It doesn't matter how much make-up or hair gel you use, if you aren't well on the inside, it will invariably show up on the outside. Nature provides us with the vitamins and minerals to feed a perfect body, and will encourage a not-so-healthy one on the road to perfection.

To get your daily dose of beauty from the inside, try growing plants in pots and share the benefits with all the family. Plants have unique properties that will stimulate your taste buds while assisting your body in the repair and healing of minor imperfections.

Pots of Vitamins:

Vitamin A acts as an antioxidant and helps neutralize free radicals. Too little can result in unhealthy skin. Carrots are a great source of vitamin A and one medium sized carrot will provide nearly all of your daily recommended allowance. Other good sources are:

• Cherries
• Broccoli
• Green Beans

All these foods can be grown in a moderate climate and in containers or large pots. Generally root crops, such as carrots, will need a good depth of soil. If you haven't got space in a garden, try growing them in a deep trough-shaped container. The new 'Parmex' variety produces tiny bite sized carrots. Make sure the container is well-drained but don't let the soil dry out.

Cherries can be grown in large pots but make sure you buy a 'dwarf' variety and check on manufacturer's growing recommendations before you buy. If you don't provide the right conditions for your plant, it won't thrive.

Broccoli and green beans are fairly hardy and will thrive in a vegetable garden but can be grown in large pots on a balcony or patio. There are miniature broccoli varieties as well as dwarf french beans. The 'purple tepee' variety of french bean has purple pods that turn bright green during cooking. Avoid climbing plants unless you are set up with outdoor containers positioned against a trellis fence or other support structure.

Vitamin B1 converts fats and carbohydrates into energy. A daily dose of B1 helps the metabolic rate and also aids in the function of the digestive and nervous systems. Vitamin B1 can't be stored in the body so needs to be replenished every day. Nuts are a good source of B1 but you do need a fairly large area for a nut tree to thrive and crop well. There are smaller varieties of most nut trees available including the walnut 'Lara' - however, these trees still grow to about 12 metres high. Other good sources of B1 are:

• Broad beans
• Sweet corn
• Garlic

Broad beans can be planted outside in autumn or winter. They can also be grown in large containers. Dwarf varieties such as heritage 'Crimson Flowered' are available from online suppliers. It's a good idea to try different varieties. Generally the rule of thumb is that if the pot is big enough the plants should be fine.

Again with sweet corn, usually grown outside in blocks for wind-pollination, miniature varieties such as 'Minor F1' can be grown successfully in pots.

Garlic is always useful in the kitchen as well as being a great source of vitamins and minerals. With Spring planting and Autumn planting varieties available, it's possible to get loads of culinary brownie points as well as a daily dose of vitamin B1 all year round.

For more vitamin pots, go to Grow Your Own Beauty Pots, part 2

This content was provided by one of our users, Lianda