Vitamins And Minerals For Healthy Hair

Oftentimes, we hear that the crowning glory of every person is the hair, those wonderful tresses. Each has a different style, color and length. Gone were the days that men were differentiated from women from the length and style of hair. Now, their hairstyle depends on what look they want to exude.

However, even if you style, cut, color, and do everything else to your hair except take care of your body, it will just all go to waste. Taking care of your body by taking the essential vitamins and minerals is tantamount to taking care of your hair. Haven’t you noticed those times that you lack sleep, were not eating right, or were really stressed out? Your hair just kept falling out and you were scared that you would go bald. Just as the body needs the proper nutrition, your hair also needs the right vitamins and minerals in order to be healthy and grow properly.

If you feel that your hair is in need of these nutrients because of all the stress that it goes through, then the first thing you need to do is to consult a hair expert or your physician in order to prescribe you the necessary vitamins and minerals that you may need. This is also to make sure that the vitamins and minerals that you will be taking will not contraindicate any condition you may have.

Essential hair vitamins

Biotin – These vitamins are involved in the production of keratin. It is also found responsible for the prevention of hair loss and of gray hair. It is usually found in whole grain foods, egg yolks, rice, milk and liver.

Inositol – These vitamins are responsible for the health of hair follicles at cellular level. It is often found in foods also rich with biotin.

Niacin – These vitamins are seen to also promote the blood circulation in the scalp. Aside from those foods which are rich in biotin and inositol, it is also seen in fish, turkey, chicken and other meat products.

Pantothenic Acid – These vitamins are known for its preventive properties on graying hair as well as hair loss. It can be acquired by taking in cereals made by whole grain wheat, egg yolks and organ meats.

Beta Carotene – A natural occurring antioxidant in the body, these vitamins are also responsible for producing sebum or oil in the scalp. You can get it from milk, eggs, carrots, apricots, meat, cheese, peaches, and most natural orange-colored foods.

Ascorbic Acid – Another vitamin antioxidant that is found to be responsible for the maintenance of the health of skin and hair, you can get them from fruits such as oranges, kiwi, strawberries, pineapple, and vegetables that are dark green in color including broccoli and green pepper.

Alpha-tocopherol – A vitamin with antioxidant properties, it is used to enhance the blood circulation in the scalp area. It can be found in vegetable oils, soy beans, nuts and seeds, as well as green vegetables. Care should be taken before taking this medication by people with known hypertension and cardiovascular disease.

Vitamin B6 – The prevention of hair loss is also made possible by these vitamins. It is also responsible for creating melanin, the color pigment found in hair. Aside from brewer’s yeast, it is also seen present in vegetables, egg yolk, organ meat, and cereals.

Vitamin B12 – These vitamins are known to keep the hair intact, thus preventing premature hair loss. It can be had sourced through the ingestion of fish, chicken, milk and eggs.

Essential hair minerals

Calcium – A mineral that is required to grow healthy hair, it can easily be found in dairy products, fish, legumes, sesame seeds, tofu, etc. Avoid taking too much since it is known to inhibit iron and zinc absorption.

Chromium – This mineral acts on the prevention of hair loss caused by varying degrees of glucose in the blood. It is found to be mainly present in beef, liver, wheat bread, and Brewer’s yeast.

Copper – It is responsible for stopping the loss of hair and clearing up defects in the structure and color of hair. Green vegetables, liver, eggs, beans, chicken, and shellfish are known food products rich in this mineral. Yet, avoid taking too much since it is known to cause adverse reactions and reversing the preservation of hair.

Iodine – The regulation of thyroid hormones is seen with this mineral. It also keeps the hair moisturized and strong. It is present in high concentrations in marine food such as seaweed, fish, kelp, including garlic and iodized salt.

Iron – This mineral is taken from liver, fish, eggs, green vegetables, and even chicken for the prevention of anemia and hair loss. An excess may lead to spleen and liver disorders.

There are still a lot of vitamins and minerals that are available that contribute to having vibrant and healthy hair including potassium, manganese, magnesium, selenium, sulfur, silica, and zinc. Just remember to take these medications in moderation since everything in excess can do more harm than good.