Vitamins+nutritious diet = healthy hair. Here’s why:
Did you know that hair is dead from the roots down? The living parts of our hair are the follicles, which are found under your scalp. So there’s very little we can do to keep the lengths looking healthy and nourished unless we work from the inside out. To give your hair follicles a nutrient boost you need to treat them from the inside out by eating foods filled to the brim with essential fatty acids and vitamins.
Read on for our list of the hair-friendly foods to include in your grocery cart for healthy hair from root to tip.
OILY FISH: Salmon and Mackerel contain essential ingredient like iron, protein and Omega-3 Fatty Acids. Usually when women hear the words fat or fatty we run for the hills. Not so with Omega-3 Fatty Acids, which are not found naturally in the body and assist in keeping the scalp healthy and hair shiny. If you’re not a fan of fish then omega-3 can also be found in walnuts, avocados and pumpkin seeds.
DARK GREEN VEGETABLES: Your parents were onto something when they insisted you eat your greens as a child. Dark green vegetables, like spinach, broccoli and swiss chard, are packed with high amounts of vitamins A and C as well as iron and calcium, which work to produce sebum in our scalps and strengthen our hair. Sebum is known as a natural hair conditioner, so get munching on your greens girls!
LEGUMES: Legumes such as kidney beans and lentils contain protein, which helps to promote hair growth. They also contain iron, zinc, and biotin. Biotin is vital in the prevention of brittle, broken hair as it activates enzymes that kickstart the metabolism. Legumes also contain iron, zinc and protein, all ingredients that improve hair strength.
NUTS: Go nuts for nuts, literally! As they contain large quantities of selenium, alpha-linoleic acid, zinc and Omega-3 Fatty Acids. They’re like a wonder product for hair health as they treat the scalp as well as the hair follicles. Alpha-linoleic acid and zinc work to prevent hair loss while selenium, zinc and Omega-3 fatty acids condition the hair. That’s why Walnuts, Pecans, cashews and almonds should all be included on your shopping list.
LOW-FAT DAIRY PRODUCTS: The next time you purchase your dairy products make sure it’s the low-fat variety. Not only will your waistline thank you but so will your hair. Low-fat dairy products contain one of the key nutrients in the quest for healthy hair growth, calcium. Also found in your low-fat yoghurt, milk or cottage cheese are Whey and Casein, both of which are hair growth essentials.
PROTEIN PRODUCTS: Our hair is made up of protein so it’s important we provide it with more. Whether you prefer a roast chicken or plate of oysters it’s important to include protein in your diet. A lack of protein in your diet can cause brittle, dull and lacklustre hair. So get munching on poultry products like chicken, eggs and turkey, which contains the highest quality of protein, iron, vitamin B12 and biotin.
If poultry isn’t your thing then oysters may be the answer. Each oyster contains zinc, a powerful antioxidant known for it’s contribution to healthy hair. Red meats, like beef or lamb, also contain proteins, however they should be eaten in moderation.
CARROTS: Thought carrots were only good for your eyesight? Think again! Packed with Vitamin A carrots can also assist in your mission for a healthy mane as they assist in maintaining healthy sebum production, meaning no more dry, itchy scalp.
So there you have it, the foods you should be eating to keep that healthy head of hair. Do you have any food secrets that help keep your hair healthy? Share them with us in the comments section below.
If you’re guilty of not including these important nutrients in your diet then share your #GuiltyHairSecret with Dove and stand the chance of winning fantastic prizes! Head on over to their Facebook page now and confess! https://www.facebook.com/DoveSouthAfrica