MSM for great Skin, Hair and Nails

MSM (Methylsulfonylmethane) is an organic form of sulfur which is in present in many fresh foods and vegetables as well as cells of the human body but over processing of foods results in a loss of these compounds which is why it is beneficial to take a supplement. 

Make Hair/Nails Grow Faster

I drink one teaspoon of MSM powder mixed with water when I want my hair to grow long quickly and to recover my nails after they have chipped. When you start drinking this regularly you will notice your hair and nails grow a lot faster and healthier as well as an improvement in your skin. 

Skin benefits

MSM helps keep the skin soft and supple which means that it stays more hydrated and prevents stretch marks, wrinkles and acne. 

How to Take It

If you are a first time user of MSM then start taking it slowly as it will detox your body by enabling cells and tissues to release toxins therefore if you go too quickly too soon you may break out in small white heads like I did initially. Your liver cannot manage all of the toxins at once so go easy on yourself and read the instructions of any MSM supplement that you buy. The best form to take it in is as a powder but it comes in many forms such as capsules, flakes etc. and you can add it to flavoured drinks if you don't like the taste (not particularly a pleasant taste, be warned). As it is a naturally occurring compound, you cannot overdose on it and your body will expel any Sulphur that it doesn't need if you do overdo it.

What a lack of Sulfur does to the body

If your body does not get enough Sulfur then it will be unable to repair and respond to damaged tissues and this may in turn cause illness and disease. Deficiencies are thought to be related to arthritis, memory loss, acne, and skin, hair and and nail problems, and can weaken your immune system. 

MSM is taken by people for a number of reasons e.g. to reduce joint pain but again, it is also great if you want to take it for aesthetic reasons. If you want to buy this then make sure you read the quality of the MSM as that is very important, the most popular and highest rated brands are OptiMSM and Pure MSM. I personally buy Holland & Barretts range (I sound like i'm plugging them a lot on my blog, but they do stock a lot of supplements and are conveniently located), but go ahead, give it a try and let me know how it's working for you! 

Teas for Clear Skin

Hi All,

I have some great tips for healthy, clear skin and you'll be surprised to know that it doesn't cost a lot. Teas for me are the best way to get rid of spots and blemishes quickly and I have experimented these on other people and have asked them to look at their skin the following day after drinking and the reactions have been positive. One colleague I used to work with had severe acne so I told him to drink Nettle Tea (yes, it is stinging nettle but it doesn't sting when you drink it!) and the next day - his skin was 50% clearer. Ok, so these are the teas I would recommend if you want to see a clearer complexion the next day:

Organic Nettle - I usually buy the 'Heath & Heather' brand from Holland & Barrett but 'Clipper' also do a good brand and both only cost about £1.35 for a box of 25. I find organic is better but if you can find some nettle growing in the wild, feel free to boil it to make your own homemade tea. 

Lemongrass - This is a great Asian herb and is normally used in Thai or Asian foods but you can buy this fresh from the supermarket and boil it to make your own tea or you can buy it in teabags. The brand I like is Heath & Heather's Green Tea with Lemongrass, it only contains 20% of Lemongrass but if you are a first time drinker you will really notice the difference the next day. It aids digestions and calms the nervous system and is often used to treat acne. 



Lemon - I normally drink a whole squeezed lemon with warm water first thing in the morning and find that my skin glows. When drank within 30 minutes of squeezing, the lemon alkalises the body which is beneficial for good health. 

I am sure these can all be bought as supplements too but I find that teas are more fresh, natural and a good alternative to coffee or a builder's tea. 

So if you want great skin and want to cleanse from the inside out then try these teas I recommend and let me know if it's working for you too!