The thick, smooth and shiny locks that grace the TV screen every time a haircare commercial comes on is probably hair goals for everyone. But the reality is often disappointing as it takes a lot of work and requires more than just some acclaimed products for us to don those luscious hair. But that does not mean all is lost. There are certain ways you can help your hair achieve the desired positive result, and one of those is through foods (preferably plant-based).
Although applying hair oil and using the right shampoo and conditioners may improve the texture of your hair, the key to having strong and healthy hair lies in your diet. The foods that we consume impact our hair health greater than we often realize and it is the one thing we have control over, unlike factors such as age, genetics, environment, etc which also contribute to an individual’s hair health quality. By making some dietary changes, healthy hair growth, hair loss prevention and even reversal can be achieved.
Consuming a healthy diet that is rich in essential vitamins and minerals will make a great difference to the health of your hair while ensuring you look happy and healthy throughout. So we have put together some healthy plant-based foods to support and promote strong, luscious healthy hair:
1. Sweet Potatoes
One food in particular that meets all the criteria needed for healthy hair is sweet potatoes. It is not only tasty and inexpensive but also packs a ton of health benefits, especially for the hair. It is a great source of beta-carotene compound which is converted into vitamin A, an essential vitamin for hair health. Additionally, researchers have suggested that vitamin A helps promote sebum production, keeping the hair healthy. Vitamin A is also known to help speed up the rate of hair growth and encourage thicker, stronger hair growth, all while preventing other hair follicles from deteriorating. Bake it, fry it, you can’t really go wrong with sweet potatoes.
2. Spinach
Did you know that spinach is quite the storehouse for plant-based iron, which is essential for the healthy growth of hair follicles? Iron deficiencies are often linked with hair loss so spinach is the ideal healthy solution for such cases. Additionally, just as with sweet potatoes, spinach is also a great source of vitamin A which helps promote sebum production, thereby keeping the scalp moisturized and healthy. What else? Spinach is also loaded with essential nutrients such as folate and vitamin C, essential for healthy hair growth. Put it in your salad or juice it up to reap all of the nutrients spinach has to offer.
3. Avocados
Delicious and nutritious, avocados are a great food for hair. Why? Not only are they a great source of healthy fats but also because they are incredibly rich in vitamin E. Damaged skin or scalp can often lead to poor hair quality and fewer follicles. Fortunately, antioxidants like vitamin E helps combat oxidative stress by neutralizing free radicals which help protect the scalp from damage. The healthy fats or fatty acids in avocados has also been proven to be beneficial against hair loss. Mashed avocados make the perfect bread spread for a healthy breakfast.
4. Nuts
Nuts such as Almonds, Walnuts, Brazil nuts, etc are packed with a variety of nutrients that are known to promote healthy hair growth. Walnuts, in particular, contains high levels of biotin and omega-3 fatty acids that are essential for supporting stronger hair. Likewise, Brazil nuts are also rich in selenium beneficial for healthy hair growth. Almonds, on the other hand, is especially rich in vitamin E, magnesium, as well as other essential nutrients that help support the follicles to produce stronger hair strands and prevent breakage and hair loss. So munch on those crunchy nuts, your hair will thank you for it!
5. Seeds
Relatively low in calories, seeds such as sunflower seeds, chia seed and flaxseeds are known for delivering a massive amount of nutrients beneficial for hair health. These include zinc, protein, selenium, omega-3 fatty acids as well as vitamin E and B vitamins. Sunflower seeds are particularly rich in vitamin E and a wide variety of hair-healthy B vitamins. And since our hair is made up of a protein called keratin, consuming foods, such as seeds, that are rich in protein is particularly crucial to ensure healthy hair. To get the widest variety of nutrients, it’s best to consume a mixture of seeds.
6. Beans
Beans are an excellent source of plant-based protein, which is essential for healthy hair generation. They are also a great source of nutrients such as iron, zinc, folate and biotin, which are also extremely essential to hair growth. Additionally, in particular, have the compound spermidine, which has been found to prolong a phase of active hair growth called the anagen phase. Beans are versatile and easily accessible in any seasons, which makes them an easy addition to the diet.
7. Carrots
We are pretty much aware of the link between carrots and eye health. This is because of the high vitamin A content in carrot. But did you know that vitamin A deficiency can also lead to dry and itchy scalp? Carrots are rich in beta-carotene compound, which are then converted into vitamin A, essential for not just the hair but the eyes as well. Carrots are also known to promote thicker, lustrous hair as well as improve blood circulation and help prevent hair fall and hair breakage.
Want to know what has Carrot in it? Preserva’s very own Ayurveda-enriched Tressgold Tablets & Tressgold Oil –a holy grail for the hair! Besides carrot, they also contain a variety of potent Ayurvedic ingredients such as Curcumin, Amla, Giloya, Bhringraj, Triphala, etc that are incredibly hair-healthy. The unique formulation in each of the products works wonders in addressing hairfall, dandruff, scalp damage, breakage, and most importantly, supporting and promoting healthy, stronger hair growth. Pair the two products for better, luscious results!
The Takeaway
What we eat (and do not eat) can have a huge impact on our health, and that includes our hair health as well. Certain foods are beneficial for the health of our hair and it is important to know what those foods are. Nutrients such as vitamins A, C, D and E, zinc, B vitamins, iron, biotin, protein and essential fatty acids are essential for healthy hair growth and the foods mentioned above are a storehouse of such nutrients. Moreover, they are tasty, versatile & easily accessible, so including them in your daily diet may be the best solution to support and promote healthy hair without needing to use chemical-laden products.