Food for Your Hair

Believe it or not what you eat affects your hair. Yup, if you are indulging in foods that are not good for your body your hair is also suffering. So that is where I’ll start.

Drink at least eight (8oz) glasses of water daily. Eat a lot of fresh fruits which also has water. (No Surprise there)

You also need to exercise your body regularly.

Here is why. Hair grows from your body temple and if you are deficient on vitamins and other nutrients that keep it healthy not only can your hair be dry and wearing thin but your nails and skin can get bad too.

As hair is made of protein, ensuring you have enough protein in your diet is crucial for making hair strong and healthy. If you are not consuming enough protein in your diet, your hair is likely to become dry, brittle and weak.

Extremely low protein diets may result in restricted hair growth and even hair loss. Choose chicken, turkey, fish, dairy products and eggs as excellent sources of protein along with vegetarian sources such as legumes and nuts.

Iron is an especially important mineral for hair and too little iron is a major cause of hair loss. The hair follicle and root are fed by a nutrient rich blood supply.

When iron levels (serum ferritin) fall below a certain point, you may experience anaemia. This disrupts the nutrient supply to the follicle, affecting the hair growth cycle and may result in shedding.

Animal products such as red meat, chicken and fish provide iron with a high bioavailability, meaning the iron is readily available to the body.

Vegetarians can raise their iron stores by including lentils, spinach and other leafy green vegetables such as broccoli, kale and salad greens.

Vitamin C aids the absorption of iron so foods high in vitamin C are good to eat in conjunction with iron-rich foods.

Vitamin C is also an antioxidant so is used readily by the body. The best sources are blackcurrants, blueberries, broccoli, guava, kiwi fruits, oranges, papaya, strawberries and sweet potatoes.

Vitamin C helps in the production of collagen which strengthens the capillaries that supply the hair shafts.

Vitamin A is needed by the body to make sebum. Sebum is an oily substance created by our hairs sebaceous glands and provides a natural conditioner for a healthy scalp.

Without sebum we may experience an itchy scalp and dry hair. Include animal products and orange/yellow coloured vegetables which are high in beta-carotene (which makes vitamin A) such as carrots, pumpkins and sweet potatoes.

Scalp protection involves other important minerals, notably zinc and selenium. A lack of zinc can lead to hair loss and a dry, flaky scalp. Fortified cereals and wholegrains are a good source of zinc along with oysters, beef and eggs.

The sun can damage our hair just like it can damage our skin so ensure you eat foods rich in vitamin E to provide protection for your hair.

Nuts are nutritional powerhouses, providing zinc and selenium as well as vitamin E so try to include them as part of a balanced diet.

Biotin is a water-soluble B vitamin. Too little biotin can cause brittle hair and may lead to hair loss. Include biotin rich foods such as wholegrains, liver, egg yolk, soy flour and yeast.

Disclaimer: The information on this POST is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional advice. The opinions expressed within this article are the personal opinions of the author. All content, including text, graphics, images and information, contained on or available through this article is for general information purposes / educational purposes only, and to ensue discussion or debate.  

Thank you …The hair cycle...Each hair is attached to the scalp via a follicle. There are between 100,000 and 350,000 hair follicles on the human scalp.

Each follicle grows its hair for an average of 1000 days (three years) and then rests for a period of around 100 days (three months) before being shed and a new hair begins to grow.

This pattern of active growth followed by the resting period varies significantly from person to person and is influenced by age, diet and our state of health.

What is hair made of?

Did you know...

...Whether your hair is straight or curly depends on the shape of the cortex? On average, blondes have more hair and redheads have the least.

Hair is primarily made of a protein called keratin that also makes nails and forms the outer protective layer of skin. Each hair consists of three layers:

1.  The cuticle - the outer layer, thin and colourless. It acts as the protective layer.

2. The cortex which contains melanin, which is responsible for hair colour.

3. The medulla, the innermost layer which reflects light.

Through thick and thin...

The length of hair that you are able to grow is controlled by the duration of the growing phase, which varies between individuals.

We all lose some hair naturally each day when we brush, comb or wash it and as long as new hairs are being produced at the same rate as those falling out, there will be no difference in hair volume.

However if the rate of shedding exceeds production the net result is hair loss or thinning.

A variety of factors can alter the normal hair growth cycle and cause temporary or permanent hair loss including medication, chemotherapy, exposure to chemicals and toxins such as nicotine, hormonal factors, thyroid disease, stress or nutritional factors.

Want to add word or two?

Hair loss

We shed hair every day as part of our body's natural process. Hair loss can happen at any time of life for any number of reasons. When hair loss becomes a concern, it is important to determine the cause before seeking out the appropriate treatment.

Potential non-dietary factors for hair loss include:

• Age influences hair strength. As we grow older, there is a tendency for our hair fibres to become finer and shorter and we may experience hair loss or greying. It is normal for women to experience changes to their hair post pregnancy and as they enter the menopause. 
• Genetic hair loss is the most common hair loss problem affecting men and women. The onset is usually during the mid to late 20s and is often unavoidable. Women experiencing baldness may want to consult a trained medical professional. 
• Repeatedly losing and regaining weight can take its toll on your hair, causing it to become brittle and lacking lustre. Crash diets are often short in essential vitamins and minerals and over long periods of time this type of dieting will reflect in your hair. 

·       Hormonal imbalances including thyroid dysfunction can produce significant changes to hair growth and quality. Thyroid function can only be assessed by blood test. If you are experiencing considerable hair loss, please consult your GP.

Your comment ….?

I am sharing my home made remedy for hair growth:

1) Castor oil

2) Coconut oil

3) Olive oil mix them all (castor oil < coconut oil < olive oil) amount: according to the quantity of hair.

 Process:

 Take them all in a small bowl 1.

Take another big bowl filled the water (bowl 2) then put the bowl 1 (mixture of all the oil) into bowl 2, and heat the the bowl 2.

Note: Don't direct heat the bowl 1. After that, mix two drops of honey into the mixture and apply it on your hair, massage your scalp for 10-15 min…daily.

You will notice the difference after 2 months.

Depending upon which expert you talk to, generally speaking, the healthiest foods to consume for your hair as well as your body includes, but is not limited to:

almonds

avocados

barley

black beans

blueberries

broccoli

bulgur

chard

chicken breasts

(boneless, skinless)

edamame

eggs

extra-virgin olive oil

kale

kidney beans

kiwi

lentils

mushrooms

oatmeal oranges

peanut and almond butters (all-natural)

pumpkin

quinoa

sardines

seaweed (Nori or similar)

skim milk

spinach

sweet potatoes

walnuts

whole-grain pastas

wild salmon

yogurt

You basically just have to eat healthy.

Make sure you find a moisturizing hair product that you can live with because it’s literally your new best friend. Black hair is of course dry by default and needs moisture to look its best.