Changes in skin and hair can provide clues to the presence of an underlying vitamin deficiency. Hair & Skin ultimately reflects the overall condition of the body.

Micronutrient deficiencies (MNDs) commonly lead to cutaneous abnormalities involving the skin, hair, nails and overall health. These cutaneous manifestations often provide clues to the existence of the underlying deficiency and may be present in at-risk individuals who have impaired absorption or poor dietary intake. The micronutrients that most commonly present with cutaneous findings include the B vitamins riboflavin, niacin, pyridoxine, biotin, and vitamin B12; vitamin C; the fat-soluble vitamins A, E, and K; the minerals zinc, iron, copper, and selenium; and essential fatty acids.

Over 147 million people are suffering from hair & skin-related problems worldwide and more than 50 per cent of males and females suffer due to MNDs. Parallelism factors of micronutrient deficiencies are lifestyle choices, unhealthy eating, adulterated foods, low-quality supplements, unbalanced diet, environmental changes, stress-induced schedules, polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) & ageing.

Problems related to Hair & Skin have hiked more than 40% with every year passing. Kids, teens, adults & people above 40 look for more hair & skin solutions which are natural yet advanced.

"We deliver nature's vitamins, minerals & micro-nutrients for hair, skin & health"

Nuts and seeds are extremely nutrient-dense. They provide generous amounts of calories, fats, complex carbohydrates, protein, vitamins, minerals and fibre. Trace minerals like magnesium, zinc, selenium and copper are important but may be under-consumed in today’s largely processed western diet, and even in some plant-based diets. Nuts and seeds are a reliable and delicious source of these essential nutrients. Plus, more than just a way to meet basic nutrient needs, nuts and seeds have been shown to protect against several disease.

Phytochemicals, bioactive compounds that help fight illness, Nuts and seeds include ellagic acid, flavonoids, phenolic compounds, luteolin, isoflavones and tocotrienols. Nuts also contain plant sterols, thought to help keep cholesterol levels in check and reduce cancer risk.

The U.S. government is jumping on the bandwagon and encouraging us to eat more. In 2003, the FDA approved a health claim for nuts and heart disease, "Scientific evidence suggests, that eating 1.5 ounces per day of most nuts as part of a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol may reduce the risk of heart disease.”

Much to the chagrin of US vegans and vegetarians, the USDA continues to lump nuts and seeds in the same food group as meats, poultry and fish, reasoning that they are all good protein sources and nuts and seeds are known to protect health unlike meat for damaging health. The USDA’s 2005 Dietary Guidelines and Food Guide Pyramid reveal that nuts and seeds are highly recommended as a natural foods as, “Some nuts and seeds (flax, walnuts) are excellent sources of essential fatty acids, and some (sunflower seeds, almonds, hazelnuts) are good sources of vitamin E.”

There is a lot to love about nuts and seeds—they're packed with vitamins, antioxidants and minerals. In addition to providing several benefits for your health such as reducing inflammation, supporting good metabolism and improving your focus, they're superfoods for your skin and hair because of their healthy dose of micronutrients, and healthy fats that promote cell regeneration. Says, Mumbai based dermatologist Dr Pallavi Sule and nutritionist Karishma Chawla.

Almonds are rich in magnesium, riboflavin, and vitamin-e and are a good source of fibre, phosphorus and protein, says Chawla. “Oxidative damage in the body contributes to cell damage by inflammation leading to ageing. Inflammation also results in skin diseases like acne, eczema, psoriasis, and hair fall," she says. Almonds are rich in mono-saturated acids too and are chock-full of Vitamin E, which keeps skin moisturised and balanced from the inside out (Dr Sule adds).

According to Chawla, Brazil nuts are an excellent source of magnesium, phosphorus, and selenium and also provide thiamin. “Selenium helps to fight oxidative damage by increasing levels of the enzyme glutathione peroxidase," says Dr Sule. This helps to combat oxidative damage and reduces inflammation. Brazil nuts improves skin elasticity by keeping it hydrated and help maintain healthy hair and nails because it fuels protein enzymes.

Chia seeds are high in fibre, magnesium and phosphorus. They aid digestion too, says Chawla, which improves skin balance.

"Walnuts are rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids, omega 3 fatty acids. The high levels of Vitamin B complex moisturise the skin and reduces the look of fine lines."

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"Pumpkin seeds, a source of magnesium, manganese and phosphorus, these tiny seeds improve focus and boost your immunity levels. “Pumpkin seeds are also a good source of iron, protein and zinc,” says Chawla. Dr Sule suggests that you add these flat green-coloured seeds to your daily diet as they are high in proteins and polyunsaturated fatty acids. "Its high levels of squalene and Vitamin E protect the skin from UV damage and other radiations,” reveals Dr Sule. Pumpkin seeds are great for hair growth because they can inhibit the enzyme responsible for slowing it down. Its anti-inflammatory effects are important too. Inflammation can interfere with signalling molecules that control the shedding process of the hair, pushing follicles into the resting phase before it needs to be.

Changes in skin and hair can provide clues to the presence of an underlying vitamin deficiency. Hair ultimately reflects the overall condition of the body.

NUTRITION AND HAIR-LOSS Dr Tabassum Salim MBBS World Trichology Society

Hair nutrition is therefore a vital part of any treatment regime when formulating a nutritional supplement for hair due to many factors that affect the eventual efficacy of the treatment. The essential omega-3 fatty acids, protein, vitamin B12, and iron prevents a dry scalp and dull hair colour. Protein to promote hair growth. A deficiency in biotin intake can cause brittle hair and can lead to hair loss. Nuts containing high sources of selenium are important for a healthy scalp. Alpha-linoleic acid and zinc are also found in some nuts and help condition the hair and prevent hair shedding that can be caused due to lack of zinc. Protein deficiencies or low-quality protein can produce weak and brittle hair, and can eventually result in loss of hair colour. A balanced diet is necessary for a healthy scalp and hair.

Nutritional deficiency may impact both hair structure and hair growth. Effects on hair growth include acute telogen effluvium (TE), a well-known effect of sudden weight loss or decreased protein intake, as well as the diffuse alopecia seen in niacin deficiency. Studies have also reported potential associations between nutritional deficiency and chronic TE, androgenetic alopecia (AGA), female pattern hair loss (FPHL), and alopecia areata. Zinc’s role in the Hedgehog signalling pathway is a critical component in the pathways that govern hair follicle morphogenesis. Iron deficiency (ID) is the world’s most common nutritional deficiency and is a well-known cause of hair loss. Zinc’s role as an essential component of numerous metalloenzymes is important in protein synthesis and cell division. Hair follicle matrix cells are some of the most rapidly dividing cells in the body, and they may contribute to hair loss via their role as a cofactor for ribonucleotide reductase, the rate-limiting enzyme for DNA synthesis.

A study conducted at Harvard University suggests that - biotin is one of the most important nutrients for preserving hair strength, texture, and function.

Biotin, or vitamin H, serves as a cofactor for carboxylation enzymes. Symptoms of deficiency include eczematous skin rash, alopecia, and conjunctivitis. Biotin is necessary for the proper metabolism of protein, fat, and carbohydrates. Over time, poor metabolism of nutrients can contribute to undernourished hair follicle cells. The vitamin B complex includes eight (8) water-soluble vitamin substances—thiamine (B1), riboflavin (B2), niacin (B3), pantothenic acid (B5), vitamin B6, biotin (B7), folate and vitamin B12—that aid in cell metabolism. Only riboflavin, biotin, folate, and vitamin B12 deficiencies have been associated with hair loss. Vitamin E is involved in the oxidant-antioxidant balance and helps to protect against free radical damage. Vitamin E is too crucial for hair & skin health.

A good multivitamin can be a foundation of health and nutrition. Changes in skin and hair can provide clues to the presence of an underlying vitamin deficiency. Hair ultimately reflects the overall condition of the body. In health problems or nutritional deficiencies hair may stop growing or become brittle. If a body is in good health, it is possible to maximize the genetic growth cycle by taking the proper blend of amino acids and B vitamins. Vitamins, minerals and amino acids are crucial to the metabolic pathways involved in keratin protein (hair) metabolism leading to a potential loss of hair and substantial degradation of hair health.

There is a rather adequate research basis to justify product effectiveness claims for a vitamin, mineral and amino-acid complex designed to supply the nutrients needed by healthy skin & growing hair.

Superfoods: Recent Data on their Role in the Prevention of Diseases Charalampos Proestos* Department of Chemistry, Laboratory of Food Chemistry, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens

The beneficial properties of functional foods are due to their content of bioactive ingredients, with specific biological properties and effects within the human body. This is the reason why there is an ever-increasing trend, particularly in India, Europe and USA.

The most important bioactive components of superfoods (nuts & seeds) which have been proven to be beneficial to the human body are polyunsaturated fatty acids (ω-3, ω-6), vitamins, minerals, probiotic micro-organisms, antioxidants, essential amino acids, polysaccharides and various enzymes for hair, skin and overall health benefits as natural immunity boosters, improve your focus, promote satiety and heart health, aid thyroid plus includes lowering the risk of high blood pressure, high cholesterol, abdominal fat, cancer, heart disease, and lung disease.

Some bioactive constituents of nuts & seeds, such as tocopherols, phytosterols, folic acid, selenium, and magnesium, are purported to have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory or anti-carcinogenetic properties for the body.