I love using something from my kitchen cabinet for skin or hair care rather than just going to market and picking up branded products that contain the same active ingredients as the stuff we use almost every day. You can see for yourself how simple these things can be if you know the ingredients (and your high school chemistry!).
Let’s look at the all too common curd for instance. (home made curd is the best because it is not sweetened and contains live culture ) for my hair and curd with organic rice flour as a body scrub.
Curd for skin /hair care –
The zinc and lactic acid contained in curd are great for a healthy skin. Lactic acid fermentation in and of itself enhances the micro-nutrient profile of several foods hence lactic acid in curd more beneficial than lactic acid in milk.
Zinc accelerates the renewal of the skin cells. Zinc creams are used for babies to soothe diaper rash and to heal cuts and wounds. Zinc has also proven effective in treating acne, a problem that affects especially adolescents, and zinc has been reported to have a positive effect on psoriasis and neurodermitis.
Zinc is also used as an anti-inflammatory agent and can help soothe the skin tissue, particularly in cases of poison ivy, sunburn, blisters and certain gum diseases.
Zinc is important for healthy hair. Insufficient zinc levels may result in loss of hair, hair that looks thin and dull and that goes grey early. There are also a number of shampoos which contain zinc to help prevent dandruff.
The zinc present in curd (about .4-.9 mg per 100 gms of yogurt) also lightens the blemishes, discoloration caused due to poor circulation under the eyes and also the darkening of the skin due to suntan.
Gently massaging curd into the skin is sure to help remove dead skin cells, smoothen out the fine lines, tighten pores, hydrate dry patches and give a much-required shine and glow. The curd that I use for my skin and hair have more fat content as the high levels of fat and live cultures are the best for rejuvenation of the skin.
Due to acidic nature of the curd it is also very helpful in fighting against acne causing bacteria, fungus and germs.
Curd contains anti-fungal and anti-bacterial properties that help stimulate hair growth by acting as a natural cleanser and helps get rid of unwanted dandruff from the scalp. The anti-bacterial properties of yogurt also help soothe the scalp and reduce itchiness.
Have a glowing Sunday 🙂
Love
Babita Jaishankar
Babita Jaishankar 