A healthy diet that includes essential vitamins is one of the simplest and most popular ways of maintaining thicker and healthier hair. Health experts have been advising most patients with weak and unhealthy hair to check for an imbalance of nutrients in their diet, as rectifying this is the best way forward for recovery. Vitamins and minerals like Zinc or Iron work together for healthier and stronger hair.
6 Important Vitamins for Thicker, Healthier Hair
1. Biotin or Vitamin B7
Biotin, better known as vitamin B7 or vitamin H, is best known for helping the body metabolize fats. It also helps convert amino acids into sugar, which is further used as energy. This helps strengthen hair and nails.
A lack of biotin in the diet has severe effects, like brittle nails and even hair. Thinning and discoloration of hair are also common. The best foods to eat that contain a relatively good amount of biotin are eggs and nuts.
2. Vitamin C
Vitamin C helps the hair because it helps the body produce collagen. Collagen is one of the essential ingredients for thicker and healthier hair.
Foods known to nourish our bodies with vitamin C include citrus fruits, dark colored greens, red bell peppers and tomatoes.
3. Niacin or Vitamin B3
Vitamin B3 is critical for the good metabolism of sugars and carbohydrates in the human body. Niacin has been clinically proven to repair DNA and maintain healthy cells, including promoting hair growth.
Foods that are high in niacin include marine proteins and lean meats. For vegans, legumes have been known to work just as well.
4. Vitamin A
Vitamin A is a good antioxidant that increases the sebum production of the sebaceous glands. Sebum assists in the natural hydration of hair, thus reducing dry hair, which breaks easily. Any individual with a good intake of vitamin A is assured thick and strong hair.
Foods that are known to provide vitamin A include spinach, kale, lettuce, carrots, sweet potatoes, winter squash and butternut squash.
5. Vitamin D
Vitamin D helps cycle hair follicles, thus promoting hair growth.
Vitamin D can easily be absorbed through the sunlight. Diets rich in vitamin D include fish, eggs, oysters, sardines, salmon, milk, ham, grains and salami.
6. Vitamin E
Vitamin E is an antioxidant that makes our immune system stronger and helps supply oxygen to the hair follicles. It also hydrates the scalp and helps with the production of sebum by the sebaceous glands. Vitamin E is known to increase hair growth and prevent hair from infections.
Foods that introduce vitamin E to the body include turnip greens, sunflower seeds, papaya, peanuts and dried apricots.
Other Vitamins
Other important minerals in our diet that will help our hair become stronger and healthier are omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids. Foods with copper and selenium are also essential for healthy hair. Copper helps with pigmentation while selenium is vital for elasticity.
If you have ever wanted to make your hair stronger and healthier, you can always trust natural vitamins!
