How Can Healthy Diet Benefit Your Hair?

How Can Healthy Diet Benefit Your Hair?

Beauty grows from the inside out. This statement could not be truer when referring to skin and hair care. Rather than investing hundreds of dollars every month into products that make hair look healthy, eating a healthy diet will contribute to smooth, shiny locks.

Here are some of the ways your diet impacts your hair, and how you can make healthier choices that benefit your hair beauty and the entire body.

 

Adequate Hydration and Your Scalp

In a survival situation, the average human could survive three weeks without food. However, if they had no water, the average person would last only three days.

Water plays a significant role in overall health and well-being. It contributes to better digestion, weight management, stress levels, energy levels, and skin elasticity.

How does hydration play a role in hair growth? Your scalp is just as prone to dryness as the rest of your skin. By getting adequately hydrated, you promote a healthy environment for hair growth. Hydration is the foundation of a healthy diet and should be the first area of focus for those trying to improve their overall well-being.

Protein Intake

 

Proteins are the building blocks of life. Your hair is comprised of protein, primarily keratin. For strong hair that doesn't break or fall out every time you shower, you need to intake enough amount of protein to support growth.

Lean protein sources, like fish, eggs, and chicken, are an important part of a healthy diet. Not only do proteins help with essential body functions, but they can also promote fat loss and muscle growth when ingested accordingly. Add lean protein to your healthy weight loss menu, and you'll see changes to both your waistline and your luscious locks.

Getting Enough B Vitamins

Micronutrients, a.k.a vitamins and minerals, are essential to help your body function as it should. Vitamin and mineral deficiencies often appear as minor inconveniences within the body. Some of these are so minor that the connection between the issue and a vitamin deficiency is nearly imperceptible.

B vitamins act as enablers within the body, allowing the various processes to run smoothly as you go about your day. Vitamin B7, or biotin, helps convert dietary protein into strong, healthy hair. Vitamin B12 helps with red blood cell production, which nourishes hair follicles and promotes a healthy environment.




Eating a healthy diet with a diverse array of colored fruit and vegetables can help you get enough B vitamins; supplementation is an option as well.

Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Omega-3 fatty acids are renowned for their impact on brain function and reducing inflammation within the body. While brain food and joint health are the main focal points of Omega-3 supplementation, it also contributes to hair growth.

Omega-3s can be found naturally in fatty fish, like salmon, as well as venison and wild game, or fish oil supplements. Even high-quality dog food companies add Omega-3s to their products to help with a shiny, healthy coat.

Iron and Vitamin C

Iron and vitamin C go together like peanut butter and jelly. One of the symptoms of iron-deficiency anemia is hair loss. Ensuring that you get enough iron in your diet, especially if you're a plant-based eater, is essential for hair (and overall) health.

Where does vitamin C enter the picture? Vitamin C increases the absorption rate of iron. Health professionals often recommend that iron supplements are washed down with orange juice to ensure your body absorbs as much as possible.

 

Healthy Food for Hair

Eating a balanced, healthy diet will enable your body to work effectively. Here are some of the best foods to incorporate into your eating habits for hair health:

• Greek yogurt
• Salmon
• Eggs
• Spinach
• Nuts and seeds

Remember to eat the rainbow by incorporating an array of colorful fruit and vegetables into your diet. When paired with physical activity and adequate hydration, your body will shine from your beautiful hair to the tips of your toenails.




Guest Author: Ashley Lipman