Hair fall has become a source of worry for many individuals. There can be various reasons negatively affecting hair growth. Many experts believe that healthy hair is itself a sign of good health. As said, hair is one key element of the human body that needs to be preserved for the wellbeing of our body.
However, the popular notion is that it only serves the role of aesthetics. While agreeing to it to some degree, we have to understand the fact that it also protects the scalp from the sun’s harmful UV rays. The hair inside our noses and ears prevents germs and toxic elements from getting inside our bodies.
As we now know how hair is invariably linked to our health, it is time to know how we can stimulate its growth and retain its health. We will also discuss the five best vitamins that can induce strong hair growth and what foods to eat to get the essential nutrients. Keep on reading.
What Causes Hair Loss?
The problem of hair loss must be addressed as the stakes are much higher. There is no denying the fact that rapidly changing lifestyles have contributed immensely to falling hair health. Pollution is rampant and climatic conditions steer allergic reactions that pave the way for dwindling hair health.
Malnutrition, hormonal problems, skin disorders, the list seems endless. What is baffling is that even stress and depression play their role in inducing hair fall. As discussed earlier, it can also point to some serious health problems that need urgent attention.
Six best vitamins for hair growth
We will now turn our attention to finding out some of the best vitamins that can positively impact hair growth. These vitamins can be found in fruits and vegetables that we consume daily.
However, we cannot overlook that the body’s inherent mechanism should be up and running for its effective absorption into the human body. Let’s get to know them in detail.
✅ Vitamin C
Vitamin C, derived from glucose metabolism, acts as an antioxidant and prevents oxidative stress. It helps with iron absorption, which is crucial to healthy hair growth. Vitamin C is found in citrus fruits, potatoes, tomatoes, green peppers, cabbages, etc to name a few.
✅ Vitamin D
Another vitamin that can induce strong hair growth is vitamin D, which aids hair follicles for rapid hair growth. Salmon, oranges, and beef liver are great sources of vitamin D for preventing premature whitening and falling of hair.
✅ Vitamin E
Vitamin E, also known as alpha-tocopherol in health circles, can help your nerves and muscles function optimally. Vitamin E is critical in ensuring hair growth as it deters the influx of free radicals that cause cell destruction all over the body, including hair follicles.
✅ Vitamin B2
Vitamin B2, aka riboflavin, is an ally of healthy hair that can rejuvenate damaged hair cells. You will find adequate amounts of this vitamin in dairy products such as milk, yogurt, and cheese.
✅ Vitamin B12
The correlation between Vitamin B12 and hair has been established in many studies, as a deficiency in biotin (Vitamin B12) leads to hair loss. However, more studies are needed in this direction for absolute verification.
Foods that stimulate hair growth
In the preceding section, we learned how vitamins play an indispensable role in promoting healthy hair growth. Having known their merits, it is now time to find some beneficial foods that contain the aforementioned vitamins in abundance. For your benefit, we will provide a list along with a brief description. Check out the following:
✅ Broccoli
Broccoli contains iron, which helps blood cells carry oxygen to hair follicles in an attempt to strengthen hair growth. Besides, it also has potassium and calcium in adequate amounts to prevent hair fall.
✅ Cauliflower
Cauliflower is a good source of biotin, which promotes keratin production and stimulates hair growth. It also helps the hair stay strong and prevents premature whitening.
✅ Soybeans
Soybeans are rich in spermidine, an essential compound that supports proper hair growth. It seems to prolong the phase required for active hair growth, termed the anagen phase.
✅ Oranges
Oranges are rich in vitamin C, which revives hair follicles and encourages strong hair growth. In addition, the potent antioxidants in oranges combat free radicals and prevent the flare-up of oxidative stress detrimental to hair growth.
✅ Salmon
Salmon, an excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids, also seems to support strong hair growth. In certain clinical studies carried out by relevant health bodies, it has been found to strongly induce hair growth.
Conclusion
We saw the various factors that negatively impact hair growth in this write-up. The six best vitamins that aid strong hair growth and foods that support rapid hair growth were also discussed. We feel it is important to have good hair health, as it will help us ward off severe diseases.
References
- O’Connor K, et al. (2021). Nutrition and hair.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34785008/ - Wallace TC. (2018). Health effects of coconut oil: A narrative review of current evidence.
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/07315724.2018.1497562
