Hair despair: how to avoid it and have great looking locks the  natural way

Hair despair: how to avoid it and have great looking locks the natural way

Most of us would love to have a full head of thick, shiny Rapunzel worthy hair. Our genes are partly responsible for hair growth and loss, as well as condition and quality. But there are other factors in our lives that can also have a negative effect on hair quality and growth, causing our hair to become weak, dry, lacklustre, or triggering hair loss. These factors can include nutrient deficiencies, stress, hormonal changes, poor circulation, thyroid problems and even over-brushing.

Here are our top tips to encourage optimal hair growth and condition, taking you from hair despair to magnificent mane in 10 easy steps:

Protein Power
Keratin, a substance that provides the strength and structure of hair, is a protein, and our body makes it from the proteins that we eat. So to ensure you have strong hair, eat a variety of protein-containing foods every day: meat, fish, eggs, beans and lentils, nuts and seeds, and dairy products are all good examples. Swap your morning cereal for scrambled eggs on whole grain toast and add a handful of nuts or seeds to your porridge.

Harmonise your hormones
Most women experience some hair loss as they get older. Balancing your hormones can help to minimise these changes. Diet, lifestyle and exercise can make a big difference here. Herbs such as black cohosh and red clover can also help balance hormone levels naturally. Try vegan friendly, Flavanon 4. Taking a little helping hand from Mother Nature, Quest has harnessed the natural healing powers of the red clover, which is used in both traditional Chinese and Western Folk medicine, to help balance oestrogen levels safely and simply.

Keep grey at bay with Biotin
Biotin is one of the B vitamins and its deficiency has been linked to greying and hair loss, and it is thought to be so vital primarily because of its role in the manufacturing of proteins, including as keratin. Specific biotin-rich foods include brown rice, soya beans, lentils, barley and oats, as well as nuts and seeds such as walnuts, pecans, almonds and sunflower seeds. So a breakfast of wholegrain oat porridge with plenty of nuts and seeds added is not only a good way to get protein, but also a fantastic biotin-booster.

Healthy fats for healthy hair
If you have dry, brittle hair, or a dry or scaly scalp, you could be deficient in essential fatty acids. As most of us know, fat is not all bad, and the essential fats have many vital roles in the body including maintenance of healthy skin, scalp and glossy hair. Oily fish, raw seeds and nuts, cold-pressed flaxseed oil and avocadoes all supply good levels of healthy fats. Try a mashed avocado with lemon juice and black pepper on a slice of toast for a healthy hair-loving snack. Not a fan of fish? Try taking regularly Quest Vitamins’ Super Omega 3-6-9 to boost your Omega levels.

Ditch the sugar
Sugar is an ‘anti-nutrient’, meaning it provides no nutritional benefits of its own, and actually uses up nutrients in the body to process it, including those that you need for healthy hair. Refined carbohydrates such as white bread, pasta, white rice and anything else made with white flour have a similar effect, as they have had all the vital nutrients stripped away from them, and are quickly absorbed and turned into sugar in the blood. So replace your afternoon biscuit with a piece of fruit and a few nuts.

Iron for strong locks
One of the primary causes of hair loss in women before menopause is low levels of iron. This results in loss and thinning of the hair all over the scalp, although it can be worse on the top. If this matches your symptoms, ask your doctor to test your ferritin levels (ferritin is the ‘storage’ form of iron in the body): anything below 40 ng/ml can trigger hair loss, even if this is not considered to be below the ‘normal’ range. The best sources of iron are meats, beans and lentils, green leafy vegetables and seeds such as sunflower and pumpkin seeds. You may also need an iron supplement if you are found to be deficient. Go for Once A Day Iron Plus.

Circulation, circulation, circulation
One of the reasons for hair loss and poor hair quality can simply be reduced circulation to the scalp, meaning fewer nutrients are available to the hair follicles. Vitamin C and bioflavonoids in fruits and vegetables can support healthy blood vessels, so make sure you get at least your five-a- day, if not seven or ten! Spices such as ginger, cinnamon and cayenne can also stimulate the circulation and are great winter warmers to boot. Regular exercise is important to boost the circulation too, as well as for its many other health benefits.

Keep it natural
Some chemicals in hair treatment products can cause a reaction on the scalp, which affects hair growth and quality. Some chemicals can also be drying for the hair. Look for more natural alternatives at your health food store.

Avoid drastic weight loss diets
Very low-calorie diets are a common trigger of hair loss. Low-calorie diets often do not provide enough essential fats and protein, vitamins and minerals to nourish the hair. If you need to lose weight, it can be far better to choose a healthy eating plan such as a low-GL (low glycaemic load) diet, and make sure you are including protein with every meal and a source of essential fats every day. Taking a multivitamin and mineral can also support your nutrient levels while you are losing weight.

100 brushes a day?
It may go against the old wives tale, but too much brushing can actually break the hair and cause more to fall out. Never brush your hair when it’s wet – use a wide-tooth comb instead, or ideally leave it to dry naturally before brushing. Tight ponytails or other hairstyles that pull on the hair can also affect its condition and increase hair loss, so avoid these if you can. Ensuring you have regular trims – especially if you have long hair – also reduces breakage and hair loss.[:eu]Most of us would love to have a full head of thick, shiny Rapunzel worthy hair. Our genes are partly responsible for hair growth and loss, as well as condition and quality. But there are other factors in our lives that can also have a negative effect on hair quality and growth, causing our hair to become weak, dry, lacklustre, or triggering hair loss. These factors can include nutrient deficiencies, stress, hormonal changes, poor circulation, thyroid problems and even over-brushing.

Here are our top tips to encourage optimal hair growth and condition, taking you from hair despair to magnificent mane in 10 easy steps:

Protein Power
Keratin, a substance that provides the strength and structure of hair, is a protein, and our body makes it from the proteins that we eat. So to ensure you have strong hair, eat a variety of protein-containing foods every day: meat, fish, eggs, beans and lentils, nuts and seeds, and dairy products are all good examples. Swap your morning cereal for scrambled eggs on whole grain toast and add a handful of nuts or seeds to your porridge.

Harmonise your hormones
Most women experience some hair loss as they get older. Balancing your hormones can help to minimise these changes. Diet, lifestyle and exercise can make a big difference here. Herbs such as black cohosh and red clover can also help balance hormone levels naturally. Try vegan friendly, Flavanon 4. Taking a little helping hand from Mother Nature, Quest has harnessed the natural healing powers of the red clover, which is used in both traditional Chinese and Western Folk medicine, to help balance oestrogen levels safely and simply.

Keep grey at bay with Biotin
Biotin is one of the B vitamins and its deficiency has been linked to greying and hair loss, and it is thought to be so vital primarily because of its role in the manufacturing of proteins, including as keratin. Specific biotin-rich foods include brown rice, soya beans, lentils, barley and oats, as well as nuts and seeds such as walnuts, pecans, almonds and sunflower seeds. So a breakfast of wholegrain oat porridge with plenty of nuts and seeds added is not only a good way to get protein, but also a fantastic biotin-booster.

Healthy fats for healthy hair
If you have dry, brittle hair, or a dry or scaly scalp, you could be deficient in essential fatty acids. As most of us know, fat is not all bad, and the essential fats have many vital roles in the body including maintenance of healthy skin, scalp and glossy hair. Oily fish, raw seeds and nuts, cold-pressed flaxseed oil and avocadoes all supply good levels of healthy fats. Try a mashed avocado with lemon juice and black pepper on a slice of toast for a healthy hair-loving snack. Not a fan of fish? Try taking regularly Quest Vitamins’ Super Omega 3-6-9 to boost your Omega levels.

Ditch the sugar
Sugar is an ‘anti-nutrient’, meaning it provides no nutritional benefits of its own, and actually uses up nutrients in the body to process it, including those that you need for healthy hair. Refined carbohydrates such as white bread, pasta, white rice and anything else made with white flour have a similar effect, as they have had all the vital nutrients stripped away from them, and are quickly absorbed and turned into sugar in the blood. So replace your afternoon biscuit with a piece of fruit and a few nuts.

Iron for strong locks
One of the primary causes of hair loss in women before menopause is low levels of iron. This results in loss and thinning of the hair all over the scalp, although it can be worse on the top. If this matches your symptoms, ask your doctor to test your ferritin levels (ferritin is the ‘storage’ form of iron in the body): anything below 40 ng/ml can trigger hair loss, even if this is not considered to be below the ‘normal’ range. The best sources of iron are meats, beans and lentils, green leafy vegetables and seeds such as sunflower and pumpkin seeds. You may also need an iron supplement if you are found to be deficient. Go for Once A Day Iron Plus.

Circulation, circulation, circulation
One of the reasons for hair loss and poor hair quality can simply be reduced circulation to the scalp, meaning fewer nutrients are available to the hair follicles. Vitamin C and bioflavonoids in fruits and vegetables can support healthy blood vessels, so make sure you get at least your five-a- day, if not seven or ten! Spices such as ginger, cinnamon and cayenne can also stimulate the circulation and are great winter warmers to boot. Regular exercise is important to boost the circulation too, as well as for its many other health benefits.

Keep it natural
Some chemicals in hair treatment products can cause a reaction on the scalp, which affects hair growth and quality. Some chemicals can also be drying for the hair. Look for more natural alternatives at your health food store.

Avoid drastic weight loss diets
Very low-calorie diets are a common trigger of hair loss. Low-calorie diets often do not provide enough essential fats and protein, vitamins and minerals to nourish the hair. If you need to lose weight, it can be far better to choose a healthy eating plan such as a low-GL (low glycaemic load) diet, and make sure you are including protein with every meal and a source of essential fats every day. Taking a multivitamin and mineral can also support your nutrient levels while you are losing weight.

100 brushes a day?
It may go against the old wives tale, but too much brushing can actually break the hair and cause more to fall out. Never brush your hair when it’s wet – use a wide-tooth comb instead, or ideally leave it to dry naturally before brushing. Tight ponytails or other hairstyles that pull on the hair can also affect its condition and increase hair loss, so avoid these if you can. Ensuring you have regular trims – especially if you have long hair – also reduces breakage and hair loss.

5 Steps to Smooth Skin

5 Steps to Smooth Skin

Are you struggling with uneven complexion, breakouts, dry patches and irritation? In 5 simple steps you can tweak your lifestyle and skincare habits this winter to help smooth your skin and give you a healthy complexion.

No sugar, please!

You could be spending hundreds of pounds on expensive creams but if your diet is packed with sugar, you might as well forget about smooth skin.

Sugar not only affects general health but it can also ruin our skin. How? Firstly, sugary and processed foods contain little in the way of vitamins and minerals that nourish and protect the skin.

Secondly, sugar and refined carbohydrates (which are quickly absorbed, just like sugar) cause a surge of the hormone insulin, which can then increase your levels of testosterone, which in turn can contribute to breakouts and acne.

And finally, high levels of sugar in the blood can increase the rate of a process called glycation. This occurs when sugar molecules bind to proteins or fats, making them stiff and inflexible. One of the proteins affected is collagen and this can result in loss of elasticity of the skin, encouraging the formation of wrinkles.

Curb your sugar cravings with our Equigluco that contains chromium and green coffee extract to boost your metabolism.

Smoked salmon, anyone?

As well as being necessary for our heart, brain and eye health, omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids play an essential role in the structure and appearance of the skin. They are incorporated into cell membranes in the epidermis (the top layer of skin) and form a matrix around the cells, helping to maintain the skin’s barrier function and prevent moisture loss.

They are also thought to have a role in the dermis – the lower layer of skin – by controlling inflammation and minimising collagen damage from UV rays. So if you can, be sure to eat a good serving of oily fish such as salmon, mackerel and sardines three times a week. It’s also beneficial to take a good quality supplement. Go for our Super Omega 3-6-9.

Stress: Guilty as charged

Not only frowning all the time make you less approachable, but stress can actually affect the quality of your skin too. Anxiety can be causing wrinkles, blotchy patches and spots. One reason for this is that high levels of cortisol (the stress hormone) in the blood can contribute to other hormone imbalances – for example in oestrogen and testosterone – which can then lead to pimples and outbreaks.

Apart from triggering a number of other changes in your body, cortisol boosts sebum production, which can lead to blocked up hair follicle and acne. That’s why after an exam we often end up with a few new spots.

Apart from breakouts, stress can also lead to dryness or even eczema. According to a study in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology, women, who are experiencing high stress situations suffer with dehydrated and irritated skin.
Less is more
Every day the average woman exposes her skin to a multitude of chemicals and unnatural substances in the cosmetics and skincare products she uses. As well as having a potential impact on overall health and wellness, many of these chemicals can irritate the skin, even causing issues like eczema or dermatitis.

Thankfully, there are now plenty of natural products on the market. Look for those made with the highest percentage of natural, organic, plant-based ingredients and that are free from some of the most damaging chemicals including synthetic fragrances, parabens, sodium lauryl sulphate and harsh detergents.

Look no further than in your kitchen cupboard for extra help. For sensitive and even acne-prone skins, natural pure oils such as extra virgin coconut oil or jojoba oil can be the gentlest option for cleansing and moisturising.

Essential oils

If you have irritated, dry or damaged skin, it has to be soothed first. Essential oils are your best friends – packed with vitamins, amino acids and anti oxidants they not only smooth fine lines but also heal blemishes and irritations at the same time.

Which oils to chose? Aloe Vera, often called a ‘miracle plant’, has been used in herbal medicine for over 2,000 years. It’s mainly known from its healing properties, as it kills certain bacteria and reduces inflammation. It is also a great anit-oxidant, which means it protects skin from free radical damage. Tea Tree oil destroys bacteria like nothing else does – it penetrates blockages between your skin and glands, it clears clogged pores and dries out stubborn blackheads. Lemon essential oil can help to rejuvenate tired-looking skin and brighten complexion.