Hair loss is a natural part of life; one that could be upsetting. Hair loss can be abrupt, or it can happen over a period of time. It becomes a problem when the rate at which you lose hair follicles becomes higher than the rate that new follicles are produced.
In a few cases, when hair loss is hereditary, there is nothing you can do about it due to genetic factors. But when that is not the case you can adjust your diet to encourage the growth of new hair follicles by eating superfoods. Below are some of the best superfoods to eat to encourage hair growth.
1. Eggs
Eggs are a fantastic source of protein and biotin, the two most important nutrients for promoting proper hair growth. Hair follicles are primarily composed of protein which is why the nutrient is so important for hair growth. Biotin on the other hand is necessary for the production of keratin. A biotin deficiency can lead to major hair loss. Now, you know why an egg a day is not a bad idea!
2. Berries
Berries are some of the best things you can consume for your health in general, but especially for your hair. This is primarily because of their sizable vitamin C content which provides vital antioxidants. These antioxidants help to protect your hair follicles from damage by reducing the amount of free radicals that are responsible for oxidization.
3. Tuna
It is important to include fatty fish, such as tuna, salmon, mackerel, etc. in your diet if you’re worried about hair growth. This is primarily because they contain omega-3 fatty acids, essential nutrients for good hair growth. If you are finding it difficult to incorporate fish into your diet, you can supplement it with fish oil supplements. It has protein, vitamin D3, B complex vitamins, and selenium.
Also Read: Potatoes for Shiny Hair
4. Spinach
Spinach and other dark, leafy, green veggies are extremely nutrient dense foods. Many of the nutrients they possess are beneficial for good hair growth. They possess folate, vitamin A, vitamin C and iron. The vitamin A in particular helps the skin glands to produce sebum, the oily substance that naturally moisturizes the scalp.
5. Avocados
If you don’t want to eat fish or cannot consume fish oil for some reason, you should consider including avocado in your diet instead. Not only are they delicious, but they are another great source of omega-3 fatty acids. They also contain significant amounts of vitamin E which has been known to promote hair growth. A single avocado contains up to 21% of your daily recommended vitamin E requirement.
6. Seeds
The biggest reason that seeds are good for your hair growth is that they are extremely nutrient dense. You receive a massive amount of vitamins and minerals in each seed, flax seed or pumpkin seeds, meaning you can easily meet your daily recommended requirement of multiple nutrients. Seeds are a great source of omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin E in particular which are both important nutrients for good hair growth.
7. Sweet Potatoes
It is truly wonderous that sweet potatoes provide amazing benefits for your hair, because they are fantastic to eat (shout out to sweet potato fries). They contain large amounts of beta-carotene which is essential for good hair growth. They also promote the production of sebum which while not essential for hair growth, keeps the hair you do have healthy by oiling the scalp.
Also Read: How Buttermilk Makes your Skin and Hair Glow
8. Oysters
Seafood like oysters are a good addition to any hair growth diet because they contain high amounts of zinc. Zinc doesn’t just support good hair growth; it also supports the hair repair cycle. Zinc deficiency can cause a common condition, telogen effluvium to occur; it is a reversible hair loss condition that is caused by a hair loss deficiency.
9. Bell Peppers
Bell peppers are one of the best sources of vitamin C available. They have more than twice the amount of vitamin C found in an orange. The vitamin C is important because it provides lots of antioxidants which kill free radicals that damage hair follicles. Next time you are worried about hair growth, just make sure you add a decent amount of chopped bell peppers to your salad, pasta or even noodles!
10. Beans
Beans are a fantastic source of plant based protein which is needed for good hair growth. They are also a great source of zinc, a mineral that plays a tremendous role in the hair follicle repair cycle.
11. Red Meat
Meat like beef or lamb is actually very good for helping your hair grow. It contains everything you need to produce new hair follicles and repair them: protein, iron, and zinc. The iron in red meat is particularly important because it is easy to absorb and helps to produce red blood cells which deliver oxygen to the various cells in your body.
Your diet is the first place you should start when you want to stimulate hair growth. Eating these superfoods by themselves may not be enough to reverse hair loss and encourage hair growth, but they definitely help. It is best to also visit a doctor to discover the root cause for hair loss, and get medical attention if required.
