The Role of Nutrition in Natural Hair Growth

Hair is fed by the bloodstream, so what you consume can directly affect your hair at some point. The food you eat plays a significant role in determining the health and growth of your hair. Medical research has even been able to link how hair loss issues may be brought about by poor dietary choices.

In this blog post, we’ll explore the crucial connection between nutrition and natural hair growth and share valuable insights into how you can optimize your diet for flourishing hair.

1. Protein: Building Blocks

Protein is a fundamental component of hair, as each strand is primarily made up of a protein called keratin. Incorporating enough protein into your diet is crucial for strong and healthy hair. You can get good amounts of protein from lean meats, fish, eggs, legumes, and nuts.

2. Iron: Blood Flow

Iron carries oxygen to all parts of the body including hair follicles. Without enough iron in your system, your hair growth cycle could be disrupted which could result in hair loss and increased hair shedding. Hair loss from low iron isn’t permanent though, you can reverse it by incorporating iron-rich foods like spinach, red meat, lentils, dark chocolate, pumpkin seeds and nuts like cashew nuts to promote healthy growing hair.

3. Omega-3 Fatty Acids: The Healthy Fats

We’ve all heard of fish oil at some point, and for good reason too. It’s rich in omega-3 fatty acids that are essential to your hair health and growth. These nutrients have the power to increase hair thickness and reduce inflammation that can cause hair loss. Besides fish oil, you can find these healthy fats in other seafood like sardines, nuts like walnuts and chia seeds and plant oils like soya bean oil.

4. Biotin: The Hair Vitamin

Biotin assists in keratin production (the protein found in hair), promoting hair growth. According to WebMD, a deficiency of biotin(vitamin B7) can cause thinning of the hair. While biotin supplements are popular now, you can still find this vitamin in foods like eggs, nuts, sweet potatoes and mushrooms.

5. Vitamin E: Protecting Your Strands

If you know about antioxidants then you know how powerful vitamin E is. It can protect your hair from oxidative stress so it can grow freely without any obstructions. Not only that but it also supports a healthy scalp as well. It can be found in vitamin E-rich foods like almonds, sunflower seeds, and spinach.

6. Vitamin A: Encouraging Sebum Production

Vitamin A might as well be called sebum because it assists your body in the production of sebum which is responsible for keeping your scalp moisturized just right. We all know if we don’t have a good amount of natural oils on our head then our hair starts to break apart like an old rope — making sebum crucial for growth and protection against breakage. Carrots, sweet potatoes, beef liver and dark leafy greens are food sources rich in vitamin A.

7. Zinc: Strengthening Your Hair

Zinc plays a critical role in maintaining the strength of your hair. A lack of it can have negative effects, causing your hair to thin and fall out. To counter this, make sure that you’re getting enough zinc in your diet with foods like oysters, pumpkin seeds, nuts, and whole grains.

8. Drink Water: Optimize Your Health

The most fundamental thing about being healthy is proper hydration, not only do you need it for basic functions but it also impacts things like your hair. If you’re dehydrated, expect dry brittle hair as one of the many symptoms.

Takeaway

You should never neglect nutrition when it comes to natural hair growth. You heard right. Your hair can reflect what’s going on inside your body. A well-balanced diet that’s rich in vitamins and fats will work wonders for your health and natural beauty. It may take a while to see the results but keep at it and you’ll notice them soon enough. Remember, you are a gem.