Hair Products: Which Ones Are Really Natural?
Whether you see African hair products, Hair Products for curly hair, Black Hair Natural Products, Natural African Hair Product, etc., the natural hair market is increasingly becoming more and more crowded. Sadly, despite the growing number of products and “Natural Hair” specialist, defining what exactly makes a product “Natural” is still a little foggy.
Some products advertise that the application of their product would give you a “Natural Look” or it is a Natural conditioner for hair. These products often time contain a lot of “un-Natural” chemicals. Some are even very harmful.
Many products advertise that they have “Natural Ingredients”, and though they may contain some natural ingredients to a degree, chemicals may still be present. There are those products that are 100% natural.
It’s make up consisting of natural herbs, and fruits. The struggle with these products is the challenge of being 100% natural while being able to be bottled and preserved for mass distribution without spoiling.
Some gravitate toward the word “Natural” a little too much, because there are some natural ingredients, such as: petrochemicals that are not necessarily the best additive to use within some products.
The goal for most manufacturers is to create the best product for their consumer’s needs. Unfortunately, some find this difficult without using some chemicals. For instance, a shampoo that doesn’t have that sudsy effect is considered inferior to some consumers. Thus, the use of foaming agents.
Also, the issue of perseverance compels manufactures to include preservatives in their products in order to increase their product’s shelf life.
Cosmetic companies must also account for some people who may have allergies.
Therefore they use synthetic blends of certain ingredients. Jojoba oils and Aloe Vera are two natural ingredients that the synthetic versions are heavily used in place of the authentic additive.
Even though the new awareness of their natural beauty within African American people is becoming more widespread, the beauty of Natural products is that it is not reserved for specific genres.
After learning what is needed to style and maintain your hair texture finding a natural product should be a goal for everyone, African American, European, Latino, and Asian alike.
For a long time hair products and hair care has been predominantly a woman’s concern. Recently we are witnessing more men becoming enlightened on the proper upkeep of their hair. From long luxurious locs to brush cuts, in order to maintain health and beauty the correct care is needed.
There are products that resist the balding, flaking, and dry scalp that many negligent men suffer from. Bald gentlemen are recognizing that even their bald heads need the right amount of moisture and UV protection.
The Hidden Truth on Acne Diet Exposed
Doctors have been telling us that food has nothing to do with acne; but I am afraid this is about to change. Although there are not many studies in establishing the correlation between food and acne, there is one interesting study done in Australia several years ago.
Acne and High Glycemic Diet
In 2007, the Australia’s Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) University and Royal Melbourne Hospital Department of Dermatology conducted a test on two groups of men. One group was given a low-glycemic diet which consisted of lean meat and whole grains. The other group consumed a wide range of high-glycemic index foods which resembled the typical modern diet. These included soda drinks, potato chips, white bread, and snacks.
After 12 weeks, the men with low-glycemic index diet had their acne reduced by 50%. Based on the result of this test, we can see that there is a strong relationship between food and acne.
Is it possible that changing your diet will improve your acne? And why avoiding simple carbohydrates can reduce the frequency of breakouts?
Why Simple Carbohydrates Can Trigger Acne
When you feed yourself with high carb foods, your blood sugar level increases dramatically. This triggers your pancreas to release more insulin to bring down your blood sugar level.
The increasing level of insulin will cause the sebaceous glands to produce more sebum. Sebum is your skin’s natural oil which keeps your skin hydrated and removes dead cells. It travels to the pores through hair follicles. When there is excess sebum in the pores, the P.acnes bacteria will flourish and clog the hair follicles. As a result, blackheads will develop.
There is another reason for the breakouts when consuming high glycemic foods. Insulin is one of the essential hormones in your body. When there is a spike in the insulin level, it will cause hormonal imbalance which also affects other hormones. In this case, even your androgen (male hormones) and growth hormones like insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) will also increase. These hormones will cause your sebaceous glands to release more sebum which lead to acne.
Nutritional Deficiency And Acne
How about deficiency in certain nutrients? Can this lead to acne?
According to Dr Susan C. Taylor, a dermatologist in New York, if you increase the intake of healthy foods, it will help your skin. In other words, healthy eating is required for blemish-free skin.
If you are not eating enough healthy foods, you may deprive your body of getting enough vitamin A, C, E, B6, B12, B1, zinc, and iron. These vitamins are important in keeping your skin healthy and acne-free.
You may be skeptical at this point. How would a daily nutritious diet improve your skin?
A study was done on the tribal people in Papua New Guinea and Paraguay in 2002. Based on the records in the Archives of Dermatology, these people ate only natural foods that they gathered in the jungle and rivers. Surprisingly, they did not have any acne, probably because their diet was rich in fibers and high in nutritional value. Unlike the typical American diet, you also notice that they didn’t consume lots of sugary foods.
You can blame your diet for the cause of acne. However, not every one will experience the same impact. Some victims may be sensitive to certain foods while others may not have any acne with the same foods. But you can be rest assured that a healthy diet can determine the condition of your skin.
Your Modern Day Diet May Be The Problem
If you look at your diet today, you will agree with me that most grains are processed. They are lacking in fiber and essential nutrients for the skin. Furthermore, you probably do not eat enough fruits and vegetables every day to provide your body with enough amount of antioxidants, vitamins and minerals. The rising portion of processed foods in your eating habit, especially those with high level of omega-6, will have a significant negative impact on your skin.
So how do you address the lack of nutrients in your diet so that you can have clear skin? Obviously you need to exclude certain foods that are not going to help your acne and include foods that are beneficial for your skin.
How to Cure Acne Naturally
Usually characterized by red pimples, pustules and blackheads, acne is a skin problem caused by an overproduction of sebum. When this oily substance builds up, it blocks and infects pores. Increased sebum production is often due to hormonal imbalances, like during PMS or when women are on the birth control pill. Blood toxins from poor diet or a sluggish liver can also increase acne, as well as food sensitivities or intolerance.
Natural remedies for acne: Healing Nutrition
Your diet should focus on different kind of foods:
- Foods with a high-fibre content that is going to help cleanse your body
- Lots of fruits due to their high water content and nutrients
- Foods rich in zinc to help heal tissues
- Foods that contain essential fatty acids
Avoid:
- All forms of sugar if acne is linked to a glucose intolerance or candidiasis.
- Processed foods since they can damage your skin and collagen, due to their low content of enzymes. Enzymes are very important for proper digestion.
- Processed foods also contain high levels of iodine, which is known to worsen outbreaks. Be careful with high iodine content foods such as fish, kelp, and onions.
Natural remedies for acne: Supplements
Nutrients have many benefits in terms of overall state of health. Skin nutrients are primarily found in foods, hence the necessity to have a proper diet. Unfortunately, the poor quality of soil depletes our food from vital nutrients. A good nutritional program through a healthy diet and supplements, aims at strengthening your immune system and giving your body the nutrients it needs to function better.
Here is a list of nutrients that could be beneficial for your skin condition:
- Beta-carotene and vitamin A are essential for tissue repair and maintenance
- Chromium helps reduce infection of the skin
- Zinc aids in healing tissues (most acne sufferers are deficient in zinc)
- Selenium enhances the action of vitamin E
- Essential fatty acids (especially GLA) can lower the body’s production of sebum
- Lecithin helps to absorb EFAs
- Vitamin E helps prevent scarring and enhances the action of vitamin A
- Complex B vitamins combat the effect of stress
- Vitamin C helps fight against infections
- Vitamin D3 promotes tissue repair
- Fibre helps keep the colon clear
- Probiotics fight against infection and reduces outbreaks.
- Enzymes aids in digestion (most acne sufferers are deficient in pancreatic digestive enzymes)
- Nutritional yeast helps reduce oiliness
- Colloidal silver is a natural antibiotic
- Potassium (most acne sufferers are deficient in potassium)
- Garlic destroys bacteria
- Chlorophyll cleanses the blood
- Niacinamide aids circulation and helps repair the skin.
- Chromium helps with sugar balance