This is a sponsored guest post.
Hair depends on nutrients for health and shine. There are several ways to determine if your hair is lacking nutrients:
Dull Looking Hair: While everyone gets a bad hair day once in a while if your hair looks opaque and it’s difficult to style constantly, it may lack important nutrients.
Dry Scalp: Dandruff and itching are the usual signs of a dry scalp. But if you use moisturizing shampoo and condition properly, and your scalp is still dry, the reason may be a lack of fatty acids.
Brittle or Dry Texture: Moisture is essential for healthy-looking hair. When your hair is unable to lock in moisture, the result is a brittle texture. Zinc and iron deficiencies may be behind it.
Thinning Hair: If you feel that your hair is thinning, especially near the roots, you may be lacking protein. Hair cells are made of amino acids, which are broken down in the form of protein. Hair supplements can be helpful for thinning hair, but it is important to keep an eye on your protein intake.
Premature Graying: While most people will experience gray hair during their late thirties or early forties, premature graying can be a sign of copper deficiency.
Shedding: Normally, a person loses around 100 strands of hair per day. Excessive shedding may signal a lack of vitamins and minerals. Unusual or extreme hair loss can also be caused by more complex medical conditions, so visit your doctor if you are experiencing it.
Eating a Balanced Diet
The best way to keep your hair (and body) healthy, is to eat a healthy, nutrient-rich diet. If you are concerned about your hair’s health, there are some foods that help improve it:
- Spinach and Berries are a significant source of vitamins A and C. Berries are rich in antioxidants, while spinach is an excellent source of iron
- Eggs and fatty fish: Protein is essential for healthy hair. Eggs are also rich in biotin, another important nutrient. Fatty fishes are the best sources of omega 3 fatty acids
- Nuts and seeds: Seeds are rich in selenium, zinc and B and E vitamins. And they are very low on calories. Nuts are rich in these too, and they are also an excellent source of fatty acids
- Sweet potatoes: Are rich in beta-carotene, which is converted by the body into vitamin A. Vitamin A promotes the production of sebum, which is essential for healthy hair.
- Avocados: Are another excellent source of antioxidants, such as vitamins A and E, as well as fatty acids
- Sweet Peppers: One yellow pepper provides five times more vitamin C than an orange.
- Seafood: Oysters are an excellent source of zinc and 100 grams of shrimp can provide up to 38% of your daily vitamin D requirements.
Don’t Forget to Drink Your Water
Hair is mostly made of protein, but it is also made of water. Moisturizing is not enough. You need to drink plenty of water and eat water-rich fruits such as cucumbers and watermelons.
Avoid Bad Habits
Binge drinking and smoking affect how your body processes nutrients. While a drink once in a while should be harmless, excessive drinking can add to hair problems and even cause hair loss. Stress is another harmful condition. Lack of exercise can result in more stress, which also affects your hair’s health. If you are unable to visit the gym frequently, walking can be really helpful. Lack of sleep also affects the way in which the body processes nutrients.
As you can see, ensuring that your hair gets all the nutrients it needs is a matter of balance. Healthy hair is usually a result of healthy living habits and proper nutrition. If you feel that you lack essential nutrients, consult your doctor or nutritionist.
