Silica is a necessary trace element in the human body.
As a main component of collagen, it is essential for building bones, tissues, hair, skin, and nails. It is also critical for the formation of joint cartilage, ligaments, tendons, bone and lung tissue, and blood vessels.
Silica provides structural stability and strength to body tissue. It converges in calcification sites in bone tissue, helping with the uptake of calcium. Silica is very valuable as an anti-ageing agent. It shows in the skin when silica is deficient, as sagging skin devoid of elasticity. We are born with adequate silica in our bodies, but this declines with age.
Hair becomes thicker and fuller, nails strengthen and grow faster, and skin shows a noticeable reduction in wrinkles within about a three month period from supplementing with silica.
The possible signs associated with a deficiency in silica include premature ageing skin, poor hair and nail quality, and osteoporosis. Silica rich foods include oats, oat-bran, brown rice and rice-bran, wheat-bran, and vegetables. This, however, greatly depends on the level of silica in the soil at growing. The over-refining and processing of our grains and cereals are causing valuable nutrients such as silica to be lost.
Nettles are a good source of silica, but best of all is the wild weed ‘Horsetail’, which many consider a nuisance in the garden. It is the most valuable source of silica as the roots travel many feet into the ground, absorbing a variety of nutrients from the soil. Silica from Horsetail is available in capsules, tea, and juice. The juice is valuable for those suffering stomach complaints as it coats the lining of the whole digestive tract easing discomfort and aiding healing.
For further information contact Susan in Au Naturel, Irishtown, Athlone, on (090 ) 6487993.
