Silica is a mineral best known for its joint and cartilage health benefits as well as for increasing bone strength and integrity. But another purpose is quickly gaining and it is being utilized also for its hair-thickening and strengthening properties, as well as for its dual purpose for healthy, smooth skin and strong nails.
After all, most any nutrient that helps contribute to healthy hair usually also contributes to healthy skin. Supplementing with silica can be very cost effective. However as with any other mineral or vitamin, it is still best to get most of it through your dietary choices.
Best dietary sources of silica
Silica is a naturally occurring mineral found in several different types of food. Thankfully, you can find in both meat and non-meat foods so you can get it in your diet whether you’re a vegetarian or not.
Raw oats are one of the best grain sources of silica. The type that has been dried and is what we are now used to as “instant oatmeal” does not have the same levels of this nutrient that the raw version (slow cooked) has.
Some natural spring water may be infused with silica since the nutrient does come from the dirt in which plants are grown. Depending on where the spring water comes from and how it is filtered for purity, your water may have modest amounts of silica (among other minerals).
The next grain that has the highest levels of silica is millet. Minimally cooking and processing of course will preserve the most benefit. Other grains that are high in silica are wheat germ and barley.
Some of the best fruit and vegetable sources are strawberries, asparagus, rhubarb, and green beans among others. If you love to eat nuts, then you’ll love to hear that brazil nuts are the highest in silica, with almonds, walnuts and pistachios following suit.
Silica is found in most vegetables and fruits in at least trace amounts since they are all grown form the earth which naturally infused them with some level of the mineral. However, some are better sources than others due to their individual ability to transform the silica that comes from the soil into the version of the mineral that the human body can easily absorb.
Best supplements for silica
Horsetail is by far the most well known herb for high silica content. It not only contains extremely high levels of the mineral as a large part of its biological makeup, but it also supplies us with highly bio-available silica.
Horsetail is easily grown and dried into the powder used in supplements, so it is a very cost effective way to get additional silica in your diet. Many people are finding that supplementing with this helps them to grow their hair out while also improving its appearance. A nice side benefit can also be thicker, more resilient skin, new eyebrow growth for those that have over-plucked in the past (like me), much stronger nails and even improved joint health.
In addition to horsetail, there are other herbs and plant sources for this nutrient. One of them is bamboo extract. Bamboo extract is supposed to have more silica content ounce to ounce than horsetail, however it is going to cost more.
Danna Norek founded AuraSensory.com. Product line includes an MSM & Vitamin C Ester Hydrating & Brightening Face Cream and all natural skin-plumping Hyaluronic Acid Serum, Sulfate Free Natural Shine Enhancing Shampoo and Deep Hydration Conditioner, a very effective Natural Deodorant, and other body care. Visit to learn more about what chemicals & ingredients to avoid in your beauty and personal care products at AuraSensory.com.
