7 Healthy foods for healthy hair
“The hair is the richest ornament of women”. You cannot disagree with this Martin Luther’s saying. It is vanity’s proving ground. It is an indicator of your overall health. It is one of the most sexually attractive features of a woman.
“Women…. Who made ’em? God must have been a… genius. Their hair. They say that the hair is everything, you know? Have you ever buried your nose in a mountain of curls, and just wanted to go to sleep forever?” ~ Bo Goldman, “The Start of an Education,” made popular by the movie “Scent of a Woman”
Beautiful and healthy hair is a lifestyle, not a month project. It’s more reasonable to turn away from all those pricey treatments that do more to drain your wallet than treat your strands. And instead, reconsider your diet and include some healthy foods on a daily basis that will actually make a difference. It’s easy. Just make it a habit to improve the well-being of your locks. And no matter what your hair type is.
So, here are 7 healthy foods for healthy hair
If you include red meat (in moderation) in your diet you will hardly experience hair problems. Red meat has high quality protein with balanced amino acids content, and as you know, our hair is made of protein, and therefore proteins are essential nutrients for hair health. Having enough protein in your diet is crucial for making hair strong and healthy. Low protein diets may even result in hair loss. Moreover, red meat includes iron, biotin and sulfur which are all desirable nutritional elements for hair health. Red meats, especially beef, lamb and liver, have some of the highest concentrations of zinc in food, without which no one string of hair will grow on your head.
If you prefer chicken instead of red meat, it will also do the trick by providing good protein, essential iron and biotin that promote hair strength and prevent breakage.
Beans are the best sources of vegetable protein, folic acid (vitamin B9) and iron. Beans have significant amounts of fiber and soluble fiber – one cup of cooked beans provides between 9 and 13 grams of fiber. All these nutrients make your hair strong and shiny.
Cheese is high in both B12 and B1, zinc and protein, which is the key for optimal shine. Cheese is a great source of cholesterol. Oh no, don’t be afraid of cholesterol. It has been rehabilitated and Canada, USA and UK state that cholesterol is no longer considered a nutrient of concern for overconsumption. Our body, including our hair, needs cholesterol. Cholesterol is an essential structural component of all cell membranes and a precursor for the biosynthesis of steroid hormones. Steroid hormones help control metabolism, inflammation, immune functions, salt and water balance, development of sexual characteristics, and the ability to withstand illness and injury. Without cholesterol, we wouldn’t even exist!
Healthy hair needs healthy fat – Omega-3 fatty acids. Fatty fish, such as salmon, herring, sardines, trout and mackerel, are very rich in omega-3 fatty acids.Omega-3 fatty acids are among the must-have foods for healthy hair because they are responsible for the health of the cell membrane. These useful fatty acids are found in the cells that line the scalp and also provide the oils that keep your scalp and hair hydrated. Low-fat diets can make your scalp dry and inflamed and lead to hair loss. Fatty fish is a good prerequisite for the dermal synthesis of vitamin D from cholesterol in the skin under the sun.
Chicken eggs, the most commonly eaten eggs, provide 12.6 grams of protein in a 100-gram serving (one egg is about 50 grams) and approximately 10 grams of fat. Boiled eggs supply several vitamins and minerals as significant amounts of the Daily Value (DV), including vitamin A (19% DV), riboflavin (42% DV), pantothenic acid (28% DV), vitamin B12 (46% DV), choline (60% DV), phosphorus (25% DV), zinc (11% DV) and vitamin D (15% DV). A yolk contains more than two-thirds of the recommended daily intake of 300 mg of cholesterol. When it comes to your beauty and overall health, eggs are really a superstar.
If your mama told you to eat veggies, she was absolutely right and you’d had to listen. Leafy greens are a great source of vitamin B1 and iron and they also have the plus of being high in vitamin C, which helps in the absorption of iron. A triple whammy!
