You’re probably familiar with the saying ‘you are what you eat.’ It’s been around for nearly two hundred years and has been used as the title for an untold number of cookbooks and television shows with a culinary theme. The fact that it has remained current for such a long time is due, in no small measure, to the truth it expresses; we are, indeed, the product of the food we consume.
While most of us would know the importance of eating healthily to stay in the best possible condition, not so many are aware that the food we eat directly affects the health of our hair too. This article, therefore, is going to name-check a few of the foods that help prevent hair loss and contribute to a shiny, healthy head of hair. Read on to learn more!
Six Foods That Will Make a Difference
Here’s a list of six foods that you should include in your diet that will improve your general health and the health of your hair. You don’t have to eat them all every single day but eat them regularly in sufficient quantities for the best results.
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Eggs
Eggs are a genuine powerhouse of healthy nutrients. They are bursting with vitamins, including Vitamin A, D, B2 (riboflavin) and B12. They also contain essential minerals and proteins and omega 3 and 6 fatty acids. These nutrients all help strengthen your hair follicles and stimulate the growth of new hair. And aside from all that healthy stuff, eggs are delicious, whether you like them boiled, fried, poached, or scrambled!
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Lentils
Lentils are high in proteins, folic acid, zinc, and iron. Iron helps our red blood cells carry oxygen around the body, including to the hair follicles on our scalp. This means the mineral is an essential part of the hair growth and development cycle. Like eggs, lentils are a versatile food. You can eat them in soup, in casseroles, or as fillings.
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Oats
Oats are another food packed with zinc, iron, and omega-6 fatty acids. They’re high in natural fibre, too, in the form of beta-glucans. These ingredients stimulate dormant hair follicles thereby promoting hair regrowth and combating hair loss. They strengthen your strands and prevent breakage. Start your day the healthy way with a big bowl of porridge or yoghurt sprinkled with raw oats! Alternatively, choose a more direct application by making an oatmeal hair mask.
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Barley
Barley is full of copper and iron that support our red blood cells and help strengthen our hair follicles. Its Vitamin E content is also important for its antioxidant properties which help fight oxidative stress and free radicals. This contributes to the overall health and condition of the scalp. By protecting the hair follicles, barley assists hair regrowth. It can be added to soups and stews or eaten with salad as a side dish.
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Curry Leaves
Curry leaves, like the other superfoods on this list, provide your body with a host of essential nutrients. Stuffed with beta-carotene, alkaloids, and protein, they enrich the blood with oxygen and enhance the supply of nutrients to the hair follicles. By supporting the hair follicles in this way, they reduce hair loss and create a healthy environment for new hair to grow. Curry leaves are also rich in antioxidants which moisturise your scalp and offer some protection from the damage caused by free radicals. Curry leaves can be used in curries, soups, and dals. They can also be applied directly as part of a hair mask.
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Avocado
Last but by no means least is the humble avocado. Full of antioxidants and monounsaturated fats, this super fruit also provides as much as twenty per cent of your daily Vitamin E requirement. It’s also a fantastic source of biotin; alternatively known as Vitamin B7, biotin is included in many shampoo formulas on the basis that it strengthens hair follicles and reduces hair loss. Avocado is nothing if not versatile. You can eat it on its own in so many delicious ways or as part of a variety of meals. It can also be used as a hair mask.
Conclusion
Changing our diet is one of the things we can all do to improve our general health. It’s also one of the steps that will make a radical difference to the condition of your hair. Introducing some of the foods mentioned above into your diet will, in time, strengthen your strands and reduce the chance of significant hair loss. And aside from the health benefits you’ll experience, we guarantee you’ll enjoy some great meals!
If you’ve changed your diet but still have concerns about the condition of your mane, Vinci Hair Clinic is here to help. We offer a free, no-obligation consultation with one of our hair experts for all new clients. All you need to do is to get in touch with us and make an appointment!
