Support and Maintain Healthy Skin, Nails and Hair

It’s the second most abundant mineral on earth—and the third most abundant element in the human body—and it’s crucial for collagen development: silicon. It has a variety of benefits to improve the health of skin, nails and hair. 

Before we dive in, let's check our knowledge. Silica is a compound derived from silicon. Silicon is a naturally occuring chemical element, while silicone is a flexible synthetic polymer. Silicon is essential for collagen production and crosslinking, supporting keratin, elastin, bones and cartilage for structural integrity and movement. The major and most important source of silicon is the silica in our diet. In most Western countries, daily intake ranges from 20mg/day to 50mg/day—but this doesn’t always translate to bioavailable silicon. 

If it sounds complicated, it’s because it is. According to AOR, foods like unrefined grains or fibrous vegetables, which have higher silica content, have low silica bioavailability because the silica is bound within lignin, cellulose and phytates—all poorly digested. A significant amount of silica we ingest is in insoluble forms that the body cannot absorb. 

Dietary supplements, like AOR’s OrthoSil, can increase the blood levels of the silicon element in the body. Since silicon also aids in bone mineralization—and enhances skin, hair and nail health by bonding with collagen, elastin and keratin—a daily supplement is a no-brainer. 

Silica is also naturally found in green beans, bananas, leafy greens, brown rice, cereal, lentils, and beer. Fun fact: beer actually has more silica per portion than other food, but is a less digestible form of the compound. A shame, right? 

You’ve probably heard about collagen before, but we’ll recap what exactly it is—and how it plays a part in your skin, hair and nails—before we tackle the silica benefits on each of those areas of the body. 

Collagen and the fibres formed by collagen are essentially a glue, holding the parts of your body together. It’s a key structural protein that provides support to the tissue in your body, including tendons and muscles. On the surface of course, we see the effects of collagen (and by extension, silica) on our skin and in our hair and nails. Your body naturally produces collagen, but it tends to decline with age. 
 

Silica for Skin, Hair and Nails

Intrinsic aging affects the growth of collagen fibers, which along with external factors like smoking, pollution or poor nutrition have a negative effect on the elasticity of your skin. On the skin, silicon activates hydroxylating enzymes which improves skin strength and elasticity. Studies on silicon from 1993 observed “statistically significant improvements” to the thickness of skin and the condition of wrinkles.

For hair, a higher silica content has been connected to a lower rate of hair loss (something postpartum moms might love!). It doesn’t necessarily promote hair growth, a common claim of supplements, but OrthoSil will help with hair strength and prevent hair thinning. This stems from the same increased collagen production that benefits your skin—neat, right?

But wait, there’s more! Did you know your nails are primarily made of silicon? Not the artificial ones you might have added in a salon, but silicon is the main element in your true nails. Silica can save brittle nails, strengthening both the nail and the nail bed, stimulating growth by providing vital nutrients. 

Fact Checking Silica Safety

Silica by itself is a naturally-occuring compound, found as sand or in rocks and soil. It might seem like this is then not something you want to ingest, or perhaps you’ve heard about the dangers of silica. 

When the media speaks about the dangers, they’re referring to crystalline silica, which more commonly is found as substances such as quartz. Inhaling crystalline silica can lead to lung diseases, to COPD or to kidney disease—but this is not the silica you find in supplements like OrthoSil. 

For silica ingestion, the FDA recommends that you don’t consume more silica than what would equate to 2 percent of your daily food intake. A true recommended dose of silicon hasn’t been identified by any formal body, but estimates suggest anywhere from 10-30mg a day is a healthy amount. 
 

AOR’s Patented Advantage

AOR’s OrthoSil contains Mesoporosil®, a patented form of silica that addresses bioavailability concerns of the mineral silicon. Mesoporosil® has a high surface area with what AOR calls nanoscale pores. These allow for a controlled and targeted release of silicon. A controlled release lends itself to a more sustained and efficient effect. 

AOR is a proudly Canadian company, manufacturing their products in Alberta. Their innovative and scientific practices are the backbone of their natural health products that empower people to lead their best lives. Their products are the gold standard for supporting a healthy lifestyle at every stage of life—explore them all to improve your daily health. 

Support and enhance skin, hair and nail health with silica, through the daily supplement use of OrthoSil. Guarantee you’re receiving an adequate amount of silica without relying on potentially inaccessible dietary forms and benefit from the Mesoporosil® advantage. As with any new supplement, be sure to consult your healthcare professional before adding it to your routine.