Natural Foods for Healthy Hair

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The way you look can affect the way you feel, so when your hair looks great you feel fantastic. Good hair not only depends on what you wash and condition with but also what you are feeding it with your diet. We list the top food you should be eating to put the ‘wow factor into your hair.

Dairy

The low-fat varieties can feed your hair without you piling on the extra pounds. Foods such as cottage cheese and yoghurt are cheap and convenient ways to get important protein types (casein and whey) into your hair to feed it and keep it strong.

Fish

The oily varieties, such as salmon and mackerel, contain fatty acids, such as omega 3, which can slow hair loss.

Fish also contains a good supply of iron and vitamin B12, which ensures healthy skin and hair. Iron is stored in your hair follicles and used by the body for other means. If the body is depleted of iron, these stores are used by other cells and the hair suffers.

Wholegrains

Wholegrain food options contain the nutrients important for hair, these being zinc, B vitamins and iron. Zinc is used to regulate hormones that can have a direct effect on the thickness and growth of your hair. Having enough zinc in your diet will make sure your hair is protected.

Nuts

Walnuts, cashews and pecans are a great source of zinc, an important mineral that can slow hair loss and thinness.

Selenium is also found in walnuts. This important mineral is vital for the health of your scalp, and it, therefore, decreases the likelihood of you getting dandruff.

A small handful of a selection of these nuts is a great addition to your daily diet.

Beans

These important legumes, along with pulses, are an important food for your hair. They not only contain plentiful amounts of iron and zinc but also protein, which is an important building block for hair. In addition, they also contain biotin, an important B vitamin, which can improve the hairs strength against breakages.

Carrots

Better known for their role in keeping your eyes and vision healthy, carrots also help with a healthy head of hair.

Containing vitamin A, these vegetables help you get that shiny well-conditioned look by maintaining the natural oils in the hair and keeping your scalp in tip-top condition.

Eggs

Protein is an important component to building each hair strand, and your hair can suffer if you’re not eating enough.

Adding eggs to your menu in whatever form (poached, scrambled, fried, etc) is a great way of feeding your hair. Also, they contain great levels of biotin and vitamin B12.

Dark green vegetables

A colourful diet not only improves your health, but also the health of your hair. Dark leafy greens, such as spinach and broccoli, contain iron and calcium – which are important nutrients for the hair.

Also, the look of your hair is helped by the production of natural oils, such as sebum. This oil is a natural hair conditioner, and green foods are packed full of vitamins A and C – which are needed for its production.

Poultry

Lack of protein in the diet can be a problem for the hair. Leading to brittle hair strands, and in chronic cases, loss of hair colour. Your feathered friends, chicken and turkey contain all the protein you would need to maintain a healthy head of hair. Iron is also plentiful in poultry, which is important in the maintenance of the hair follicles.

Oysters

These sea-loving filter feeders contain zinc, an important mineral known for its antioxidant properties and its role in healthy hair maintenance. These may not be regular ingredients of your diet, but you can also get similar levels of this nutrient from either beef or lamb.

Bananas

Lack of vitamin B6 in the diet has been attributed to hair thinning and hair loss. This important B vitamin is responsible for helping the body absorb the nutrients it receives from the food we eat.

On top of this, the availability of this vitamin has an effect on the production of red blood cells. These cells nurture your hair follicles, making sure they have all they need for great shine and growth.

Brown rice

We have already discussed the importance of protein, however, protein needs complex carbohydrates to help provide energy for the building of strong hair. Brown rice is perfect at providing sustained energy and also packs B vitamins, which are needed for strong hair growth and maintenance.