Hi owenlana
I have a very healthy diet indeed with lots of fish, fresh fruit and veg, nuts and pulses as well as some meat - I've had blood tests at the doc and I am not deficient in anything. I take exercise, live in the country have lots of sun etc. However despite all this my hair is definitely dry and brittle - but perhaps because I've been colouring it for years
. I use lots of things on it to make it shine etc. This is an unfortunate sign of menopausal years - when we are young and fertile we have lovely glossy locks but these disappear once menopause is reached. Re skin - my skin is quite dry and again has got drier with age but I use plenty of lotions and creams to keep it moist especially as I go out in the sun a lot.
I'm not sure about the vegetarian thing - ie it not being enough - I haven't time to look this up at the mo'.
You say you take cod liver oil so you are not vegetarian but I presume don't eat meat? That diet is excellent and provided it's balanced and fresh as above should be OK. If your skin is ageing or lifeless you need to look at everything - drink lots of water, get outside a lot, take exercise, limit caffeine, alcohol and don't smoke etc.
My vitamin regime - I take
pure cod liver oil every few days just to give an extra boost which I probably don't need as I eat so much fresh fish, and chew the odd calcium tablet - again every few days - for what good that does. In addition because I still have a cycle I have some herbal iron tonic again every few days. That all seems to do the trick. I don't think you need to spend a lot of money on vitamins. The website about HRT and vitamin depletion is an American one which is trying to sell you products! The general feeling now is that you should get most of your vitamins and minerals from your diet.
Oh - you say you are 45 - might I suggest at your age you could have a higher dose of HRT (ie more oestrogen) especially if you reached the menopause a while ago? You could take separate oestrogen and progesterone which would allow you to tweak the dose.
Hope this helps!
Hurdity x