Caring for hair is almost like caring for plants: you want to do whatever you can to keep a plant healthy so that it blossoms and grows. This philosophy can be applied to hair as well being that healthy and growing hair is something everyone wants to have (and maintain!) However, as we get older, hair growth can slow, or in the worst cases, stop entirely. This can happen from a number of different causes besides simply aging. There are precautions we can take in order to prevent this from happening, but have you ever guessed that your diet matters?
The answer in short is yes. There are foods, drinks, and supplements that one can consume which promotes hair growth. The secret to this is the vital nutrients that can help hair stay healthy and promote growth. Our bodies can use these nutrients and carry them to hair follicles, responsible for hair length, volume, and density, and help boost scalp health and cell regeneration. No food by itself can be the sole solution, however, as a balanced diet is still necessary in order to stay healthy! If you want to start incorporating foods that promote hair growth into your diet, here are some to help get you started.
Fruits
Fruits are highly regarded as some of the most nutrient rich foods out there. Their reputation is preceded by their high volume of vitamins and minerals. What’s not as well-known is what those nutrients can provide for hair health. With a CDC recommended consumption amount of 1.5 to 2 cups per day, certain fruits not only stimulate hair growth, but also contribute to moisture and hydration. This food group works to improve scalp health, hair strand density, and strand moisturization which can prevent problems such as dehydrated or damaged locks along with hair thinning.
You’ll often find very high levels of Vitamin C, a vitamin which fights to prevent hair loss and maintain thicker and healthy hair in fruits such as mangoes, oranges, and pineapples. These fruits host an assortment of healthy vitamins and minerals including B vitamins, folic acid, magnesium, and calcium. Pumpkin, believe it or not, has 200% of the daily Vitamin A that one should have! It also houses hair growth promoters such as beta-carotene, calcium, magnesium, and potassium. Watermelon is full of hair growing sources such as vitamin C, magnesium, selenium, and zinc. This melon assists your body in the production of blood cells, collagen, and oxygenation for hair follicles, which is vital for hair growth and maintenance.
Seafood
Seafood is another prime source of hair growth promoting ingredients. This food group is special on its own with the health benefits that it provides, especially those who want healthy hair. Vitamin D, which helps create hair follicles and prevent hair loss, is not found in most foods naturally. Seafood and fatty fish are excellent sources of nutrients that boost hair and scalp health, including D, and fatty acids. Studies have found that hair growth and cell cycle increases were correlated with the consumption of fermented fish oil extract, or FFO, and an omega-3 fatty acid called DHA.
Fish oil was found to have hair growth benefits by stimulating hair in a process called the anagen cycle, which is an important phase of hair generation. Mackerel, sardines, tuna, and salmon are some of the most beneficial out of the fatty fish variety as they contain fatty acids such as DHA. Other seafood such as crab, shrimp, scallops and mussels contain rich amounts of nutrients that increase follicle and hair health.
Vegetables
This food group boasts the most vitamin and mineral rich foods around. Vegetables contain hair benefiting ingredients that other food groups may not have. Vitamins A-C, E, and K are found in some of the most common vegetables served at dinner. Minerals like Calcium and Iron, which help with hair health, travel to hair follicles and roots along with these vitamins. Eating around two or three cups of vegetables a day is recommended in conjunction with the other food groups.
Broccoli and red bell peppers contain more than 100% of one’s daily vitamin C intake! Broccoli contains other vitamins and folic acid and acts as an inhibitor to hair loss. Red bell peppers, on the other hand, contain vitamins along with folate and potassium. They increase blood circulation and improve overall scalp health whether they are cooked or left raw. Cucumber lovers can rejoice with the added benefits of antioxidants and hydration which increases hair durability and nutrients for the scalp. Corn, more specifically sweet corn, contains antioxidants that reduce hair loss and strengthens hair. Other vegetables that promote healthy hair are, carrots, Vidalia onions , and collard greens.
Keranique studies the ins and outs of hair growth and ingredients that promote healthy hair and scalp health. Visit us online to check out our supplement, KeraViatin that contains some of the key ingredients featured here and other hair growing components!
This article is not intended to treat any disease or offer a substitution for professional medical advice.
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