Nutritional Tips for Healthy Hair
Essential Fatty acids are named because they are essential for the proper function of your body. However your body is unable to produce these fats on their own so you need to access them from a food source. When your body is healthy, your hair is healthy. EFA’s can be found in walnuts, flaxseeds, fish and avocado.
Collagen is reduced as we age, which causes the hair to break more easily. Getting an adequate amount of vitamin c is the best way to increase collagen. Citrus fruits and red peppers are foods that are high in vitamin c.
Biotin is a water soluble B vitamin which encourages hair and scalp health. Brown rice, oats and nuts are all good food sources of it.
Boost Keratin (protein in hair) with MSM. In one study 100 percent of people who supplemented with MSM showed a decrease in hair loss and an improvement in hair growth in only six weeks.
Iron is also vital for hair growth and can be found in blackstrap molasses, green leafy vegetables, leeks, cashews, dried fruits, figs, and berries.
Zinc and silica are essential for hair growth. Take 500 mg of silica twice daily and 30 mg of zinc once daily. Foods containing silica include cucumber, mango, green leafs, beans, celery and asparagus. Natural organic silica is found in horsetail herb. Foods that are high in zinc are pumpkin seeds, fresh oysters, brazil nuts, eggs and pecan nuts.
Saw Palmetto is a herb which has been used for hair growth by herbalists for years. A study in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine showed that men and women who took 400mg of saw palmetto daily had an improvement in their hair growth.
Hypothyroidism can cause thinning hair. The main symptoms for this condition are extreme tiredness, weight gain, hair loss and feeling cold. If you think you may have this condition, get your blood tested as it can be very debilitating if you don’t get on medication for it. Kelp can help this because it is high in iodine.
Vitamin E prevents hair breakage and improves the condition of the hair. Supplementing with 400 IU of vitamin E can be helpful for hair vitality. Foods high in vitamin E include sunflower seeds, almonds, pine nuts and dried apricots
Rosemary Essential Oil has been found to be useful for stimulating hair growth. Add a few drops of it to coconut oil, or to your shampoo and massage it through the scalp.
Egg yolks, 1 tbsp olive oil and three drops of Vitamin E oil can be a very restorative treatment for your hair. Leave the treatment on your hair for 10 minutes, then rinse and shampoo your hair. This treatment will soften and condition your hair.
Banana treatment- Due to the potassium in bananas, they help improve hair health and natural elasticity.
Use a fork to mash one banana in a bowl, and then apply the mixture from root to tip. Leave the treatment on for 15 minutes, and then wash with shampoo. This treatment will cure dry and damaged hair.
Beer Treatment is good for conditioning your hair. Place beer into a spray bottle. Shampoo and lightly towel dry hair. Lightly spray beer into hair. This will enhance the sheen of your hair.
Mayonnaise treatment – Apply mayonnaise to wet hair and leave it on your hair for 15 minutes to 1 hour. Rinse well and shampoo. Mayonnaise is an excellent deep conditioner.
Strawberries Mash eight strawberries with one tablespoon mayonnaise. Massage into washed hair. Cover with a shower cap, then a warm towel. Leave for 30 minutes and then wash it out with shampoo and condition. This mix of berries will provide your hair with a healthy shine.
Indian head massages are very popular in India and that is one of the reasons why Indian people have such beautiful shiny, healthy looking hair. The massage helps to stimulate the hair follicle which activates hair growth and the oil acts as a conditioner.
Apply 4 tbsp of olive oil (or of any oil) to your hair. Massage oil into your scalp and hair. Leave it on for 30 minutes and then rinse
A healthy diet is essential for healthy hair. This means consuming fruit, vegetables, and the right amount of protein. Ensuring you are well hydrated is also a contributing factor in hair health.
