When it comes to long, thick, and healthy hair, we are thrown with tons of hair care products promising to improve our crowning glory. Many of us forget that our bodies require proper nutrition and a diet that is high in vitamins, fiber, antioxidants, and protein to help nourish those gorgeous hair, may it be our brows or lashes too.
To determine the best foods for good hair health and growth, it’s helpful to know the best vitamins and nutrients that can help. Protein, biotin, omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins A, C, D and B-complex, iron, and zinc all play a role in hair nutrition and growth. On the contrary, what you eat can also have an impact on hair loss.
So Chics, consider replacing processed and packaged foods that are unhealthy for more nutrient-dense, real and natural foods. Processed foods are brimming with additives and artificial ingredients that can be bad for the gut and having a healthy gut is essential for better nutrient absorption to strengthen the hair, skin, and nails.
Fatty Fish
There are some types of fish that contain essential nutrients such as omega-3, protein, and B and D vitamins that help nourish hair follicles to give strands that strong and shiny glow. Salmon, tuna, sardines, mackerel, and herring are some to name a few.
Leafy Greens, Cruciferous Veggies, or to simply put it… EAT YOUR VEGETABLES!!
To most diets out there, vegetables are always on the list. Same as to keeping your hair healthy, reach for extra help from these vegetables which you can include in your everyday meals. Vegetables like kale, spinach, asparagus, brussels sprouts, and broccoli are rich in folate, iron, beta carotene, and vitamins A and C that encourage healthy cell growth and cell division to prevent hair thinning or hair loss.
Fruits
And of course, when there are vegetables incorporated in your diet, you can never forget your fruits. Berries, cherries, grapes, oranges, and guavas are some of the fruits that are abundant in antioxidants and vitamin C which helps fight off free radicals, enhances iron absorption, and produces collagen.
Eggs
Since our hair is made up of protein, it is imperative that we load up on healthy sources like eggs, which are also a handy source of biotin. Both protein and biotin are important for your hair health and aids with hair growth.
Nuts and Seeds
Another source of biotin which is particularly great for hair growth are nuts - almonds and walnuts. These nuts are also rich in Vitamin E and antioxidants that help nourish both the hair and scalp. And if you’re worried about hair loss, seeds such as flax and chia have the nutrients needed for preventing it. Vitamin E, zinc, and selenium are essential elements that your body can’t produce so you must obtain them through food or supplements.
(Chickpeas, Lentils, Beans, and Peas
A.k.a. the dry, edible seeds of vegetables. They are packed with plant-based protein and fiber, and folic acid which helps keep hair healthy and renew cells vital for hair growth.
Greek Yogurt
Plain greek yogurt is a great strategic addition to your diet in the interest of strong and lusciously long hair. Yogurt also contains protein among all the foods we have listed above, but the greatest attribute it can offer is its probiotics which are good bacteria that help your body absorb nutrients.
There you have it, Chics! The bottom line is that what you eat (and don’t eat) can have a huge effect on the health of your hair. Of course, lack of the above nutrients, which includes vitamins A, C, D, and E, B vitamins, zinc, iron, protein, biotin, and essential fatty acids, may slow down hair growth, cause dull and dry hair, or even hair loss.
Fortunately, correcting a deficiency in any of these nutrients can be manageable. You can start by adding some of the above foods to your diet. You can also consider taking supplements or using serums that contain these nutrients to treat hair loss and promote hair growth and health.
(Photo by Nataliya Vaitkevich from Pexels)
Hair serums? ForChics can help you with that! Our ForLash™ Eyelash Enhancing Serum and ForBrow™ Eyebrow Enhancing Serum contain plant botanicals, vitamins, and antioxidants that condition and boost short, thinning lashes and brows from root to tip. They are formulated to stimulate hair growth and provide deep hair nourishment.
