Scientific studies

Brittle nail syndrome appears to abate with supplementation with a 2.5 mg dose of biotin daily or a 10 mg dose of silica daily.⁵

With the use of scanning electron microscopy, a study in Switzerland demonstrated a 25 percent increase in nail plate thickness and a reduction in nail splitting in patients who took a biotin supplement.⁶

Another study showed that biotin supplementation increased nail thickness by 25 percent in the majority of participants (63 percent) who had brittle nails. Nearly all patients had improved hardness and firmness after taking 2.5 mg biotin daily for an average of 5.5 months.⁷

Biotin makes hair more manageable

Do you have uncombable hair syndrome? Apparently it’s not a joke, and even tends to run in families. If your hair is stringy, thin and matted, and gives you the “bad hair day” blues day after day, studies indicate that biotin can help improve its texture and manageability⁸ —which is why you’ll find it in the ingredient list of many hair care products. But it’s important to remember that what you take internally (in the form of food or a supplement, for instance) will have a greater influence on the development of the actual hair shaft than what you apply topically.

Why do you need a biotin supplement?

Since biotin is a water-soluble vitamin it may be lost in the water used in cooking. Relatively high doses (2.5 mg/day) are necessary in order to see a difference in your hair and nails. The main food sources of biotin include egg yolk, soybeans, organ meats, yeast, cheese, barley, chard, tomatoes, romaine lettuce, and carrots. Also, almonds, chicken eggs, onions, cabbage, cucumber, cauliflower, goat’s milk, cow’s milk, raspberries, strawberries, halibut, oats, and walnuts. A biotin deficiency can contribute to depression, nervous system abnormalities, premature gray hair and hair loss, and also dry, scaly, wrinkled skin.

3. N-Acetyl Cysteine—(also referred to as NAC) is an amino acid and a precursor to glutathione, one of the body’s most important antioxidants. NAC assists in the formation of protein and collagen, and is an important component of your hair, nails, and skin, promoting a smooth texture and elasticity. NAC also helps strengthen the protective lining of the stomach and intestines, and is especially important for a healthy immune system.

Scientific studies

Two interesting studies show that NAC is a powerful supplement when used to protect against hair loss caused by toxic drugs.

In a study published in the International Journal of Oncology, NAC was shown to prevent hair loss in laboratory animals that were injected with doxorubicin, a drug normally given for cancer. Interestingly, NAC also resulted in the death of cancer cells.⁹

Another study showed that NAC protected against hair loss when it was given to laboratory animals prior to harsh chemical exposure.¹⁰

Why do you need an N-acetyl cysteine supplement?

Acetylcysteine converts to cysteine within the cell, acting as a precursor to glutathione and contributing to its regeneration. Unfortunately, cysteine is found only in small amounts in the diet.

The main food source for cysteine is egg yolk

A cysteine deficiency is rare, but supplementation with this amino acid can make a huge difference for individuals wishing to enhance their immune system, detoxify heavy metals, improve lung function, and protect against cataracts. Of course it is also essential for the healthy formation of hair, skin, and nails.

4. Inositol—is a member of the vitamin B complex. Inositol plays an important role in the health of cell membranes—especially in the brain, bone marrow, eyes, and intestines—where it helps regulate the contents of the cells. It also is essential for the transportation of fats from the liver to the cells, and the metabolism of fats, including cholesterol.

Inositol is said to promote the growth of healthy hair and helps prevent it from falling out. It is also helpful in preventing eczema.

Why do you need an inositol supplement?

Although it is highly soluble in water, inositol is not destroyed by heat in neutral, acid, and alkaline mediums. It is, however, destroyed by food-processing techniques, alcohol, and coffee.

The main food sources of inositol are liver, brewer’s yeast, dried lima beans, beef brain and heart, grapefruit, raisins, wheat germ, unrefined molasses, peanuts, and cabbage.

An inositol deficiency can contribute to alopecia (hair loss), patchy baldness, gastritis, hypertension, fatty infiltration in the liver, and eczema.

5. PABA—is the acronym for para-aminobenzoic acid, the “sunscreen vitamin” used in sunscreen products. Although it is commonly believed to be part of the B complex, it is not. Rather, it is a non-protein amino acid and powerful antioxidant that helps protect us against ultraviolet rays. It also assists in the manufacture of folic acid in the intestines, and acts as a co-enzyme in the breakdown and utilization of protein, and assists in the formation of red blood cells.

PABA has been linked to hair growth as well as reversing the graying of hair, but there haven’t been any reliable scientific studies done to date that illustrate this. People suffering from vitiligo, over-pigmentation of skin, or without pigment in some spots, have reported an improvement of the skin after taking PABA.

Supplementing the diet with PABA may restore gray hair to its original color if the graying was caused by stress or a nutritional deficiency.

Why do you need a PABA supplement?

Although your body synthesizes PABA, it may not be sufficient for maximum protection. PABA supplements can enhance its beneficial effects. Also, sulfa drugs may cause a deficiency of PABA.

The main food sources of PABA are molasses, brewer’s yeast, liver, whole grains, and eggs. A deficiency in PABA can contribute to premature graying of the hair, eczema, premature wrinkles, fatigue, irritability, depression, brain fogginess, dementia, arthritis and bursitis, headache, constipation, and other digestive disorders.

6. Vitamin C—is an unheralded champion when it comes to beauty from the inside out. It helps protect unsaturated fatty acids from being oxidized, therefore protecting their potency. Vitamin C is a protective vitamin essential to over-all body health, and it is especially important for neutralizing free radicals¹¹ and protecting the body from premature aging. It also helps in the production of collagen and maintenance of healthy skin and it promotes the healing of scar tissue.

Why do you need a vitamin C supplement?

There are two types of vitamin C … fat-soluble and water-soluble. Both are important so you want to be sure you get both types. Ascorbic acid is the water-soluble type and ascorbyl palmitate is the fat-soluble form of vitamin C.

One of the advantages of taking a nutritional supplement that contains ascorbyl palmitate and ascorbic acid is that you may require a smaller dosage because ascorbyl palmitate doesn’t flush out of your system as quickly as water-soluble vitamin C. More importantly, exciting new research done on laboratory animals and in vitro indicates that ascorbyl palmitate stimulates collagen synthesis at lower doses than ascorbic acid.^{12 13}

A deficiency of vitamin C may result in bleeding gums, swollen or painful joints, slow healing of wounds and fractures, the tendency to bruise or bleed in any part of the body, scurvy, and cardiovascular disease.

7. MSM—(methylsulfonylmethane) provides sulfur, which is integral to every cell in the body, and is needed for the production of collagen and keratin, building blocks of cartilage, tissue, hair, skin, and nails. MSM is commonly used as a nutritional supplement to help alleviate the pain and stiffness associated with osteoarthritis. But it is also valued as a “beauty mineral” because it helps keep your hair lustrous, your skin radiant, and your nails strong.

Why do you need an MSM supplement?

Much of the MSM found in unprocessed foods is lost in washing and cooking. Vegetarians who do not eat eggs are at particular risk for sulfur deficiency.

The main food sources of MSM are meat, poultry, fish, eggs and dairy, soybeans, turnips, dried beans, Brussels sprouts and kale.

A deficiency in MSM can contribute to hair, skin, and nail problems, heightened sensitivity to pain, gastrointestinal problems, arthritis, acne, allergies, and poor memory.

Beauty from the inside out

Beautiful skin goes along with beautiful hair and nails. And it all starts on the inside. If you want to be beautiful on the outside, you need to take care of what you put into your body, and make sure you’re getting all the nutrients you need for optimal health.

We’ve given you the main ingredients for beautiful hair and nails … and it’s fair to assume that you also want a glowing clear complexion. So here’s our last bit of advice: drink plenty of water, eat a healthy, low-fat, low-carb diet with plenty of fresh fruits and veggies and lean protein. And last but not least, consider adding hyaluronic acid to your daily health regimen.

This combination of hyaluronic acid (HA) and the all natural nutrients presented here helps to:

• Curb premature wrinkling
• Increase skin hydration
• Keep skin moist and smooth
• Boost skin elasticity
• Enhance collagen synthesis
• Nourish healthy skin cell growth
• Promote firm skin tone
• Support healthier joints

You now have the recipe for beautiful new hair, skin, and nails. Feel good, look beautiful, and enjoy life.

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References