Silicon is naturally present in our diet and in the body. It is found particularly in the skin, hair, nails, bones and cartilage.
The main dietary sources of silicon include whole grains such as oats, barley and brown rice, certain fruits such as raisins and dates, certain vegetables such as green beans, as well as some mineral waters. A highly refined or poorly varied diet may provide less silicon. With age, both dietary silicon intake and silicon concentrations in the body may also decrease.
Silicon therefore deserves particular attention when looking to complement the diet. However, not all sources are equivalent. The amount shown on the label alone is not enough to determine the quality of a supplement.
The form in which silicon is provided plays an important role in its availability. Choosing a good silicon supplement therefore also means choosing a suitable form that is readily available to the body.