You'll know your young charges have officially reached teenage-hood once the preening in front of the mirror starts. Time for a little chat about beauty coming from the inside.
Underlying the youthful glossiness of great skin, hair and nails is the health of the body's connective tissue. Silica is an important element that supports this tissue, which includes the cartilage, ligaments and epidermis of the skin, nails and hair, along with the aorta, trachea and tendons.
So before junior starts to run riot on face creams, mud packs and deodorant, the underlying cause of any lacklustre hair or clogged pores have to be addressed.
The most abundant mineral in the earth's crust, silica occurs in nature as silicon dioxide and exists largely in sand and quartz. In our bodies, it exists mostly in the bones and connective tissue.
"It's an important mineral at any age, but especially during growth phases," says Blackmores Advisory naturopath Lynda Brewin.
Silica supports collagen formation and the formation of connective tissue including cartilage, tendons, bones, nails and skin.
Since silica also aids calcium absorption, it plays a strong role in regulating bone calcification. Ensuring adequate intake of this mineral sets the groundwork for healthy bones in older years, especially for women.
According to accredited practising naturopath and author, Judy Jacka, silica also cleanses the body. "Silica causes an outward movement, bringing to the surface unwanted matter such as mucus," Jacka explains. "It's often given to ripen abscesses, boils and pimples, so a young person suffering from acne would benefit from extra silica in the diet."
There's no recommended daily intake for silica, but western diets for adults will usually provide about 200 mg daily. Children on low-fibre diets receive a lot less. "Food sources that are naturally high in cellulose and natural fibre tend to be high in silica," advises Jacka. The following foods are a good start.
"You know your teenager may not be getting enough dietary silicon if they have symptoms resulting from weakness of their connective tissue," explains Brewin.
That includes having weak, brittle hair and splitting nails that have ridges, poor wound healing, sweaty hands or feet, persistent foot odour, and poor development of tooth enamel.
"In such cases, supplementing with a suitable nutritional formula containing silica for several months may be helpful", advises Brewin.