Women spend hundreds of dollars or more in the name of beauty. They buy makeup, skin care products, clothing, jewelry, and shoes in hopes of enhancing their beauty. We have all seen a woman simply dressed in a pair of jeans, a t-shirt and a touch of makeup looking stunning. Her gaze caught his attention because her hair was shiny and lustrous and her skin radiant. Unfortunately, this look doesn’t come in a bottle or with the latest fashion purchase.

Let me share a personal story. Eight years ago, she was 20 pounds heavier, had a dull complexion and dull hair. She was trying to combat my weight gain with an exercise program of 60 minutes, 5 days a week. I thought it was a more intense and longer training. To further illustrate this point, my husband and mother were looking at some photos from this period of my life when my husband asked my mom, “Who is that woman?” It was me! The most significant difference between that photo and now is natural. , whole-grain foods.

True beauty begins on the inside by taking conscious care of your body. Poor quality food, lack of sleep, poor hydration, and constant stress will age you and mask your natural beauty. Who would have thought that natural food is the quintessential beauty product? There are many facets to natural beauty, but for this article, let’s focus specifically on the foods that will create beautiful, shiny hair.

Rich and lustrous hair

The natural tendency of hair is to be shiny and lustrous, not dry and dull. It represents our internal condition of health, specifically our digestive and reproductive systems. “Healthy hair shows that our ability to digest food and our sexual vitality are strong and healthy,” writes Christina Pirello, author of the book ‘Glow’. Hair reflects the nutrients in our diet. Hair production is primarily driven by protein, however fats, minerals, and carbohydrates also play a role.

In addition to the specific foods listed below, hair needs a balance of nutrients including whole grains, vegetables, fruits, unrefined oils, protein, and plenty of water to hydrate and flush out toxins.

Here are three essential foods for a healthy mane:

1. Whole Grains – Notice I didn’t say foods made with whole grains like bread or pasta. I am referring to the real, intact whole grain, such as brown rice, quinoa, or millet. Adding grains lowers cholesterol, allowing blood to flow freely so you can feed your hair nutrients efficiently and completely. Whole grains also promote the smooth elimination of waste as the fiber prevents the accumulation of toxins in the intestines. Surprisingly, simple carbohydrates like white sugar and white flour actually remove minerals from your body.

2. Fermented and pickled foods, such as soy sauce, tamari, miso, pickled vegetables, and sauerkraut, support natural hair health. Fermented foods are rich in living enzymes that facilitate digestion, strengthen blood quality, nourish the body and hair, and provide us with essential oils, vitamins and minerals. Pickled foods stimulate appetite, improve digestion and strengthen the digestive tract, which in turn helps the intestines in the process of nourishing our hair.

3. Sea vegetables win the award for the most important food to add to maintain the health of our hair! Not sure what I’m talking about? No problem, let me introduce you to one of these gems. An easy sea vegetable to start with is candy flakes which can be purchased at your local coop or health food store. You can easily incorporate these very smooth, slightly salty flakes into your hot cereal, soups, or main dishes with little to no change in flavor.

Sea vegetables are rich in beta-carotene and help prevent the buildup of dead skin cells that can clog hair follicles and inhibit hair growth and health. They are packed with calcium, phosphorous, potassium, sulfur, magnesium, copper (which helps color our hair), selenium, bromine, and more! They are also a key food to prevent premature aging. Eaten daily, these amazing vegetables are rich in the most essential nutrients for maintaining healthy, shiny hair.

The next time you feel like upping your appearance with a new product for your exterior, consider visiting your local co-op or health food store. You won’t be guilty of spending too much at a retail store, and let’s face it, vibrant, natural beauty isn’t found at the mall.