Power Foods for Healthy Hair

Do you ever wish you had lustrous locks like Jennifer Aniston in the hit TV comedy series, Friends? Girls all over the world rushed to their nearest beauty salons to copy “Rachel’s” hairdo and stormed the shelves of their local supermarkets for the best hair products to get that almost-artificial shine.

However, it’s not just what you use on your hair but what you put in your mouth that makes all the difference. Apart from getting loads of sleep, reducing stress and exercising, eating the right foods will add that extra lustre, volume and shine to your hair and reduces hair and scalp-related problems like dryness, dandruff and the scariest of all – hair fall.

Here is a list of a few power foods that you should be incorporating in your daily diet to give your hair all the vitamins, nutrients and minerals that it needs to be healthy and beautiful:

1. Oily fish – Salmon, sardines and mackerel are all rich in vitamin D, protein and omega-3 fatty acids. These fatty acids make up almost 3% of the hair shaft and help keep your scalp hydrated and moist to avoid itchiness, flaking, burning and irritation.

2. Nuts – Walnuts and almonds are one of the best foods you can feed your hair with. Walnuts have a significant amount of omega-3 fatty acids and are also rich in biotin and vitamin E, which protect your hair cells from damage. Walnuts are also rich in copper that helps add colour and lustre to your hair.

3. Shellfish – Oysters, clams and crabs are all rich in zinc that help prevent hair loss, not just to your hair but to your eyelashes as well. Zinc also prevents your scalp from getting dry and flaky. Cereals and whole grain breads are great sources of zinc too. Since your hair is 97% protein, your body needs ample amounts of protein everyday to replace the strands that it naturally sheds. Beef, eggs and nuts are good sources of protein too.

4. Sweet potatoes – Your hair could use plenty of beta carotene and this antioxidant can be found in abundance in sweet potatoes. Our bodies convert beta carotene into vitamin A that helps the cells in our body function at their best and keeps our scalp dandruff-free.

5. Eggs – These little balls of protein are also packed with selenium, sulphur, zinc and iron. Iron helps the cells in our body conduct oxygen to our hair follicles. For women, one of the major reasons for hair loss is deficiency in iron or anemia. Fish, beef, pork and chicken are great sources of iron too.

6. Spinach – Greens are rich in folate, beta carotene, iron and vitamin C that helps keep your hair follicles happy and healthy and the oils in your scalp circulating all day long.

7. Lentils – These small but strong legumes are bristling with biotin, iron, zinc and protein making them a great substitute for all you vegetarians out there. Soybeans and kidney beans are good substitutes too.

8. Greek yoghurt – Stack your refrigerator with this low-cal but high-protein food that is rich in vitamin B5 and vitamin D too. Try Cheese and skim milk for other options.

For more details on foods that can help you get strong and healthy hair, get in touch with our experts at Phoenix Family Medical Clinic.

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