| Your hair thrives best in a healthy well nourished body. | | | | parts of the body. A deficiency in this vitamin results to |
| With such busy schedules, many people do not get all | | | | ineffective absorption of fats from the diet. |
| of the nutrients needed for healthy hair growth through | | | | Vitamin E can be supplied in the body by consuming |
| their diet alone. This is why natural products for hair | | | | green-leafy vegetables, nuts, grains and vegetable oils. |
| growth and hair loss have become so popular. There | | | | Biotin, another key ingredient, promotes cell growth, the |
| are specific vitamins and nutrients that can have a | | | | production of fatty acids, metabolism of fats, and |
| profound effect on your hair's overall health. Individuals | | | | amino acids. |
| who want healthier, faster growing hair, or who suffer | | | | Minerals |
| with hair problems, are advised to take use natural | | | | These are important micronutrients that must be |
| products because they are claimed to have no | | | | supplied in the body. Important minerals are heme iron, |
| negative side effects. | | | | silica and zinc. |
| Examples of these hair growth products are food | | | | Heme iron. This type of iron is found in meat and |
| supplements. These are actually nutrients that our | | | | cannot be found in vegetables because the latter has |
| body needs and examples are vitamin A, zinc, and folic | | | | a different chemical structure and thus called |
| acid. These are important in keeping your hair healthy | | | | non-heme iron. Heme is a complex red pigment that |
| because they help build and repair cells in the body | | | | contains iron where oxygen binds. Heme iron is |
| especially hair cells. These food supplements have no | | | | absorbed more efficiently compared with non-heme |
| scientific proof that they cure hair loss problems but | | | | iron. Anemia is an example of a deficiency in heme |
| you should know their importance because these are | | | | iron. |
| provided in your diet. | | | | Excellent sources of heme iron are clams, oysters and |
| Provided in the article are some information of | | | | liver. Good sources are beef, shrimp and sardines. |
| important nutrients for healthy hair and body. | | | | Silica is a trace mineral needed by the body. A |
| Protein | | | | deficiency in silica can cause hair problems. |
| This is an important nutrient because is the building | | | | Foods rich in silica are oats, rice, green-leafy |
| blocks of all cells in the body especially hair cells. | | | | vegetables, and strawberry. |
| Inadequate protein in the diet may result to dry and | | | | Zinc is vital in tissue growth and repair. It also stimulates |
| brittle hair strands. | | | | secretion of oil in the scalp and hair follicles. |
| You can eat fish, meat, cheese, eggs and milk to have | | | | Zinc can be supplied by consuming nuts, legumes, |
| adequate amounts of protein in your body. Most | | | | oysters, shellfish, and whole grains. |
| people get more than enough protien in their diet alone | | | | MSM |
| and should not use supplements with protein or amino | | | | MSM stands for Methylsulfonylmethane. MSM is a |
| acids. Only strict vegetarians should supplement protein | | | | naturally occurring sulfur found in many foods. It |
| in their diet. | | | | naturally increases your hair growth phase. This allows |
| Vitamins | | | | your hair to reach grow longer than it otherwise would. |
| There are several vitamins needed by the body. | | | | The hair growth phase (anagen phase) is one of three |
| These are vitamin A, C, E and all B vitamins like B6 | | | | phases (growth, resting, and shedding) your hair goes |
| and B12, Biotin, Folic Acid, etc. In addition to these, MSM, | | | | through during its cycle. Every hair on your head must |
| can be used to naturally lengthen the hair growth | | | | go through these three phases. However, since about |
| phase. Each of these vitamins will be briefly discussed: | | | | 90% of your hair is in the growth phase at any given |
| Vitamin A is vital because it prevents the drying and | | | | time, you should never experience excessive shedding. |
| clogging of sebaceous glands, which produces sebum. | | | | Your anagen, or growth phase, is genetically |
| Sebum is important in lubricating the hair follicles. A | | | | determined. This is why some people can grow hair |
| deficiency in vitamin A makes your scalp become dry | | | | down their backs, while others can only grow it to their |
| and thick causing dandruff that could eventually lead to | | | | shoulders. |
| hair loss. | | | | For example, a person with a 2 year anagen can only |
| Vitamin A can be supplied in the diet by eating foods | | | | grow any hair on their head a maximum of 12 inches |
| like carrots, sweet potatoes and liver. | | | | before it enters the resting phase. (24 months x 0.5 |
| Vitamins B6, B12 and folic acid are important in keeping | | | | inches per month.) The reason we say maximum is |
| the normal levels of hemoglobin in the blood. | | | | because this would mean that no breakage occurs |
| Hemoglobin is important because it supplies oxygen | | | | and the hair is never cut. On the other hand, a person |
| from the lungs to the different parts of the body. A | | | | with a 4 year anagen can grow hair 24 inches (48 |
| deficiency in these vitamins can lead to a decrease in | | | | months x 0.5 inches per month) before it enters the |
| repairing cells of the body. | | | | resting phase. |
| Foods rich in these particular B vitamins are liver, fish, | | | | Although MSM is found in many foods, conventional |
| chicken, meat, beans and vegetables like spinach. | | | | cooking methods have been shown to significantly |
| Vitamin C is important in maintaining collagen in the | | | | decrease it effectiveness in this form. |
| body. Collagen is essential in keeping your body tissues | | | | All of these nutrients can be supplied in the diet so |
| connected and tightly packed. A deficiency in vitamin C | | | | there would be no need to purchase food |
| results to hair breakages and split ends. | | | | supplements. However, if your diet does not contain |
| Good sources of vitamin C are citrus fruits, peppers, | | | | suffient amounts of these nutrients, you may benefit |
| broccoli and strawberries. | | | | from using natural supplements to promote healthier |
| Vitamin E is responsible in keeping a healthy blood | | | | hair. |
| circulation and good supply of oxygen to different | | | | |