Eat your way to healthy hair: 9 foods that help strengthen hair
Ranging from celebrities to the common person, everyone wants to have healthy and strong hair. Hair is a very important part of beauty to both men and women.
People suffer from hair loss which is as a result of weak and poorly maintained hair. It is unfortunate that most people do not realize that the best and easiest way to attain strong hair is through maintaining a healthy diet. There are certain foods that largely contribute towards healthy looking, strong and shiny hair.
#1. Fish
Fish is an essential food for stronger hair. Mackerel and salmon are rich in omega 3 and fatty acids. They help in preventing brittle and dry hair. This is by strengthening the hair follicles from the root of the hair strand all the way to the tip. These fatty acids and oils also help to thicken hair by ensuring minimal hair loss therefore even hair growth throughout the scalp. These nutrients are not produced by the body, therefore, it can only be obtained from such food.
#2. Milk
Milk is important to maintain strong and healthy looking hair. Dairy products such as cheese and yogurt are popular for their large content of protein and calcium. Protein is essential for strengthening the hair roots. This is to ensure minimal hair loss and breakage. Protein is important as it is primarily what builds hair. Calcium promotes the growth of hair. It also prevents breakage and loss of hair by strengthening it.
#3. Fruits
Oranges and other fruits that are rich in Vitamin C help to strengthen hair. Vitamin C contained in berries and citrus fruits prevents loss of hair though stopping the formation of splits ends. It promotes hair growth by providing repair of tissues and strengthening the immune system of the body. This enables one to grow thick and healthy hair faster. Vitamin C improves circulation of blood in the body. This improves the performance of the body resulting in stronger and healthier hair.
#4. Sweet Potato
Sweet potatoes are important in strengthening dull looking hair. Sweet potatoes contain Beta Carotene which is a highly recommended antioxidant. Beta Carotene strengthens hair when it is converted to Vitamin A which is essential for strong hair. This is because it makes dull, brittle and dry hair shiner and stronger than it was. It prevents breakage of hair by enhancing production of sebum by the scalp. This leads to thick and voluminous hair.
#5. Water (and lots of it!)
Water is the cheapest and easiest ways to get stronger, healthier hair. Water makes up close to a third of the weight of a single hair strand. Moisturizing hair protects it from breakage by ensuring that hair stands are supple and soft. In addition to this, water is essential for the elimination of wastes and toxins from the body’s system. Through this, the body is able to carry out its functions normally leading to healthy looking, strong and supple hair.
#6. Eggs
Eggs contribute to stronger hair because of their high protein content. Eggs contain Biotin which is a very important type of B-Vitamin. Biotin helps to strengthen hair against breakage. People without Biotin in the body tend to have very brittle hair leading to rapid hair loss. Biotin can be found in beans and other grains. It is necessary for thicker and stronger hair.
#7. Iron-rich foods
Liver and dark green vegetables are rich in iron. Iron is important for stronger hair. Iron helps in circulation of oxygen throughout the body. Lack of adequate amounts of iron in the body prevents proper performance of the body’s functions. Hair follicles need to receive adequate oxygen in order to produce healthy, strong and shiny hair.
#8. Avocado
Avocado Recipes. Photo Courtesy of BonAppetit.com
Avocados are an ancient beauty secret to strong and healthy hair. They are fortified with Vitamin E which is essential for improved blood circulation and the uptake of oxygen in the body.
Avocados contains natural oils that help to make the hair supple. This is through moisturizing hair strands to make them stronger and, as a result, prevent the breakage of hair.
Avocados can be eaten whole or mixed with olive oil and applied to hair as treatment.
#9. Whole grains
Whole grains such as wheat are filled with zinc. Zinc is an important ingredient to strong and healthy hair. Zinc helps to build protein which constitutes a major part of the formation of hair. It provides immunity to the body against diseases. It, therefore, protects from thinning and breakage of hair. Zinc is essential for general body health as well as for thicker and stronger hair. Zinc is also found in spinach and other legumes.
In conclusion, these foods contain essential vitamins and minerals that contribute to stronger hair that is very healthy. When one includes them in their diet combined with practices that protect the hair from damage and breakage, they will have long, shiny and healthy hair with minimal breakage.
