
• Recovering from any disease.
• A sudden weight loss.

The right diet would contain:

• Adequate amount of protein like soya, black chana, or for the non-veg, fish and eggs.
• Adequate amount of zinc and chromium which is easily available from nuts and seeds.
• A diet comprising of 50% fresh(raw)foods and 50% of cooked foods.
• Sulphur and Silicon in vegetables like broccoli, sea vegetables, onion.
• Biotin found in brown rice and soya.
• A little bit of the flaxseed oil for the essential fatty acids and also to maintain the ratio of the omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids.
• All the B vitamins found in all the colored fruits like papaya, watermelon, oranges etc.
• Vitamin C found in amla and all the citrus fruits.
• Alfa Alfa sprouts or Alfa-Alfa leave extract or triphala daily.
  

For acne prone skin: 1 teaspoon of karela juice mixed with the amla and lauki juice clears the skin very well if it is combined with a bath with water containing neem leaves is excellent.
 
For pigmentation of skin: The ideal diet must contain all the fresh salads and one teaspoon of karela juice in the morning.
 
For sensitive skin: A soothing aloe vera gel works well (but first do a patch test)
 
For skin allergies: Along with a food elimination test with non-veg foods and milk or wheat it is essential to employ de-stress techniques like "pranayam".