A couple weekends ago, hubby and I were enjoying a leisurely walk downtown. Just as we were completing our rounds, we noticed that several vendor's were setting up a local farmer's market. My interest was immediately peaked as to what possible gem I could find among these local retailers.

We strolled between booths showcasing hand crafted jewelry, home made aprons, specialty pet goodies, etc. Then I saw it, the bamboo booth. It was this humble little stand where a woman and her daughter were offering bamboo plants for sale. We've been looking for bamboo plants forever so we immediately made a beeline to see what the cost of the plants were. The three of us engaged in conversation about how to care for bamboo plants, the cost, and so forth. Then as my husband and the vendor start chatting, her daughter (who was probably 5 years old), comes to me and says this, "my mom drinks a lot of bamboo tea and it made her hair grow." All of the sudden I was brought back to my silica post. You may remember me stating that bamboo is one of the richest sources of silica occurring naturally. In fact, bamboo is a much more potent source of silica than horsetail.

Before the little girl said anything I to me, was only focused on the the plants. I didn't even pay attention to the tea they had available for sale. How did the little girl know that I was a certified hair lush? How did she know.....

Either way, I'm glad she said that cause my very next move was to buy a bag of tea leaves. She even had some tea fresh brewed tea available for consumption. We bought two cups of tea, a bag of leaves and we were on our way.

Bamboo tea is surprisingly light and easy to drink. It's made from the leaves of various bamboo plants. Served chilled, it's a great "summer" tea because of it's light taste. I normally don't sweeten my tea so at times I've had to endure bitterness associated with other teas I've tried. Bamboo tea, to me, has absolutely no bitterness whatsoever. Because of this, I know I'll be consuming tons of this in the days to come.

Because it's a loose tea, I have to employ my little handy dandy loose leaf tea pot. The process is pretty simple, I add the loose leaves to the pot, pour in the hot water and let rest take care of itself. I can usually steep the leaves several times, meaning once I've finished drinking what's in the pot, I just refill with hot water and start the process over.

Along with the rich supply of silica, bamboo tea leaf also contains dietary fiber. It's caffeine free unlike some of the other teas on the market. Plus add the fact that bamboo is a source of antioxidants. All in all, I would say this is a beverage of choice for anyone who is looking to support their skin and hair health. By the way, I just want to say that I've only suffered 2 breakouts since I've taking silica. In the past, I was always battling acne. Now, it's a rare occurrence, it once was the norm for me.


If you aren't into the whole "tea" thing, you can still opt to get your dose of bamboo silica in pill form. To be honest with you, bamboo tea leaves aren't as readily available for purchase as green or other more common leaves. You might be able to find bamboo shoots in a can in the ethnic food section of our local grocer. Either way, I think bamboo is a cost effective way to add silica into your regimen.

Would you guys be interested in a bamboo tea giveaway? Leave a comment below or post in the discussion section of the blog.

Part 3 of my "Morning by Morning" series features a breakfast that I absolutely love. I call it my loaded oatmeal. Because this mix has so many ingredients, I had to strategize a bit on how to consolidate some of them into one container. So I decided to manage my powders by placing them in a dispensing unit. When I saw this cake sprinkles shaker at the store I knew it would be perfect.



After taking it apart I realized that I would be able to store up to four different types of powdered products into one easy to use container.

First I added chia seeds into the mix. These little guys are packed with loads of nutrition such as omega 3s & 6, protein, fiber, calcium, potassium and more.

I also added some powdered fiber to the dispenser since I happen to have some available. This fiber mix tastes slightly sweet so it also helps to sweeten my oatmeal.

Along with the fiber I also included some powdered probiotics as well.


And viola! I still have one section open. I think I may try storing a green powder blend as well. This little shaker sames me tons of time when I'm preparing my oatmeal. Here you can see a pic of the finished product. There's my chia seeds next to macca root powder.

Now that I got that out of the way, I move on to my other ingredients. I put everything in this oatmeal including coconut oil, flax seed oil (tasteless), black strap molassess (iron), sliced almonds (vitamin e).

I start off by adding chia seed to the hot water. Chia expands in water so I put it in first to absorb what it needs to before I add the oatmeal. If I add the chia seeds last, they won't have enough time to soften.

Next I add the oatmeal, macca root powder, fiber/probiotics, oils, and almonds. I also put in a little black strap molasses which drastically changes the color of my loaded oatmeal while adding a nice taste to the mix.

Finally, I may add some dehydrated goji berries to the mix. They start to re-hydrate a little as the mix stand.


I usually don't eat this right away. I allow all the ingredients to get to know each other a little first. When I eat this mix, most of the individual components are undetectable. I was really worried about the macca root powder since it has such a distinct taste. In my loaded oatmeal, I can't taste the difference. Which makes this a great way to add any ingredients that I'm not keen on but I know will give me great benefits.

This meal is probably the most nutritious that I ever created. It's such wonderful a collaboration of healthy ingredients and essential nutrients. Plus, because of it's high fiber content, I'm pretty much full for most of the day when I eat this one bowl. A co-worker of mine saw me eating this blend every morning and was really curious. I told her everything I put in there and she kinda made a slight face. A week later, she told me she started eating oatmeal in the mornings for breakfast. If you are inspired by this post but can't get down with all the wacky ingredients, no worries. Just start with a simple bowl of oatmeal and add extra fruit or nuts. Maybe it's not oatmeal at all. Prior to my loaded oatmeal, I was adding almonds and chia seeds to my favorite cereal. What I love about this mix is how great I feel about what I was able to accomplish first thing in the morning. Even if I have a fast food dinner, I know that my body received an amazing dose of nutrition at the start of the day. I'm still on the lookout for other ingredients to add to my loaded oatmeal so if you have any suggestions, please share.

I'm continuing a series of 3 posts where I share some healthy options that I have implemented in the mornings to kick off my mornings. Often, it can be difficult to find nutritious meals during the day. Especially for those of us who eat 1 or 2 meals a day outside the home. Most of what is available to us isn't all that exceptional (nutritionally speaking). The truth is, if I were to say to myself, 'I want to have a meal that is packed with vitamins and antioxidents", I'd have to think long and hard before I came up with any viable options. That's why I chose to try and get a healthy meal in before I leave for the day.

Today, I'm sharing with you one of my favorite options. I buy a protein shake that already comes packed with lots of nutrients (according to the back label). But I figured, you can't get enough of a good thing so why not take it to the next level.

I start by opening the bottle and adding my own special ingredients. First, I mix a little flax seed oil into the drink. I love this because (unlike fish oils) flax seed has barely any taste at all! Plus it seems to be an ultra lite oil. After I mix in the flax seed, I shake up the bottle and there's no evidence of the oil. No separation, no oily taste, nothing. It's like I never even put any in there. Meanwhile, my drink is now chock full of omega 3 oils that my hair skin and nails will love.




Next I add my secret recipe for creating an ultra-powerful beauty tonic. You guys may already know about my affiliation with silica after learning about it's powerful benefits to our bodies. I purchased in gel form because I knew that I'd be more consistent mixing the silica in a liquid rather than taking the pill itself. When mixed in water, liquid silica tastes something like gritty chalk. When mixed in my protein shake, silica has no taste. The two make a perfect combination.


I'm one of those people that like everything spicy, even my drinks! Cayenne pepper is the third ingrediant I add to my tonic. Increased circulation is the name of the game and I want the protein, omega 3s and silica circulating all throughout my body as quickly as possible. That's why I always add ample cayenne. Unlike in my lemon water tonic the cayenne is a little less spicy when I add to this drink because the sugar content counter acts the capsaicin a bit. Plus it gives my drink a little bite and I like that....

These protein shakes come in a pack of four so I usually prepare all four at one time for the week. Sometimes I drink one daily, other times I have more than one in a day and there are times when I skip a day or even a week. There are no rules in this game we play, it's all about focusing on our progress. Can you ladies just imagine how beneficial a drink with vitamins, omega 3, and silica is to our health and beauty? I get all excited just thinking about it. As I said earlier, there are no rules so if you become inspired to create your own tonic feel free to experiment with what works for you. If constantly buying the pre-packaged protein shakes gets a bit too pricey, I switch up and substitute with almond milk which is loaded with vitamin e and other amazing awesomeness. If I get the almond milk, I just use my own bottle and add healthy booster just as I would normally.

I can't wait to share my part 3 of this series when I present the healthiest breakfast option I've created to date. Stay tuned....

I'm always trying to improve in the area of healthy eating. This desire better my eating habits comes from my love of salty, fried items. I have thing for french fries, fried fish, chips, etc. I've been really focused on balancing my unhealthy ways with better eating choices. A few years ago I decided eliminate chicken and read meat from my diet. You guys are already aware that I recently started juicing in the mornings. But there are times when juicing isn't practical in the mornings because of lack of time or if I don't have fresh veggies on hand. So I've come up with some alternative routines that I can follow that are still very healthy in their own right.

Today, I will share with you my lemon water morning routine. Some of you may have heard of this method before. Basically, on an empty stomach, I pour some room temperature spring water in a glass. When the water is room temperature, the body is better able to assimilate it.

Next I take a lemon and squeeze it into the water. Basically I make a simple lemonade with a bit of a twist.

You might be asking yourself, "what is with all that speckled stuff in the water?" That, my friends, is cayenne pepper. I add the cayenne pepper to help promote stimulation which is very beneficial first thing in the morning.

In the past I would sweeten my drink with a little honey or stevia. Now my palette is strong enough to handle this spicy drink without the help of natural sweeteners. So why would someone in their right mind drink a spicy, bitter, drink at room temperature? Because of all the amazing benefits.

First off, although lemons are acidic in nature, lemon water creates an alkaline environment in the body. Being alkaline is imperative if you want to experience optimal health. It's been said that cancer is unable to survive in an alkaline environment. Stress, toxins and a diet high in sweets, meats, dairy, trans fats, fried foods, white flour, etc, can contribute to acidity in the body. When our body becomes acidic, we start feeling symptoms like fatigue, dry skin and numerous other, more serious, side effects. I've tested my acidity levels in the past using pH strips and the times when I felt the worst, my body tested very acidic. On the other hand, there were times where I was living a healthy lifestyle and felt great! It was no surprise that my pH levels were more alkaline when I tested.

For a while I would invest time and money at a health food store that sold alkaline water by the gallon. That method was a little time consuming. I'd have to keep making runs to the health store because the water would decline in pH levels within a couple of days and lose it's potency. This lemon water mix does the job of alkalizing my body but I also receive nutritional benefits from the lemon like vitamin C, B6, copper, calcium, iron, and potassium.

Things get really interesting when I add the cayenne pepper to the mix. I drink cayenne because of the increased circulation benefits. Greater circulation creates improved blood flow and digestion. Capsaicin, the active ingredient in cayenne pepper, stimulates hair follicles which promotes hair growth. Starting the day off with a stimulating drink is just what the body needs early in the morning. It's been said that the body works while we sleep to detoxify the body. A glass of stimulating lemon water helps support your body's detoxification system by helping the toxins circulate out of the body.

The last few days have been really hot in my area. Because of this, my thoughts are now focused on how to stay as hydrated as possible as spring and summer begins to roll in. I feel like I have a hard enough time taking in adequate amounts of fluid on a daily basis. Now I've got to take my fluid intake to the next level.

Instead of lugging around tons of water with me, I've decided to consider "working smart" in the area of hydration. Along with drinking an adequate amount water, I've also included another super-drink to my routine. This beverage is the newest craze in healthy drinking although it's been around for centuries. The drink I'm speaking of is none other is coconut water.

In recent times, we've seen an increase of healthy available beverages such as pomegranate and acai juice. These juices offer us lots of good stuff like wonderful antioxidants but I'd also like to tell you all about the exciting and pretty amazing benefits of coconut water. When I did my research online I learned that coconut water is a "super hydrator" and contains minerals and electrolytes similar to that which is already present in the human blood. This means you can quickly replenish the nutrients lost from strenous activity or simply from sweating. Coconut water is so powerful that it's been used introvenously in emergency situations. And unlike some sports drinks out there, coconut water is an all natural solution to avoiding dehydration.

Although water is the ultimate drink of choice some folks are simply not into water all that much. So instead they opt for unhealthy alternatives such as juice, coffee or soda. If drinking a ton of water isn't your thing, I'd like to invite you to consider drinking coconut water as a second option. I've heard it called the purest liquid second only to water. The coconut has tons of wonderful properties such as being antibacterial and anti fungal. When you drink the clear fluid you benefit. Some say this refreshing beverage is beneficial for those who suffer urinary tract infections, kidney stones, and various other types of ailments.

Because of its nutritious properties, some companies have repackaged this age old drink and turned it into the latest craze in super-nutrition. In fact, celebrities like Madonna, Demi Moore and Matthew McConaughey have all invested in Vita Coco, a company that's bringing coconut water into the mainstream. Vita Coco is a little rich for my taste. Instead, I just reach for coconut water in cans at my local ethnic grocery store or at Walmart. I've decided to leverage this ultra healthy drink help me in my hair journey. One main reason is because coconut water contains more potassium than a banana, but without the high sugar levels. Our hair can suffer if we're not getting enough potassium. High salt diets can contribute to excess sodium to build up around the hair follicle. When this happens, beneficial nutrients aren't absorbed properly which could lead to hair loss. I'm also challenging myself to remain hydrated to help manage dandruff and other issues related to not taking in enough fluids.

Another thing I really like about coconut water is how well it masks the gritty taste and texture of the silica gel I've been taking. I just add a tablespoon to my glass of coconut water and I'm good to go! Next time you're out and an about, why not pick up a few cans of coco water as an alternative. At around $0.99 cents a can, it's really affordable for all the benefits you'll receive.

As of this moment, over a month has passed since I first began taking silica. As I mentioned in my previous post, I felt like I began experiencing positive results very quickly after I began taking the supplements. So now more than 30 days have gone by and I'd like to share an update of the benefits I've received from incorporating silica into my regimen.

Immediately after introducing silica into my routine, I paused my juicing practice. So for the past 30 days I haven't juiced once for fear of not being able to identify where my results where coming from. This way I could be confident that any benefit I received was directly attributed to silica. When I made my first silica purchase, I picked it up in pill form because that was all I could get my hands on. Shortly afterwards I placed an order online for silica gel so I could take this whole silica thing to the next level. Once the gel was in my clutches, it became my main focus. I used the pills whenever consuming the gel wasn't convenient like when I was traveling or on days when I simply forgot to take the gel. On a few occasions, I would even "double up" and take a pill and the gel in the same day.

So now, a month later, I'm ready to talk about my experience. As I mentioned in my first post, I immediately experienced a benefit to my skin. My highly acne prone skin shifted suddenly the moment I introduced silica to my system. Since then I've had to deal with only 1 pimple. Not one breakout......one pimple. Incidentally, that pimple came only after I introduced a new moisturizer into my regimen. Once I stopped using that product, I suffered no additional breakouts. So to me, even if I experience no benefits to my hair, I will still use silica to promote clear, healthy skin. I will also add that I ordered a moisturizer that has silica and aloe vera gel as it's main ingredients. It's moisturizing without any greasiness at all. Although this has helped to support my clear skin regimen, I think it works secondary to the benefits I get to taking it internally.

Not only has my skin improved greatly. I am also happy to announce that I am now the proud owner of a new set of fingernails. What I mean to say is that silica has truly made an impact on my nails. Normally, I don't do anything special to care for my nails so they grow at their own rate and break pretty frequently. In the past, you'd rarely see me sporting lengthy nails on all of my fingers. Nowadays, I'm filing them down to keep them at a manageable length. Although I'm excited about this, I'm also a little bummed that I now have to include nail care into my maintenance routine. Before this my nails stayed short and didn't require any attention. Now I have to keep them filed, even, and neat. It's a great problem to have.

So now let's get to the meat of our conversation. How has silica impacted my hair? My last touch-up was mid February (not long after my first take of silica). Currently I have a nice new crop of growth coming in. That's all good and well but I can't say for certain that my hair is growing any faster (although I do feel like I have quite a bit of new growth). What I will say is how pleased I am with the quality of growth. My virgin growth isn't as tightly coiled as before. For the first time in as long as I can remember, I can brush my edges with sonia hakuk brush and they actually listen. They actually listen. If things keep going as they are, I should be able to add at least a couple of weeks to my stretch (if not longer).

Again, this is just a mini-update to acknowledge the good I've received from giving my body this most essential mineral. At this point I'll be re-instituting juicing back in my daily grind and further reap the benefits. If I were compare my experience taking silica versus when I was taking high doses of biotin regularly, I'd say that both supplements impact my new growth rate. Both have the ability to grow my fingernails. If I remember correctly, biotin makes my nails a bit stiffer, stronger. Biotin gave me longer lashes. I'm not experiencing this as much as with silica. Biotin also grew the hair all over my body. Growing a "stache" and toe knuckle hair is not a good thing (sorry for visual). Silica impacts the tone and clarity of my skin. There's just something about it that my skin likes. Overall, I'm pleased with the results and I'm really looking forward to see where I am 6 months with regards to the overall quality of my skin. So all in all, I would call silica a great overall beauty supplement. It's a must have. For those of you who are looking to find out where you can get silica from food sources. Make sure you include lots of leafy greens, cucumbers, brown rice, oats and other whole grains, beets, and most other root vegetables.

Here's an interesting article on silica for additional reading.

Over the past year or so, I've really become attracted to the zen lifestyle of yoga and deep meditation practices. When I practice these methods on a regular basis. My body and mind benefit immensely. Little did I know that this holistic practice was also benefiting my hair as well.

I got into doing yoga a while back partly because it seemed like an easier form of exercise. I hate sweating. I hate it so much that I tend to stay away from aerobic activities so I could avoid it. Because of this, yoga just seemed like such an attractive alternative. So I started by just doing simple things like searching for free yoga videos on youtube. Although yoga isn't as physically demanding as running, I still felt the wonderful changes to my body over time. Not only did my body become more flexible, I also felt like my mind was more focused and at peace when I practiced yoga consistently. These benefits are pretty rad but what I'm most excited about is that my overall hair regimen also benefits from the practices taught in the zen lifestyle.

Deep Breathing ~"Focus on the breath."

Taking in slow, deep breaths is a foundational pillar of yoga. When I first began yoga, I didn't understand why I had to breath so slowly over and over again. Well now I know that this type of deep breathing practice benefits the body in numerous ways. One of the most powerful benefits of taking in deep breaths is improved circulation. The normal way most of us breathe is really insufficient. Our normal way of breathing is considered "shallow" and only uses a fraction of our available lung capacity. The optimal way of breathing should mirror that of a new born who allows her abdomen to fully expand and contract with each breath. So how does did deep breathing help your hair journey? Each deep breath you take in floods your body with oxygen which improves blood circulation throughout the body. Increased circulation means that oxygenated-rich blood can nourish your scalp and hair follicles. I like to combine deep, focused breathing with my scalp massages to make it even more impactful.

Yoga Poses-"Downward facing dog."

One thing I will say about the art of yoga is that although it isn't strenuous aerobically, there are some pretty difficult movements one has to master. Most notably are the various poses were my head is pointed towards to the floor along with several other positions that require a great sense of balance. These poses offer a real benefit to the scalp. First you're drawing in oxygen in large quantities through the deep breathing then you promote a rush of blood to the face and scalp with the various bending movements. There are numerous sites online that recommend numerous yoga poses for "hair fall" and stronger hair. Traditional exercises, while beneficial to the body, don't offer the direct scalp benefit as yoga bending poses.

Stress Reduction-"Release all of your negative energy."

I started practicing yoga during a pretty hectic time in my life. I felt like I was experiencing increasing amounts of work-related stress and needed to find a way to manage those damaging emotions. So I started doing yoga for 20-30 minutes each morning. In doing so I soon realized that I experienced a more peaceful and powerful day. I don't know how to explain it but I felt like I had such control over my mental state. My stress levels went down dramatically and we all know how adversely stress impacts the health of our hair. Whenever you are experiencing excessive shedding, take a moment and assess your stress levels before you spend money on a hair product. If your shedding is stress related, perhaps you can address the issue from the root cause with the calming effects of yoga.

Meditation/Visualization-"Close your eyes and quite the mind."

One of the most beneficial practices of the zen lifestyle is the art of visualization, meditation, and intention manifestation. I am fully present to the benefits of seeing what you want in the mind before it manifests in reality. One of the biggest examples of this is Njoy's inspiring story of how she incorporated visualization into her hair regimen. Stephen Covey said that everything is created twice, first in the mind, then in reality. What makes this practice so powerful is how visualization creates a strong, deep belief in actually achieving what you desire. The more you believe you can have strong healthy resilient hair, the more it becomes possible for you.

I'm saying all of this to demonstrate how important it is to build a hair regimen around a healthy lifestyle more so than just relying on products alone. If you are not much of a physically active person but you'd like to incorporate healthy practices into your routine, check out some of the hundreds of free videos available on youtube.

In a recent post I listed some of my favorite items I'd carry with me so I can care for my hair on the go. While writing that post, I mentioned that I would soon be including silica into my hair nutrition and supplementation regimen. At the time, I knew that silica promoted healthy hair but it wasn't until I started actually researching the properties of the mineral that I really became conviced of it's value to my overall health.

So far from my online research I've learned that silica essentially is availalble in two main forms. Commercial silica products are usually derived from vegetal or colloidial sources. Horsetail silica extracted from a plant source. This type of silica is readily available, at a reasonable cost, in most health food stores. I first heard of horsetail silica years ago on the hair boards. Back then, the supplement went through the typical "hair craze of the moment" as did many other items. I didn't pay much attention to it at the time but now I am ready and open to receive it's many benefits.

So why is silica even worth talking about? First off, it's important to know that silica is one of those essential nutrients our bodies need in order to function properly. Kinda like essentail fatty acids or water. We have a natural store of silica in all of our connective tissue which depletes during the day through normal body functioning. We also loose silica as we age and that's when we begin to experience the signs of aging. Those who have adequate amounts of silica in the body boast of having beautiful skin, healthy hair, strong nails, and healthy joints. In fact, I learned that newborn babies have the greatest amount of silica reserves.

You might even remember me mentioning silica as a beauty nutrient when I talked about juicing cucumbers in my video. Because silica is a natural occuring mineral, some of the food we eat contain silica. However, because our soil is becoming deficient and most of the food we eat has been processed, the amount of silica we receive from our food is minimal. Our bodies need this mineral to function optimally so it only makes sense that we supplement silica in a form that our bodies can readily absorb.

Horsetail

As I mentioned before, horsetail silica, is a plant based source of silica and the most widely available. You can purchase in supplement form or you can even buy horsetail tea bags. I was really interested in picking up some horsetail silica extract then I came to find out that all silica is not created the same.....

It seams that the body more readily absorbs silica in colloidal form. This means that the particles are small enough to be absorbed into the body's system more efficiently. You guys already know that I am really trying to focus on supplementing in ways that make sense. Meaning I want the nutrients to be in usable form right away so I can get the most benefit. So when I found out that there are silica sources even more powerful than horsetail, I immediately wanted to know more.

Bamboo

Before researching for this blog post, I had no idea that bamboo is the richest known natural source of silica. Believe it or not, bamboo is comprised of nearly 70% silica. Horsetail, by comparison is around 5-7% silica. I don't know about you, but if I were replenishing my silica stash, I'd probably reach for the bamboo supplement over the horsetail. I was browsing silica selections at the health food store the other day and found that bamboo had about 420 mg of silica per serving whereas the horsetail contained much less.

***update*** Since writing this post I've introduced bamboo tea in my regimen.

Collodial Silica

Another alternative source of silica comes from quarts crystals. This type of silica is naturally in colloidal form which means the particles are smaller and more readily absorbed by the body. If you are one the market for silica, you'll quickly realize that most colloidal silicas are more costly than other sources. I think it's because you get more bang for your buck! Next I learned that colloidal silica comes in both capsule and gel form. It was a little harder for me to find colloidal silica capsules in the health food store, and I could only find the gel form online. After reading several great reviews of silica gel that I knew I had to get my hands on it.

Fiji Water

So then I found out that Fiji water contains around 91 mg of naturally occurring colloidal silica per liter. According to the website, Fiji water is filtered through many layers of volcanic rock before it's collected and bottled for consumption. This process creates silica infused water naturally. If any of you buy bottled water, you'll realize that Fiji is probably one of the most expensive waters on the market. Before I didn't really get why the price difference. Now I get it. You're not only getting much needed hydration, you're also receiving vital minerals that support your entire body, skin, and (most importantly) healthy hair.

So I purchased some colloidal silica capsules 6 days ago. Each day I've taken one capsule first thing in the morning. I may be completely crazy but I've already noticed a difference in my skin. I feel like my skin is thicker and more plump. Not too long ago, I was checking out my wrists. The first thought that crossed my mind was "why are my veins so obvious?" I hated the way they looked. I'm not sure if the silica made the difference, all I can say is that I no longer have veiny wrists! Add that to the fact that I've been purposefully eating sweets, fried foods, etc without one break out. In order to understand the magnitude of this last statement, you have to understand that if I even so much as sneeze the wrong way, I have to deal with pimples. Another nice result I've experienced is a reduction in the "cracking" and "popping sound" of my joints. I feel more lubricated....I feel (dare I say it) younger.

Even with all the wonderful benefits to the body, my most selfish reason for taking silica is for improved skin and, of course, hair health. Most people who've taken colloidal silica consistently share their positive experience first with strong healthy nails, then glowing skin and stronger hair. In fact, a study was conducted of 55 healthy women who consumed Hubner's silica gel for 6 months. Those in the study experienced increased thickness in their hair by almost 13%. So I took the plunge and ordered the gel form online. My desire is to continue to see massive improvements in the quality and health of my skin and to have the ability to maintain strong, thick, healthy nails that are all the same length. And of course I want to experience quality growth of ultra healthy strands. Thank you, Lord, for creating silica.

Here are some reviews of silica from makeupalley.com

jenjenluv on 1/26/2011 6:25:00 PM More reviews by jenjenluv

Age: 19-24 Skin: Combination, Fair, Not Sure Hair: Blond, Other, Other Eyes: Hazel

I started out with the smaller bottle of this stuff. I'm not sure the brand, i am too lazy to go check. The first bottle went fast. it only lasted about 2 weeks. Now i'm on my second bottle. It's been about a month and i still have lots left. I take a table spoon a day and i like the taste. The gel turns into an almost fluffy texture when in your mouth. My skin is much nicer looking. Not as oily. My nails are stronger. I noticed new little lashes growing on my lashes. and my brows are growing in nice and thick. My hair seems a bit better. I'm sure in a couple mnonths it will be even nicer from using this. It's hard to say right now because the winter has been harsh on it. Overall i think its a great little miracle worker. I don't know how it works really but it's had nothing but great reviews, and while it doesnt work magic over night, it subtly does wonder for your hair skin and nails.

Add review to favorites1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Did you?YesNo

felgoj on 3/19/2010 2:15:00 PM More reviews by felgoj

Age: 36-43 Skin: Combination, Medium, Warm Hair: Brunette, Wavy, Medium Eyes: Brown

My coworker can attest to the fact that when she takes silica (horsetail extract) regularly for a few months, her hair grows faster. I've seen her have gorgeous hair that she grew out from a short bob to long past her shoulders in almost no time (1 season). I started using silica (along with biotin) 1 week ago in an attempt to grow stronger, thicker nails. I forgot that it's good for skin & hair as well, & I'm glad that it is b/c currently I'm desperately trying to grow out a bad haircut by the time summer comes! lol Let's hope the results will be good. So not much has happened in 1 week except: My eyelashes are SO MUCH LONGER! I thought I was imagining things but I compulsively examine my lashes every day & I could swear the other day my lashes looked different -- longer & curly at the ends (my ordinary lashes never curled on their own). I don't wear mascara every day, so knowing that my lashes look puny with mascara on, I applied mascara today to check the length & it's official -- my lashes really grew longer in 1 week. The difference is so obvious. Nothing else in my skincare routine or daily habits changed except for the addition of biotin & silica to my diet. I have to credit them both & will continue using them together (as long as biotin doesn't cause me any bad acne breakouts). I take biotin once a day (5mg) & silica twice a day (both Vitamin Shoppe brand) with food. I'm so amazed at this unexpected result! I hope to get similar results with my hair, & will update after a month or two to allow for some hair/nails results (which obviously will take longer than lashes ....but who knows! lol). Now I know the real value of silica & I wish I believed in its powers sooner. UPDATE: I'm 2 weeks into this & I noticed my pores have shrunken! I always had giant oily pores that have been a major source of embarrassment & disappointment. Two men in my life have also asked me why I have holes in my face (ugh!). My skin now looks velvety smooth without any makeup & my pores are no longer obvious - my pores look normal! YAY I thank silica & biotin for this. I wish I discovered this a lifetime ago. continued >>

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dawl_1015 on 2/26/2010 10:11:00 PM More reviews by dawl_1015

Age: 19-24 Skin: Normal, Tan, Cool Hair: Blond, Wavy, Fine Eyes: Green

This product is amazing, I use the Hubner brand and experienced ridiculously fast nail growth, clear skin, and stronger/thicker hair. My hair has been dry, thin and basically crappy my entire life.. Its very dry despite constant conditioning, a healthy diet etc, and never grew. Now the baby hairs around my forehead are literally 5 inches long (the BABY HAIRS), when they used to be only a centimeter! As for the rest of my hair, it's getting better, Ive only been using it 2 months. My nails grow so fast that I trim them, and 3 days later, they're back to the same length, its crazy. I dont know if this will work for everyone, but it's been awesome for me, and I recommend that people try it for at least 2 months to see if they get good results! Where I buy it, it's $30/bottle CDN, but I get it from a small, local health food store, and you may find it cheaper at other places. Happy hair growing =)

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eurobarbie on 7/26/2009 10:16:00 AM More reviews by eurobarbie

Age: 19-24 Skin: Acne-prone, Fair, Cool Hair: Blond, Straight, Fine Eyes: Blue

I had first found out about Silicea through many advertisements in health food stores. It was probably not untill a year later I had decided to purchase it when I noticed how lacklusture my hair had become, perhaps through too many uses of my straightening iron and the bi monthly hair colourings. Of course I still use topical hair creams and lotions, to be honest I knew that if I wanted nicer hair I would have to chop off my ratty ends and suppliment my diet. In addition to the not so pleasent state of my hair I had my mothers weak, brittle nails and moderate hormonal acne. This is when I decided to purchase Silicea. I had read up about Silicea before purchasing because I was abit scared of putting this in my body. The Hubner Brand Silica website states "Silica gives strength and support to all connective tissue, tendons and ligaments, skin, hair and nails. Silica supports the absorption of calcium in the human body. It is essential to the human body, it is found in lungs, intestines and blood." So simply I suppose, silicon is needed in a lot of the parts of our body and this is an aqueous solution made of oxygen and silicon. It is reccomened to be taken once daily, a tablespoon mixed into your favourite drink. I did so, I first mixed it in with water, and to be honest whilst there is no taste whatsoever I found little bits of gel still floating around no matter how well I would mix it, I would feel them slide down my throat and it wasn't the most pleasent experince. So I started taking it with orange juice, and couldnt tell the gel apart from th juice no mater how hard I tried. My mother takes this with a glass of milk as silicea helps absorption of calcium and she doenst find the bits of a gel a problem. After about two weeks, I noticed my nails and hair were a little bit better, but again being honest, it was probably not the strength of result I was hoping for. But I had also had subsequently being applying the gel to any pimples I had before going to bed, using a cotton tip soaked in the gel, and I had found that my skin was so much better. I was so surprised, having acne for the last six years having tried everything from over the counter prescriptions to homeopathy, I was so surprised a simple natural compound worked so well. It has cleared up 90% of my pimples, and now I only dab the occasional spot and it is litterly gone the next day. There is a little bit of tightness and redness which may occur whislt the gel is on your skin. You may also feel a slight tingle after about 10minutes of the gel being on your skin. I get this sensation whilst my mother doesnt, but it is only superficial, do not be scared, do not wash it off it helps dry the pimple naturally and I find also prevents scaring. I still drink the gel when I feel that I am getting a few pimples due to eating too much sugar or that time of the month, it works beautifully. I had continued drinking the gel for 2 months after my initial purchase, The overall condition of my skin was lovely, I cant really decsribe it, I guess I would have to say healthy. The dryness around my knees and elbows had healed up and skin was more radiant. I had found my fine hair to have less breakages and I allowed it to grow longer as I had wanted to for a while. I couldnt really tell any effects on my nails as I had got acrylic nails shortly after, but they do grow quite fast. Now the product itself, as I have said to me there is no taste or smell, although the sales lady told me there was a metally taste, I have noticed no such thing. The gel is a clear thick mixture. Be sure to always keep this in the fridge after opening and shake the bottle very well before adding the gel mixture to your drink of choice or before applying it to your face. This mixes in any particles that have seperated. I initially purchased this from a healthy food store in QVB for 45AUD but have being buying it from Chemist Warehouse for around 30AUD ever since. I recommend it to alot of my friends with acne and other skin conditions, it has helped a handful of them greatly and I cant encourage people enough to try it. Its natural and relatvly cheap considering the amount of money people spend on pimple mediactions which contain harsh chemicals which may dry out your pimples but are causing havoc to your skin and body. oh yes, have repurchased and will always repurchase. I wish everyone the best of luck with this product :)

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pinkandblack on 7/25/2009 2:24:00 AM More reviews by pinkandblack

Age: 36-43 Skin: Sensitive, Fair, Not Sure Hair: Other, Other, Other Eyes: Other

I'd experienced nothing-short-of-miraculous hair regrowth (my hair had been thinning for a while) with BioSil capsules, then I switched to Flora Silica because it was half the price and lost all that new growth )= I've just restarted my BioSil regimen and will update in a few months.

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illeyad on 7/25/2009 1:39:00 AM More reviews by illeyad

Age: 19-24 Skin: Acne-prone, Fair-Medium, Warm Hair: Brunette, Straight, Medium Eyes: Brown

Silica is one of the best beauty supplements out there. For those who don’t know Silica is not to be thought of as ‘plastic silicone’ it is classified as a natural mineral found in the earth known as Silicon Dioxide. It is known for assisting in calcium absorption during bone formation- therefore it is known for helping mend bone fractures. Silica studies have revealed that it can prevent osteoporosis. It can also promote the health and healing of your connective tissue. As healthy and wonderful as this sounds, I am sure you are more interested in it’s beautifying properties! I originally bought this supplement for the promise of healthier nails and hair after Biotin turned out to be a failure for me. For those who do not know, Biotin is known to cause break outs in acne prone skin. I wanted an alternative and came across Silica tablets at my local GNC for $18 per 90 soft gel tablet bottle. After 6 weeks of use, I am pleased to report I have suffered no break outs and have finally achieved my stronger, less flexible mid length nails. A huge change from the original brittle, breakable, pealing nails I had. Although I must admit, Biotin had done a better job adding a little thickness to my nails where Silica only made them a tiny bit thicker, but much more stronger. However, healthy nails were not the only benefits I achieved, I noticed my skin appeared more dewy and glowy. After some research I found out that Silica promotes skin health and collagen renewal. It also is credited towards fetal growth, bone health, dental health, capillary health, speeds healing, such as sprains, bruises, and cuts. I am extremely pleased with this product and highly recommend it to anyone who is not 100% happy with Biotin, or had bad results from it. Research reveals that the most potent form of Silica is found in the product- Biosil, a more natural form. It is twice the price, however it is considered the best because it is all natural and comes in a potent liquid form that is more readily obsorbed. Happy Shopping!

I was thinking the other day about how full my makeup bag was. I carry several types of lipglosses, a couple of mascara tubes, a myriad of make-up pencils, a small bottle of perfume and other miscellaneous items. With all the many beauty items I carry with me at all times, I realized that I hardly carry any times in my purse that contribute to healthy hair.

My day job requires me to be away from home for most of the day. It's not uncommon for me to leave early morning, returning late-night. Sometimes, I'll pass the whole day without doing anything that benefits the hair.....the whole day. So I determined this was no longer acceptable and decided to take action and create a "healthy hair" on the go kit. I had an extra make-up bag handy so all I needed to do was pick out what items would make the cut.

Scalp Massager:

My fatal flaw is the constant incessant need to play with my hair. I know for a fact that this constant manipulation has negatively impacted my retention. This is especially true when I'm doing an activity where my mind tends to wander (like driving or sitting in front of the computer). Well now I've decided that if I can't break the habit, I can at least put something in my hand that will help add some type of benefit to my hair. The answer came in the form of my trusty scalp massager. It's small enough to fit easily into my make-up bag. Putting my scalp massager to work satisfies my craving to always fiddle with my hair. It's like giving a smoker a nicotine alternative that deals with the need to have a cigarette in hand. So while I'm driving, I can have 1 hand (safely) on the wheel and the other hand stimulating and envigorating my scalp.

Aveda Damage Repair:

I'm fortunate enough to have an Aveda school in my city. One of the benefits I get to enjoy are the low cost massages, facials, etc. Not too long ago, while waiting to pay for my amazing massage, my eyes wandered to the trial size bottle display and noticed a cute little tube of moisturizer. I was still feeling all "zen" like from my relaxing experience so I grabbed the moisturizer without even looking at the price. I came to find out later that I paid around $8.00 for 0.85 fl oz tube. Had I known what I would be paying for it, I think I would have passed. I'm glad I didn't because I really like how well it moisturizes without weighing down the hair. In fact, I enjoy this product so much that I later bought a full size bottle. So the travel size bottle is now with me where ever I go. Now, whenever my hair needs a little kick of moisture, I've got my Aveda daily hair repair within arms reach.

Silk Scarf:

Another way I combat my hands in hair disease is by tying it up under a silk scarf. Often I have to make a 2-3 hour commute from one job location to the other. I've decided to use this time to "refresh" my hair. By this I mean moisturizing and sealing my hair and allowing it all to sink in under the loving care of a silk scarf. This also helps me keep my hands away from my hair so it's a double benefit. In the picture, my silk scarf is folder and held in place with a binder clip. This helps keep it in a small enough size to fit perfectly in my little bag.

Hair Nutrition:

Gosh, I can't even begin to tell you how often I've forgot to take my vitamins after a long day of crazy hectic-ness. So now I've decided to take my nutrition seriously and pack my Nordic Naturals omega-3 supplements where ever I go. Just having the pills with me serves as a subconscious reminder to stay consistent with taking them. Since my makeup bag is transparent, I'm provided a gentle reminder to take my vitamins every time I'm in my purse (even if I'm just reaching for my cell phone). I also keep a bottle of Cell Food in my purse. One of the benefits of Cell Food is that it can be taken without food. I also like the fact that no refrigeration is required. This product has a ton of health claims. What attracted me most is that Cell Food claims to contain 78 trace minerals and 17 amino acids which are easily absorbed at the cellular level. I've grown accustomed to the strange taste which makes it easy for me to just take off the cap and drop a few drops on my tongue whenever the mood strikes. Next on my list of products to try is their silica formula. You guys may already know but silica is essential for healthy hair, skin, joints, and a healthy heart. The list of benefits to the body from taking silica is just too good to pass up. I'm really in tuned to taking my nutrition to the next level by focusing on readily absorbable sources. This is why juicing is so exciting to me. Cell food goes well with my philosophy of "getting the most bang for my buck" when it comes to nutrition. This also means that I don't have to pack 50-11 vitamins like I did years ago when I didn't know any better.

Gleau Argan oil blend

What healthy hair kit would be complete without a small size bottle of Gleau for sealing? I once had a habit of re-applying a light oil to my hair a couple of time throughout the day. I kid you not, I received the most number of compliments on my hair when I maintained this practice. I guess the healthy glow was just too much for folks to look at without saying something positive. So now I ask myself, "why did I stop doing this?" One sure way to get this habit going again is to keep a little bit with me at all times. And because this oil is so light, I don't have to think twice about reapplying when ever needed. My little 1/4 ounce bottle easily fits into the palm of my hand so I can discretely take it into the restroom with me and apply without feeling self-conscious.

Although this may all sound like a lot of stuff to be carrying around. It all fit neatly in my bag makeup bag which is around 8.5 inches long, 4.5 inches high. I even had enough room to slip in my tiny spray bottle filled with essential oils. Both this healthy hair kit and my makeup bag are able to fit side-by-side, comfortably in my purse.

Now that I'm packed and ready to go, I must focus on the next phase of my healthy hair plan. Before, when I held more of a 9-5 work schedule, I would use my restroom breaks as the perfect opportunity to refresh my hair with product. I was also fortunate enough to have my own office so I could easily break out beauty supplies, when convenient and reapply whenever the mood struck. Because of the routine nature of my work, my actions easily developed into a habit. Now, I barely ever have two days in a month that look similar so I don't have a support structure in place to reinforce a consistent habit. I realize that creating a structure is key otherwise I'll just be lugging around more stuff that I'll never use. I've got some ideas that I'll play around with around how to create a practice of promoting healthy hair throughout the day. My end-in mind is to support my desire to have healthy looking hair everyday with consistent action. I'm excited to see what may come of this in the long run.

So tell me, what are your must have "healthy hair" items that you take with you wherever you go?