Craving for some snacks- ditch that unhealthy packet of chips and go healthy with a ready to eat natural snacks, nature has blessed us with. Dry fruits as the name implies are dried up fruits- drying up its water content either naturally, through sun drying, or through the use of specialised dryers or dehydrators. These dried fruits are power packed with vitamins and nutrients which enrich human bodies with varied health benefits. From healthy skin to weak sex drive dry fruits are cure for every ailment. Today let us discuss why to inculcate these 5 , readily available,dry fruits in our daily diet to get healthy skin and happy hair-
1. Almonds/Badam- These small golden brown eye shaped dry fruit is enriched with essential fatty acids, fibres and proteins which help in preventing cancer and reduce cholesterol.
For Skin- Just pop few almonds to get a glowing skin as this “king of dry fruits” is rich in vitamin E. Along with its age-defying properties almonds are also effective in treating acne and are perfect to make a natural scrub. Almond paste with milk cream and fresh paste of rose bud or rose water applied regularly over the face is known to make the skin soft and fair or simply grind coarsely in a grinder with a spoon of curd and use as a scrub to get rid of those stubborn blackheads.
For hair- The polyunsaturated, mono fatty acids as well as vitamin A, D, B1, B2, and B6 in almonds to help to add lustre to dull hair and nourishes the scalp. To reduce hair fall mix rosemary and lavender essential oil with almond oil and massage the scalp and roots.
2. Walnuts/Akhrot- These brain shaped nuts are also called brain food due to the presence of Omega 3 fatty acids.
For Skin- Rich in Vitamin B and linoleic acid, walnut delays the ageing process by efficiently managing stress and mood which is the main cause of wrinkles and premature ageing. Lower stress levels result in a better skin. Walnut oil is a great skin moisturiser. Try this simple face pack for glowing skin- Blend 4 walnuts, 2 teaspoons oats, 1 teaspoon honey, 1 teaspoon cream, and 4 drops of olive oil apply all over face and wash when dry.
For Hair- Make 3 walnuts part of your breakfast to feed your hair with omega-3, omega-6, and omega-9 fatty acids and make it stronger and longer. Direct and regular application of walnut oil also keeps balding at a distance.
3. Raisins/Kishmish- Consuming handful of raisins every day helps in reviving from anaemia and gives relief from constipation.
For skin- Consuming raisins helps in the production of red blood cells and detoxification which further keeps our skin healthy by speeding up the skin repair system, plump out the skin and makes the skin nourished. Resveratrol, an antioxidant is found in high quantity in raisins helps in slowing down skin ageing.
For hair- Enriched with Iron and Vitamin C, raisins help in improving the blood circulation which further makes the hair strong by stimulating the growth of hair follicle cells.
4. Cashew nuts/Kaju- These kidney-shaped nuts are packed with energy, protein, antioxidants, minerals and vitamins including essential amino acids, proteins and unsaturated fats
For skin- Cashew nuts when eaten in limits help in improving the health of skin and prevent skin cancer. Cashew nut oil which is used in a number of cosmetics helps in rejuvenating the skin and reduces tan. Cashew nuts are rich in Vitamin E and consist of anti-ageing properties, which is fruitful for skin.
For Hair- Love to keep your hair black and shiny, have 2–3 cashew nuts every day. Enriched with copper mineral, regular massage with cashew nut oil generates melanin which gives colour to hair and skin.
5. Pistachio/Pista- This small nut delivers 30 vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients. Pistachios are rich in Vitamin E, copper, phosphorous, magnesium and B6 all action packed in one nut which helps in preventing diabetes, maintain a healthy heart, increase haemoglobin etc.
For skin- Enriched with all the essentials oils and fatty acids regular consumption of pistachios helps in keeping the skin healthy and glowing. For dry skin replace regular moisturiser with pistachio oil as it is rich in vitamin E.
For Hair- Deficiency of Biotin leads to major hair fall, this can be avoided by regularly applying pistachio oil. In addition, it is also a great remedy for treating split ends, dehydrated and colour damaged hair.
6.Dates/Khajur- Dates are a good source of calcium, iron, copper, magnesium, folic acid, fibres, vitamin C, vitamin P and the list goes on.
For Skin- The nutrients in dates help to ward off wrinkles, premature ageing process, skin problems like acne, blemishes etc. Regular intake of dates helps in repair of damaged skin cells as well as strengthens the elasticity of your skin. For a glowing and nourished skin simply mash the soaked dates with honey and wash off after 20 minutes.
For Hair- Just consume 3 dates a day and say goodbye to hair fall. Dates oil can also be used to massage the hair scalp once a week which will help in the growth of hair follicles leaving it stronger, healthier and shinier.
These are just few of the myriad dried fruits available in the market today which come with similar or better health benefits. Make these little snacks part of your regular diet to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
Buy Dry Fruits at Tjori.
