Healthy inside, healthy outside

What others primarily notice about us is our outward appearance. This automatically becomes the basis for an initial assessment of our current mood, lifestyle, general health, or even our age. Even before a single word is exchanged, a fairly comprehensive first impression of us is formed.

It's therefore not surprising that most people spend a lot of time thinking about their appearance.

These thoughts about our appearance probably also make us unique. We are likely the only species on earth that knows something like vanity. This doesn’t have to be a negative trait for humans—on the contrary. Our outward appearance can tell us a lot about how we’re really doing, and about our inner and outer health.

We want to take a closer look in this article at what connections exist here, what conclusions we can draw from certain observations, and what options are available to us regarding our outer and inner health.

Wie definieren wir Schönheit? Worauf achten wir?

Basically, this question is very easy to answer.

Let’s take a look at our surroundings and observe how those around us deal with this topic. For now, let’s set aside fashion and jewelry, since they’re not directly connected to our bodies and are always subject to change or trends.

Was hat sich aber über die Jahre nicht verändert?

For generations—in fact, since time immemorial—we have placed great value on caring for our skin.

Schon in der Antike legte man sehr viel Wert auf ein gesundes Hautbild und setzte hierfür verschiedene Methoden, wie Einreibungen mit Ölen oder Honig, Heilpflanzen, Gewürze, Masken, Massagen oder Bäder ein. Daran hat sich bis heute kaum etwas verändert, der Pflege der Haut kommt auch heute noch eine große Bedeutung zu.

It's very much the same with our hair. Whether in ancient Egypt, Greece, Rome, or China, hair care and styling have always played an important role.

Interestingly, different hairstyles, such as those worn by the Greeks, had not only an aesthetic component but also a practical use. Has that changed to this day? No, even today, hairstyles—especially from an aesthetic perspective—play an important role in our society.

Was vielleicht etwas überraschen mag ist die Tatsache, dass auch die Nagelpflege schon in der Antike einen wichtigen Stellenwert eingenommen hat. Die ältesten Überlieferungen oder Hinweise führen uns ungefähr 5000 Jahre in die Vergangenheit. In den Ruinen von Babylon, in den Chaldäischen Gräbern, wurde ein Maniküre-Set aus massivem Gold gefunden. Auch Überlieferungen aus Ägypten oder China weisen darauf hin, dass Maniküre, besonders die Nagelpflege, eine wichtige Rolle in der Körperpflege gespielt hat.

The earliest references to pedicures, meaning foot and toenail care, can be found in the works of Hippocrates and date back to around 400 BC.

Zusammenfassend kann man sagen, dass von der Antike bis in die heutige Zeit hinein, die Pflege der Haut, der Haare und der Finger- und Zehennägel einen hohen Stellenwert in Ästhetik und somit dem, was man vielleicht „Schönheitsideal" nennen kann, eingenommen hat.

This raises the question: is it really that important? Does aesthetics or beauty truly play such a significant role in our lives?

Um diese Frage zu beantworten machen wir erst einmal einen kleinen Exkurs in die Psychologie und betrachten Schönheit danach noch aus weiterer, gesundheitsrelevanter Sicht.

Aussehen und Selbstbewusstsein

Everyone probably knows people in their circle of friends or acquaintances who either have a very high level of self-confidence or those whose lack of self-confidence is obvious. It’s a common misconception that self-confidence is something you’re born with. That’s not the case. The foundation for stable or poor self-confidence is laid in childhood.

The fact that our appearance, or how we deal with our appearance, can have a strengthening or weakening effect is shown by the daily look in the mirror before we leave the house. Our interest in our appearance reflects how important others’ perception of us is to us.

Our appearance therefore has a major impact on our self-confidence.

Unser Aussehen kann unser Selbstbewusstsein stärken oder schwächen.

Plato summarized the value of beauty and self-confidence as follows: “Beauty provides a natural superiority.”

This should not be misunderstood. When we talk about beauty, we don’t mean society’s ideal image or the obsession with beauty promoted in the media. Beauty is not a standard and does not follow manipulated, media-driven ideals like the perfect body shape.

The beauty we want to talk about here is more about health, contentment, mindfulness (with oneself), and ideally a touch of youthfulness and lightness.

Wenn diese Dinge für uns stimmen, zum Beispiel beim Blick in den Spiegel, dann stärkt das unser Selbstbewusstsein und das färbt auf die Wahrnehmung durch unser Gegenüber ab.

Gesundheit und Schönheit

Illness, fatigue, malaise, tiredness, or deficiencies can have a significant impact on our appearance. Just as our lifestyle also leaves visible marks on how we look. If we’re in poor health, it’s usually obvious to everyone even before the question "How are you?" is asked or answered.

Our skin, in particular, reveals a lot about us, both physically and psychologically. Like a mirror from the inside out, it can reflect physical ailments. Aside from genetic and hormonal factors that influence natural aging, it can also provide clues to poor dietary habits. Other factors affecting our skin include medications, unhealthy sleep patterns, lack of exercise, organ diseases, or deficiencies. Environmental influences should also not be underestimated, such as UV radiation, extreme temperatures, toxins, and harsh products. Lastly, psychological factors can also impact our skin—especially various forms of stress.

But the skin is not just a mirror that reveals much about our health—it is also a central organ protecting our health. In addition to defending against bacteria and viruses, the skin has many regulatory functions, such as maintaining fluid balance and body temperature.

Their function as an important nutrient reservoir, which is crucial for maintaining the health of the entire body, should not be underestimated.

We’ll come back later to how we can support, protect, and treat our skin well.

Auch unsere Haare können sehr viel über unsere Gesundheit aussagen. Die Haare könnte man durchaus als Spiegel für Nährstoffe und Stoffwechselprozesse bezeichnen. In ihnen lagern sich sehr viele Stoffe ab, welche ein recht umfangreiches Bild über unseren gesamten Organismus liefern. Nicht umsonst werden heute Haaranalysen zum Beispiel zum Nachweis von Drogenkonsum herangezogen. Aber noch wichtiger erscheint das, was uns Haare in Bezug auf unsere Gesundheit sagen können, da sie auch Mineralstoffe, Vitamine und Abbauprodukte während des Verhornungsprozesses in ihrer Struktur einlagern.

In addition, the condition of our hair can sometimes provide clues about health issues. If your hair is getting thinner and losing its shine, it could be an early sign of a deficiency in vitamins, minerals, or trace elements. If you experience significant hair loss prematurely, it’s possible that you have an iron deficiency or a lack of vitamins or amino acids.

Sollte das Haar in jungen Jahren bereits ergrauen, dann lohnt sich ein Blick auf ein möglicherweise erhöhtes Osteoporose-Risiko als auch eine mögliche Übersäuerung des Körpers, welcher zu einem Nährstoffmangel führen kann.

Wie wir sehen, geben auch unsere Haare ein doch recht umfangreiches Bild über die Gesundheit ab. Was wir speziell für unsere Haare, und somit auch für unseren gesamten Organismus tun können, darauf gehen wir ebenfalls nochmals detaillierter ein.

Nun bleibt noch der Blick auf unsere Nägel. Grundsätzlich sind sie ein sogenanntes Hautanhangsgewebe. Das bedeutet, dass viele Einflüsse auf die Haut sich auch in unseren Nägeln widerspiegeln.

However, they can also provide very specific clues to organ diseases, such as diseases of the liver, kidneys, heart, or lungs. Deficiencies can also be identified. This is especially true for spoon nails, where the nail plate is significantly flattened compared to the edges—considered a sign of a possible deficiency.

What can I do to support my skin, hair, and nails?

Since skin, hair, and nails provide a pretty good insight into our overall health, it’s clear that we should take good care of these naturally given diagnostic tools. And especially the skin, which also performs additional, health-related functions, deserves our special attention.

With hair and nails, different characteristics can indicate certain deficiencies. These usually don’t refer just to hair and nails, but point to a general deficiency. So, what supports hair and nails also supports the whole body.

Wichtig für Haut, Haare und Nägel

Silicon

Das Mineral Silizium spielt im Körper eine zentrale Rolle, wenn es um die Bildung von Kollagen geht, das wichtigste Strukturprotein in unserem Körper, wie auch bei der Mineralisierung von Gewebe, wie zum Beispiel Knochen. Eine gute Quelle natürlichem Siliziums stellt der Ackerschachtelhalm dar, da er über einen hohen Anteil dieses wichtigen Minerals verfügt.

Vitamin C

Ascorbinsäure nimmt vielseitige Funktionen im Körper wahr und ist ein essentieller Nährstoff. Beim Aufbau von Gewebe, besonders Bindegewebe, nimmt Vitamin C eine ganz besondere Rolle ein. Zudem ist Vitamin C als Antioxidans und schützt vor Zellschäden.

Vitamin B1

Thiamine supports energy metabolism and is involved in amino acid metabolism. Like many other B vitamins, it is also important for our nervous system and heart function.

Vitamin B2

Riboflavin, often called the detox vitamin, is involved in numerous metabolic processes and supports the detoxification of foreign substances such as medications. It plays an important role in normal cell function, growth, and development. It also supports the nervous system, mucous membranes, red blood cells, skin, and vision. Riboflavin also aids iron metabolism.

Vitamin B3

Niacin supports energy metabolism, skin, the nervous system, and mucous membranes. It helps reduce tiredness and fatigue and has a positive effect on mental health.

Vitamin B5

Pantothenic acid is involved in the synthesis of cholesterol, which is important for cell formation, especially cell membranes. It supports energy metabolism, vitamin D synthesis, helps combat tiredness and fatigue, supports the metabolism of hormones, and has a positive effect on mental performance.

Vitamin B6

Pyridoxine is important for many enzymatic processes and supports the metabolism of amino acids, the formation of red blood pigment, and the nervous and immune systems. It also aids cysteine synthesis, energy metabolism, protein metabolism, and glycogen metabolism. In addition, it helps combat tiredness and fatigue.

Folsäure (Vitamin B9)

Folic acid is extremely important for cell division and the formation of new cells. It already plays a key role during pregnancy in the growth of maternal tissue. Folic acid also benefits blood formation, the immune system, amino acid synthesis, and mental health. It helps reduce tiredness and fatigue.

Vitamin B12

Cobalamin unterstützt verschiedene Stoffwechselprozesse im Körper und hat eine zentrale Bedeutung bei der Verstoffwechselung der Folsäure. Ebenfalls von Bedeutung ist es für den Energiestoffwechsel, das Immunsystem, die Zellteilung, das Nervensystem und die Psyche.

Vitamin E

Tocopherole ist ein Antioxidans und fängt freie, zellschädigende Radikale. Es funktioniert im Körper wie ein Schutzsystem für verschiedene Zellen, indem es die Zellmembrane unterstützt und Schäden an dieser verhindert. Es ist wichtig für unser Immunsystem.

Vitamin A

Vitamin A plays a role in the formation of new cells and cell growth, and is therefore important for tissue growth—especially for the skin and mucous membranes.

Biotin (Vitamin H)

Biotin plays a central role in various metabolic processes, especially in glucose production, the synthesis and breakdown of fatty acids, and the breakdown of amino acids. It has particularly positive effects on skin and hair.

Zinc

Zinc affects growth, has a positive impact on the immune system, and acts within the oxidative defense system against free radicals. Zinc also supports important metabolic processes. Even during pregnancy, zinc plays a crucial role in the development of the child. The body cannot store zinc well, so it must be supplied regularly.

Acerola, a sparkling source of essential nutrients

This fruit, often called acerola cherry, is a true source of nutrients essential for skin, hair, and nails. Its vitamin C content alone surpasses almost all other common fruits by a wide margin (50 to 100 times higher vitamin C content than lemons or oranges). But beyond vitamin C, it has much more to offer!

As you can easily see, the acerola cherry can provide nearly all the nutrients needed to support the health of skin, hair, and nails. That’s why it has long been used as support for acne or eczema.

It definitely belongs in any comprehensive routine for supporting healthy skin, hair, and nails!

Selected studies on acerola and skin:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6098779/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24479389/

https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0170438