Most individuals recognize the fact that your hair is “dead” or at least not living however this is not entirely true. The follicle that produces your hair is part of your skin which is the biggest organ of your body, therefore it is directly affected by your lifestyle, your habits and your diet.
Consumers are constantly looking for the next great hair product that promises to fix all their hair woos without realizing that building a healthy foundation is extremely important. Experimenting with different products is perfectly fine however many of us over look the fact that our hair health is determined by our over all health.
In order for our body to function properly we must provide it with specific nutritional factors. For instance in order for our bones to stay healthy and strong we must take in a minimum amount of calcium and vitamin D. This premise is the same if we expect our body to produce strong healthy hair, there are certain requirements that must be met that has nothing to do with the type or brand of hair products we choose to use.
1. Ribolflavin also known as Vitamin B2 is essential to the body and must be consumed on daily basis as it is water soluble meaning that it is not stored in the body. The functions of Vitamin B2 are numerous and include energy metabolism, red blood cell production, enzyme reactions, vision, health of skin (including hair and nails), and functions as an antioxidant. This vitamin can be found in dairy products, whole grains, eggs, nuts, meat, fortified cereals and dark green vegetables.
2. Biotin or Vitamin B5 is also a water soluble vitamin which must be ingested on a daily basis. It is important for the synthesis of fat, glycogen, and amino acids, enzyme reactions, healthy hair and nails and DNA replication. This vitamin can be found in liver, yeast, nuts, egg yolks, soybeans, cauliflower and mushrooms.
3. Deficiencies of Folic acid (Vitamin B9) can lead to hair loss. This water soluble vitamin can be found in foods such as citrus fruits, fortified cereals, nuts, legumes, and dark leafy vegetables.
4. Deficiencies in Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid) can lead to scurvy, this has not been a concern for many years but cases are becoming more common. Vitamin C can be found in citrus fruits, strawberries, tomatoes, broccoli, and red peppers.
5. Iodine is necessary in making thyroid hormones, and symptoms of an under active thyroid can often be seen in hair health. Hair may be dry, brittle, limp, or in some cases thinning. It should be noted however these symptoms may also indicate an over active thyroid. Iodine can be found in salt, seafood, and sea vegetables such as kelp. This is becoming a greater issue because the use of salt has greatly decreased in an effort to combat high blood pressure.
6. Iron deficiencies can also cause hair loss therefore ensure that you are getting enough in your diet. Iron can be found in many fruits and vegetables, meat, poultry, fish and fortified breads and cereals.
We all know that exercise is not only good for our waist line but also our over all health and this is again important to hair health. Exercise improves hair health by increasing circulation.
Smoking is bad for us and we are all aware of the dangers of this habit but did you know that smokers are four times more likely to have grey hair then their non smoking counterparts. Smokers are also more prone to hair loss.
Healthy hair is one of the indicators of over all health. Take care of your body as a whole and you will have strong healthy hair.