It’s no secret eating healthy is important for your body, but maybe it’s not stressed enough how important it is for your hair as well. Whether you’re working out your new locs or you’ve been going au natural for some years, with loose or loc’d hair, it’s a good plan to get a healthy diet clearly laid out to keep the positive spirits up, your hair shining and your skin glowing.
Over the past decades there has been a frightening amount of processed foods enticing us in supermarkets, commercials, advertisements, and daydreams. Those sneaky companies got away with successfully producing junk we could not resist, but with all the valuable information floating around, it’s impossible to ignore just how important a healthy diet and lifestyle is for your mental health, physical health, and beautiful self.
Here’s Part one of a Daily Diet Breakdown from morning til’ night to satisfy your appetite.
Breakfast Tips:
Yogurt is a great ingredient to start off your day with. If you’re vegan there are also plenty of yogurt alternatives like hemp yogurt, soy yogurt, and coconut yogurt. As long as the yogurt has yogurt cultures in the mix you’re good to get your metabolism going, your gut and intestines clean from toxic bacteria, and your skin and hair looking good. When your body is clean on the inside, it’s even cleaner on the outside. Some of us are more sensitive to toxins than others and it often shows too clearly on our skin, scalp and locs.
All of the yogurt options mentioned above, from milk based to plant based, are rich in protein, probiotics which strengthen your immune system, and calcium. You can feel how clean and healthy yogurt is when you eat it in the morning, it’s just greasing your chain in all the right ways.
Many recommend topical yogurt treatments for dry skin and hair. When you find yourself on the clean eating path, you begin to realize how most of the ingredients you are ingesting can also be used topically, for added benefits and treatments.
Like honey for instance, is also known to work magic on skin and hair, though you may not want to take the risks getting honey out of your locs. If you’re having skin problems, raw honey or Manuka honey (which is dangerously expensive coming all the way from New Zealand’s Manuka trees) will naturally repair skin cells and relieve skin disorders like rosacea, psoriasis, and acne.
Honey will not only naturally sweeten your morning yogurt, but it's full of antioxidants, anti bacterial, and anti fungal properties. The word around many towns is that honey has been used to boost athletic performance, so it’s a great idea to add honey to your routine if you need the energy (who doesn’t?), plan on playing sports or, if you’re onto a morning exercise routine.
Nuts, also known as brain food, can be eaten to add some solid crunch to your yogurt bowl or, can be eaten all on its own. Not everyone wakes up with an eager appetite first thing in the morning, especially if you’re one of those who only gets out of bed when the coffee is ready. A small dose of nuts can help get your metabolism going, your brain sharp, and your skin and hair healthy. Nuts are said to help retain hair color and contain properties that conditions locs. Almonds for instance, are rich in omega 3 fatty acids and 6, which encourages blood flow to your scalp for strong, sheen and healthy looking locs. Their anti inflammatory properties along with their trunk-load of polyunsaturated and mono fatty acids, and vitamins, replenishes the scalp, reduces dandruff, and promotes healthy and happy hair growth. Plus, almonds are said to improve memory, which is just as important as having beautiful locs, right?
Blueberries, Strawberries and Kiwi- The beauty world is pretty wild for the berry right now, mostly for its anti aging properties, but also because they are naturally packed with loads of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, such as manganese and vitamin C, that are great for the hair and skin, not to mention their awesome colors. Blueberries for instance, are deliciously sour or sweet (depending on the season) but low in calories, for anyone out there anticipating summer. Blueberries anti inflammatory properties are said to reduce stress, and as we know, stress leads to dry scalp, hair and skin. The levels of vitamin B found in blueberries can increase hair growth, can prevent premature graying due to its anti aging properties, and works magic for overall loc health. So, why not make yourself a healthy fruit salad in the morning to get your energy levels up, your body healthy, and your beauty naturally beautified?
Seeds and Oils chia seed, hemp seed/oil, flaxseed/oil, sunflower seeds, and pumpkin seeds are all low in fat and support healthy skin and locs. Flaxseed is absolutely an ingredient, in oil or crushed seed state, to add to your daily diet. Flaxseed is a rich rich source of omega 3 fatty acids, lignans, protein, calcium, zinc, iron and magnesium. All those awesome properties support stronger locs and a healthy scalp.The protein, zinc, iron, copper, alpha-linoleic acid aids in preventing hair loss and promotes healthy hair growth. Yes, and yes, and yes.
Oats- which can also be found in a yummy clustered granola body, can either be added to your yogurt or can be eaten as oatmeal with fruits, seeds, nuts, or nutritiously alone for healthy loc growth, morning goodness, and clean eating. The B complex vitamins, biotin, manganese, molybdenum, phosphorus, copper, and the high levels of zinc are key ingredients in healthy hair, skin and nail growth. Many believe hair loss, and premature greying is linked to a diet missing proper amounts of zinc.
Eggs are another healthy option for non-vegans out there. It is important to eat organic eggs if you want to actually absorb the good stuff without any of the bad stuff. Eggs are a high source of protein, biotin, iron, sulfur, zinc, selenium and B vitamins. It doesn't hurt to add an avocado to your breakfast benefits!
