Having healthy and beautiful hair is truly a blessing and managing your hair can be very tough at times. Haircare and a nutritious diet is key to healthy and strong hair. Also, not giving enough care to your hair can lead to dull and frizzy hair. It is not just about giving your hair the care it deserves externally but the most important factor in keeping your hair healthy is having a healthy and nutritious diet. It is extremely essential to have a balance to keep your hair lustrous, strong, long and beautiful.
So, are you struggling with hair loss? In this article, you will get to know about the best foods for hair growth.
Read on to know about foods that boost hair growth!
Nutrients Required for Hair Growth
There are various nutrients needed to keep your hair health in check. Consuming vitamins and minerals in your diet is much better than using chemical products thinking they will boost the hair growth. Washing your hair excessively and using chemical products will do more harm than any good.
Also read: Curry Leaves For Hair Growth
The best way to achieve hair growth? Eat the best foods for hair growth! They will not only boost the hair growth but also improve your overall health. What are the basic nutrients required for stimulating hair growth? Well, here they are:
1. Vitamin E
Vitamin is an essential nutrient for keeping the hair healthy and stimulating hair growth. It has antioxidant properties that can protect against oxidative stress and an increase in hair growth. Most people take vitamin E supplements for boosting hair growth. You can eat foods for hair growth that are rich in vitamin E to keep your hair beautiful, strong and long.
2. Biotin
Another important nutrient for hair growth is biotin which is often known as Vitamin B. It is a water-soluble vitamin B that aids hair growth. You can consume biotin in your diet by having vitamin B rich foods like egg yolk, whole grains and yeast.
Also read: Biotin for Hair Growth
3. Vitamin D
Vitamin D has a major role in stimulating hair growth and the production of new hair follicles. The body can produce Vitamin D when it is exposed to sun rays. However, if you do not have enough sun exposure you can consume foods that are rich in Vitamin D like salmon, cod liver, mushrooms etc.
Also read: Vitamin-D: Importance
4. Vitamin C
Vitamin C has a major part in producing collagen in the body which helps in hair growth. Our body cannot produce Vitamin C, so you need to consume it. You can intake Vitamin C rich foods like citrus fruits, guava, strawberry etc. You can also consume supplements if you have Vitamin C deficiency.
5. Iron
Iron helps red blood cells to carry oxygen to the body cells and it is known to support healthy hair growth. Anaemia is a common cause of hair loss in women which is caused by iron deficiency. You can eat clams, oysters, spinach, red meat etc to ensure sufficient iron content in your body.
Best Foods for Hair Growth
Your hair grows around 1.25 cm per month and the rate at which it grows depends on the factors like health, age, genetics and diet. You can’t really change the factors like age and genetics but you can definitely make changes to your diet for hair growth. You can eat foods for hair growth to fasten the process of hair growth. Here are some of the best foods for hair growth you should know about:
1. Eggs
Eggs are a great source of protein and biotin. As you’ve read earlier, biotin is an important nutrient that can aid in hair growth. Also, eating an adequate amount of protein is important for hair growth as the hair follicles are made up of protein. Eggs are also a great source of zinc and other hair-healthy nutrients. So, it is number one on the list of best foods for hair growth.
2. Spinach
Spinach is packed with nutrients like folate, Vitamin A and C that may help in stimulating hair growth. Vitamin A helps in the production of sebum, that moisturises the scalp and it also contains iron which is an essential nutrient for hair growth. A deficiency of these nutrients can lead to hair loss.
3. Salmon
Salmon contains a good amount of omega-3 fatty acids which is anti-inflammatory and helps in reducing hair shedding. Also, omega-3 can also keep your hair shiny and healthy. Salmon also contains Vitamin D which can stimulate the inactive hair follicles.
4. Yogurt
A cup of yogurt without sugar is full of protein and probiotics. Probiotics give good bacteria that can absorb the nutrients in your body. It also contains Vitamin B5 which may help with hair thinning and in turn facilitate hair growth.
Also read: DIY Yogurt Face Masks
5. Sweet Potatoes
Who doesn’t love sweet potatoes? Well, sweet potato apart from being a yummy food, sweet potato is one of the nutritious foods for hair growth. Thanks to the abundant amount of vitamin A and vitamin B6 which can produce more sebum for moisturised hair and speeds up the hair growth process.
6. Avocados
Avocados are nutrient-rich food which contains Vitamin B12, Vitamin C, Folate, Niacin, Zinc and Vitamin B6. All of these nutrients facilitate hair growth, all thanks to their antioxidant properties. Eating avocados may also prevent premature ageing of hair and prevent hair breakage.
7. Pumpkin
Pumpkins are loaded with iron and beta-carotene which is like a prototype to Vitamin A, an essential vitamin for hair strength and growth. It is also full of Vitamin C and E that help repair the body’s cells from damage. Plus, it is a yummy ingredient to making pies so ensure you have it for healthy hair.
8. Chia and Flax Seeds
These are amazing ingredients for healthy smoothies. You can even use it for snacking. Flax seeds can help nourish your hair scalp and prevent dryness, facilitating hair growth and Chia seeds are rich in Omega-3, fibre and antioxidants which can give your hair luscious and beautiful strands.
These were 8 best foods for hair growth. Make sure to have them in your diet if you are aiming for healthy and beautiful hair. You should avoid alcohol and sugary treats as they can cause hair loss in many ways. Have healthy and luscious hair!
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