'I'm 41 - one powerful smoothie is the secret to my healthy hair and it tastes delicious'

Michelle Ravanat, 41, uses chia seeds, pumpkin seeds and sunflower seeds to transform her smoothie into a nutritional bomb.

“This powerful hair smoothie is my secret to healthy hair at 41," she told her YouTube followers. "It contains no dairy and no refined sugar and tastes really good.

The beauty influencer proceeds by roasting her chia, flax seeds and sunflower seeds in a pan to enhance the yield of oils.

She explained: “Chia seeds are bursting with essential amino acids to prevent hair thinning, flaxseeds increase circulation and prevent breakages.

“Sunflower seeds are a great source of iron, [I add] pumpkin seeds for their oleic and linoleic acids. Roasting the seeds releases the oils and makes them more effective.”

The star ingredient in Michelle's smoothie is Lotus seeds - used in Asian cuisine for their protein and magnesium. Both these nutrients help strengthen your hair.

“Now that the seeds are roasted we are ready to blend this into a nice mixture. It’s time to make the smoothie,” said Michelle.

In the first stage, she pulverises the seeds before adding almonds and dates to the blender.

The almonds and dates provide an iron boost that supports optimal blood flow. Next, Michelle adds water to create an emulsion.

“This recipe comes from Ayurveda,” she added. “The Indian medicinal science that’s passed down from generation to generation.”

The abundance of fatty acids in nuts and seeds nourishes hair in the follicles. Omega-3s, in particular, can help soothe and moisturise a dry scalp.

“This may help to prevent flakiness,” explains Holland and Barrett. “By encouraging the production of scalp oils, dry and lifeless hair gets a natural dose of nourishment that can add a sheen to your locks.”

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The healthy body points out that the foods richest in omega-3 fatty acids are salmon, sardines and mackerel.

“However, if you follow a vegetarian or vegan diet, omega-3 is also found in nuts, seeds and dark leafy greens,” it adds.

“Flaxseed, chia seeds, kale, algae and walnuts are alternative plant-derived sources. You can also look out for eggs, milk, yoghurt, bread and spreads that are fortified with omega 3.”

Individuals who struggle with chronically dry and flaky skin could use oils and creams containing omega-3 as a useful top-up of fatty acids.