Salad Grows Nails and Hair!

I have been pursuing a very healthy lifestyle in efforts to attain a toned, slim body to fit into a beautiful and scandalous bridesmaid dress. Part of my plan includes eating a healthy salad each day. There are many benefits to the type of salad that I eat. But I want to point out one benefit in particular: Longer hair, and longer, stronger nails.

The bride saw my hair and couldn't believe how long it was! I used to take hair supplements all the time to help it grow, after it had fallen out at one point. Those pills worked like a dream. But after some time, I couldn't afford the pills anymore. So, I haven't taken them in months. But my hair has been growing and growing. She asked about the pills and I admitted to her it wasn't the pills. It was my salad.

My nails continue to surprise me. I used to have brittle nails. They chipped, broke, bent. Now, it looks like I have a permanent french manicure but it's just my natural nail! They are so strong and they look amazing. Again, it's the salad. I'm telling you. The only other time I had nails like this was when I was taking my other supplements.

This "wonder salad" is very tasty. And it has so many other benefits because it's full of vitamins, nutrients, minerals, antioxidents, and more. My salads are also excellent because they never have to be exactly the same. And they take about 5 minutes to whip together if you have any of the ingredients around. You never have to have everything. You can use what you have. I will explain how I make it:

First, I place some greens in a bowl. Not too much- there will be many other ingredients.

• Organic, prewashed spinach (the kind that comes in a plastic box)
• Organic other greens (optional)

Then I add the other stuff. Whatever I have on hand, that I am in the mood to eat, and that I feel will taste good together. (And you might have different ingredients than me, which is fine. Like broccoli! I hate broccoli, so it's not on the list.) Make sure none of your ingredients are salted, unless you want to first put salt on your avacado before putting it on the salad (to enhance its flavor), and also to put the nuts on last.

You will need a very small handful of each ingredient for one salad. This is also generally the order in which I put stuff in, but it doesn't matter too much. NEVER use all the ingredients. Just a couple veggies, one or two fruit, a nut, and raisin/craisin if you wish. Top with protein if you can. Cheese is optional.

I will put an arrow to the ones I have been putting together lately.

• →Diced pepper (green, orange, yellow, or red)
• →Diced cucumber
• →Cut up snap peas or snow peas
• Avacado
• Chopped radishes
• Halved cherry tomatoes
• →Chopped strawberries
• →Blueberries
• Other chopped seasonal fruit
• Fresh herbs (any) I like cilantro, parsley, and green onion
• Diced Cheese of any kind (I prefer cheddar)
• Raisins
• →Craisins
• Sliced or chopped almonds
• →Chopped Pecans
• →(With this combination(the ingredients I've "→'d") I also top with balsamic vinegarette and some sliced chicken breast. It's amazing.

Shake the bowl slightly to set the ingredients cozy with one another.

Top with a protein. Sliced or diced chicken, pulled pork, OR quinoa that has been cooked with chicken, beef, or vegetable stock.

Rarely will you need a dressing. However, if you prefer to have something, you may squeeze a citrus fruit over top. I normally use lemon but other citrus fruits are good too, depending on your salad. If you use craisins with pecans, a balsamic vinegarette MAKES the salad, no matter what you have going on underneath. If you use the chicken flavoured quinoa with radish and snap peas, a lemon poppy seed dressing is quite nice. You only need a little.

One of these salads is filling enough to be considered an entire meal. Make sure to drink a glass of water with it! :) I guarantee you, you will be feeling great if you can do this once a day- for so many reasons. You will be healthier over all, and your hair and nails will be amazing.