We all get older. As we age, our body becomes less efficient at accomplishing routine tasks that didn’t present a problem when we were younger. That doesn’t just apply to physical activities such as running upstairs or unscrewing the lid of the coffee jar. It’s also true of the internal functions the body carries out. After we hit fifty, for example, the body’s ability to process important nutrients takes a nosedive. The result is that our hair follicles may not receive all the proteins, minerals and vitamins they need to produce strong, healthy hair. That’s one reason why our hair gets thinner as we get older.
This article is going to look at how you can address that problem. We’re going to focus on two supplements that everyone over the age of fifty should consider taking. Read on to find out more!
The Importance of a Good Diet
There’s a general principle that is well worth remembering whenever you’re wondering how to keep your hair in a healthy state. It’s the principle that whatever is good or bad for your overall health is also good or bad for the health of your hair. Diet is a prime example of that. We know that eating food with a good balance of important nutrients is crucial to helping us live healthy lives. Not so many of us know that it’s also important to ensure healthy hair.
The link between food and healthy hair only gets stronger as we age, and our body becomes less able to fully absorb these important nutrients. That’s why we sometimes need to rely on supplements to ensure we’re getting the nutrients we need. We’ve highlighted two of the most important below.
Biotin
When it comes to hair supplements to stimulate hair growth, few can beat biotin. Also known as Vitamin B7, biotin is found in foods like eggs, milk, avocados, seeds, nuts and bananas. It’s difficult to determine when you’re getting enough of it, as there isn’t a simple test available to determine levels in your system, so lack of biotin is usually only apparent when the symptoms of deficiency appear. Thinning hair is one of these, while an unsightly facial rash is another, thus providing us all with two perfectly good reasons for avoiding biotin deficiency!
Biotin works by stimulating blood flow to the hair follicles. Since it’s your blood that carries oxygen and nutrients to the scalp, this is an important contribution. If your hair follicles are receiving a better supply of food, you should see stronger hair growth as a result.
There aren’t any major side effects of taking biotin supplements providing you take only the recommended dose. Take more than this and you might experience an outbreak of acne, though even this generally subsides once your system has become accustomed to the supplement.
Collagen
Collagen is a common protein found in your bones, tendons, muscles and skin. Its primary role is to provide strength, structure and connectivity to the body. It’s also collagen that’s responsible for the elasticity of your skin and helps it heal when you suffer a cut or gash. Its link to hair growth arises from its role in supplying the amino acids necessary for building keratin, another protein found in your hair, skin and nails. Keratin smooths the cells that make up your hair strands, giving your hair a healthy shine.
The problem with collagen is that our body produces much less of it as we get older. That means a corresponding reduction in the amount of keratin available to your strands. Not only that, but collagen’s role in maintaining skin elasticity is also affected. When your scalp loses this elasticity and flexibility, your hair follicles find it more difficult to hold your strands and your hair falls in greater quantities.
Loading your diet with fruit and vegetables will keep your body stocked with collagen when you’re still young, but once you hit your middle years, your body may need a little extra help. That’s when you could benefit from taking a collagen supplement.
Conclusion
Hair thinning in older people is a common problem, but there are things we can do to slow the process down and hold on to our strands for as long as possible. Ensuring that our hair follicles receive the nutrients they need is one of the steps we can take. The supplements we have highlighted here can help with that.
If you’re concerned about hair loss or thinning, speaking with an expert is the smart thing to do. Like most things in life, hair loss is tackled most effectively when it’s tackled early. Vinci Hair Clinic can help with that. We’re one of the largest hair restoration organisations in the world, with clinics all over the globe. We offer a free, no-obligation consultation to all our new clients. Get in touch and book your appointment now!
