Everyone knows that protein is an essential part of a healthy diet, but did you also know that protein is all essential for healthy hair, nails, and skin? Actually, our hair, nails, and skin are made from protein, and the body uses protein to keep these healthy by replenishing cells as they die. If you have brittle nails, poor skin and hair that breaks easily, it may be because you don’t have enough protein in your diet.
Your Hair
No one wants to have thinning hair and, besides genetics, diet and nutrition can play a large role in thinning hair and hair loss. Crash diets, which are extremely unhealthy and shouldn’t be used anyway, can cause hair loss at the top of the head, so if you are trying to lose weight, try not to lose more than one pound each week in order to maintain healthy hair. Other steps that you can take to keep your hair healthy and shiny are using a shampoo that is best for your hair type (oily, dry, curly, etc.) and not brushing it while it is wet. This causes the hair to break. For best results on wet hair, a wide-toothed comb, such as a pick, works best. Also, it is not necessary to wash your hair every day. In fact, the more you wash your hair, the more you need to. It is really only necessary to wash your hair once every two or three days.
Your Nails
We need protein in our diets in order to have healthy nails that do not chip and break easily. Protein-rich foods are an excellent source of biotin, which is a part of the B-complex and is essential for healthy nails. Some delicious dietary sources of biotin include egg yolks and soy bean flour, as well as milk and peanut butter. So enjoy your peanut butter sandwich with a big glass of milk (skim, of course) as a delicious, healthy, protein-rich snack. None of the products on the market advertised to “grow” your nails really work as well as a well-balanced diet. Other nail care tips include removing old nail polish with a non-acetone polish remover (which doesn’t dry out the nails and skin like regular polish removers) and keeping nails filed so that they are rounded, not squared or pointed.
Your Skin
Did you know that your skin is actually an organ, and that it is the largest organ in the human body? Did you also know that the most common form of cancer is skin cancer? Believe it or not, each and every year there are approximately one million new cases of skin cancer diagnosed in the US, and although 90% of these skin cancer cases are cured, about 50,000 of these cases may recur.
There are three types of skin cancer, squamous cell carcinoma, basal cell carcinoma and melanoma, which although it is the most serious of the three and the most difficult to treat (this form of skin cancer is often deadly), it only makes up about five percent of all skin cancer cases in the US.
Squamous Cell Carcinoma – this usually begins looking like a scaly, red patch on the skin, often with a crusty surface, but it can also look somewhat like warts as well.
Basal Cell Carcinoma – about 75% of all skin cancers are of this type. Basal cell carcinoma looks like a pearl grey, shiny nodule. Some of the symptoms of this type of skin cancer include open, oozing sores that last more than three weeks, a spot on the chest, shoulders, legs or arms that is red and irritated, possibly itchy or crusted, a pink growth that has a crusted center and is raised around the border, an area that is waxy and looks like a scar and a shiny bump that can be clear or opaque and, depending on the color of the skin, may be pink, red, or white.
Early Detection is Vital
Just like any disease, the best chance of curing skin cancer is by detecting it early enough to be able to treat it effectively. And of course, prevention is the best medicine. This means avoiding direct contact with the sun’s harsh rays. If you are outside in the sun, it is recommended that you use a sunblock (not a suntan lotion) that has an SPF of at least 25, and that sun exposure be limited. The time of day when the sun is at its hottest and strongest is between 10 am and 2 pm in the summer, and this is when you should stay indoors or cover yourself in sunblock. Don’t forget to wear a hat to protect your head as well.
Good Nutrition and Skin Care
A healthy, well-balanced diet is not only essential for a healthy body, it is also essential for healthy hair, nails, and skin. We all need to have the proper nutrients and macronutrients in our diets, and protein is one of the macronutrients that we need. Protein is essential for healthy hair, skin, and nails, as well as for muscle growth, maintenance, and recovery. The three macronutrients that we need are carbohydrates, fats, and proteins.
Carbohydrates: About 50% of your daily caloric intake should come from carbohydrates, with complex carbohydrates being the healthiest. Avoid carbohydrates such as white sugar and flour, and eat foods such as whole grains, fruits, and vegetables.
Fats: About 15-20% of your daily caloric intake should come from fats, which of course, should be healthy fats. Some excellent dietary sources of good fats include olive oil and fatty fish such as salmon.
Proteins: About 30-35% of your daily caloric intake should come from proteins, which can be plant- or animal-based. If you are not getting enough protein in your diet, you may want to try a protein supplement. Profect, from Protica, is an excellent protein supplement, especially for dieters because it is only 100 calories per three-ounce serving. Each serving is loaded with 25 grams of protein and is also low in fat and carbohydrates.
Protica Research (Protica, Inc.) specializes in the development of Capsulized Foods. Protica manufactures Profect, IsoMetric, Pediagro, Fruitasia and over 100 other brands, including Medicare-approved, whey protein liquid for weight loss surgery patients. You can learn more at Protica Research – Copyright