If you’ve ever wished your hair could grow faster, or just be a bit healthier and stronger, it might be time to make some changes to your diet. That’s right—what you eat can affect the health of your hair! In this blog post, we will discuss why vitamins and minerals from food are important for healthy hair, as well as the 13 best foods for hair growth. Let’s get started!
Why is Nutrition Important for Hair Growth?
It all comes down to vitamins and minerals. Our bodies need certain nutrients to function properly. When these nutrients are deficient, our body systems can suffer—including our hair follicles. This means that if you want strong, healthy hair that grows quickly, you need to make sure you are getting the right amount of vitamins and minerals in your diet. When your body is deficient in nutrients- the focus will go to sending this goodness to the major functions of the body- which means nonessential functions- like hair- get left behind. This can then result in scalp issues, hair loss, dryness and fragility of the hair fibre.
What are the Best Foods for Hair Growth?
Now that we know why nutrition is so important when it comes to hair health, let’s talk about which foods can help promote growth. Here are 13 of the best foods for promoting healthy hair growth:
- Eggs – Eggs contain biotin and protein which are essential for healthy hair growth.
- Leafy greens – Leafy greens like spinach and kale contain vitamin A which helps with sebum production—a natural oil that keeps your scalp moisturised.
- Fatty fish – Fatty fish like salmon and mackerel are rich in omega-3 fatty acids which keep your scalp hydrated and aid in the production of natural oils.
- Nuts – Walnuts, almonds, cashews, and other nuts contain zinc which helps promote cell regeneration on the scalp.
- Sweet potatoes – Sweet potatoes are rich in beta-carotene which helps produce Vitamin A (which we talked about above).
- Beans – Beans contain protein which helps build strong strands of hair as well as biotin which helps prevent breakage.
- Berries – Berries like raspberries and blueberries are packed with antioxidants that help protect against damage caused by free radicals (a major cause of weakened strands).
- Avocados – Avocados contain essential fatty acids that promote a healthy scalp environment and Vitamin E which helps strengthen each strand of hair from the root up.
- Oysters – Oysters contain zinc which promotes cell regeneration on the scalp, thus helping new hairs grow faster and healthier than before!
- Whole grains – Whole grain products such as oats provide B vitamins like niacin, riboflavin, thiamine, pantothenic acid, folate & B6; all of these help keep cells nourished while promoting faster-growing strands of hair.
- Yoghurt – Yoghurt contains probiotics that help improve gut health; this helps reduce inflammation throughout your body including on your scalp where inflammation can lead to weaker strands of hair over time.
- Citrus fruits - Citrus fruits like oranges and lemons provide Vitamin C which boosts collagen production; this strengthens each strand of hair while making them less prone to breakage over time.
- Seeds - Seeds such as pumpkin seeds contain magnesium & zinc both of which help promote cell renewal but also support strong & healthy strands overall!
And don’t forget to HYDRATE! Lots of water and making sure your electrolyte balance is up to standard will ensure that your insides make your outsides look as good as you feel. Sneaky tip add a pinch of sea salt and a pinch of bicarb soda to water enter your cells and properly hydrate you!
As you can see from this list there are plenty of delicious options when it comes to eating for better-looking locks! You should start seeing results over time by adding these foods into your diet or supplementing them with a multivitamin containing all these necessary vitamins & minerals. This paired with a good product regime will ensure you have the locks of your dreams. So don't wait any longer - start eating smarter today & reap the benefits tomorrow! You won't regret it! Happy eating!
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