Naturally present in human bones, skin and teeth, silica—also
known as silicon, and not to be confused with silicone—is an
often-overlooked health superstar. For example, in her book
Revitalize Your Hormones, Dr. Theresa Dale points out that
silica acts as a stabilizer in the body, restoring the balance
between calcium and magnesium, which also helps to balance
hormones. Additionally, silica is a stabilizer for body tissues
and membranes. What’s more is that the body requires silica to
form collagen, which, of course, is the protein noted for
keeping your skin smooth and supple. Collagen gives that
youthful appearance to your skin and nails. That’s important,
too, since, as we age, our bodies can come up short on silica,
resulting in wrinkles, dry skin, lifeless locks, and brittle
bones and nails. However, maintaining collagen underneath the
skin supports elasticity—and is in no small part attributed to
the role of silica. In fact, silica is regarded as nature’s
building block and supports healthier, younger-