Hair loss is not just due to external factors like dandruff, sun exposure and so on. It is also a result of an unhealthy diet. When you deprive your body of essential nutrients, many of which are needed for normal hair growth, you are likely to suffer from hair fall. If nothing’s done about it for a prolonged time, you are likely to near baldness. In order to control this situation, it is best to feed your locks a healthy diet, high on the nutrition scale. Here’s what your hair needs to remain healthy.
Vitamin B-Complex: This is required to help the haemoglobin supply oxygen to the scalp and hair follicles. More oxygen promotes hair growth and a healthy mane. The lack of vitamin B-Complex can lead to weak, undernourished and damaged hair. You can either get this from natural sources like chicken, tuna and salmon, or eat vitamin tablets if you have its deficiency.
Zinc: Our scalp contains oil glands which need to function adequately to produce enough oil, the lack of which can lead to a dry scalp, dandruff and eventually hair loss. Eat foods like nuts, whole grains, lentils, meat and seafood to provide enough amounts of zinc to your hair.
Copper: Haemoglobin is needed by our body to supply enough oxygen and blood to various organs including our hair. Copper helps in the formation of more haemoglobin. Lack of it can result in weak, brittle hair which will lead to hair loss. Good sources of copper include sesame seeds, soya, cashew nuts, meat, and seafood.
Iron: Iron is very essential for men and especially women as they lose out blood and iron during their menstrual cycle. Even pregnant and lactating women need a high dose of iron as it helps produce haemoglobin. The lack of iron can weaken your hair right from the roots which will cause them to break very soon. Losing more than a 100 strands a day is a sign of hair loss. In order to avoid its deficiency, eat spinach, soybeans, dal, red kidney beans, chicken, meat, eggs and fish. Iron from animal sources is more easily absorbed into our system.
Vitamin C: Collagen production is very important to hold the hair tissues together in place and vitamin C helps do the needful. A lack of this can lead to frequent split ends, hair fall and brittle hair. Include fruits like oranges, lemons, berries, sweet lime, watermelon and tomatoes in your diet. If you are a smoker, you need more amounts of vitamin C so cut down on smoking and eat more fruits.
Protein: A very important nutrient which acts as the building block of every tissue in our body including the hair and scalp, protein is highly essential for us. It helps in the production of new hair to replace the ones lost. A lack of protein can lead to thinning of hair, dry and brittle hair as well as eventual hair loss. Get your protein intake from foods like beans, nuts, grains, milk, cheese, fish, eggs, chicken.
