No one welcomes the prospect of premature hair fall, hair thinning and balding. Every one of us wishes to have a full head of hair till a ripe old age. Fortunately; thinning hair can be prevented to a large degree and effective prevention of hair loss can be prevented with a healthy diet and with an adequate intake of essential vitamins, minerals and nutrients that promote hair growth and prevent hair thinning. This article aims to help you understand essential vitamins, minerals, and dietary additions that can largely reverse the process of thinning hair and help you regain a degree of control over hair growth and health.
If you have heard about the various health benefits of Omega-3 fatty acids found in abundance in various fish oils; you have probably heard about its benefits for hair growth and its ability to reverse the process of thinning hair. The fatty acids in fish oils have been researched extensively and their benefits for both animal and human skin and hair are well-documented.
Omega-3 fatty acids are found in abundance in fishes like salmon, tuna, mackerel and sardines. These acids can even be found in considerable measure in egg yolks, walnuts and hemp seeds among other foods. If you're unable to eat any of the fishes and foods mentioned above; Omega-3 fatty acid supplementation is widely available at pharmacies and department stores.
Biotin and Vitamin B5 vitamins can do a whole lot for hair and skin health. These B complex vitamins are popular forms of alternative treatment for hair thinning. Biotin has a regenerating effect and rebuilds hair shafts that have been subject to degradation by hair products, sun exposure, hair straightening and blow drying and environmental pollutants. Vitamin B5 provides support to the adrenal glands and consequently accelerates hair growth. Vitamin B5 is found in abundance in many variations of foods and changes to one’s diet can effectively increase intake of B5 vitamin. Foods such as chicken, eggs, beef, avocado, nuts, legumes and potatoes are ideal sources of vitamin B5 and helps in controlling and reversing hair thinning.
Vitamin C, which is found in abundance in a wide variation of citrus fruits, can do a lot lot to reverse hair thinning. Oxidative stress caused by free radicals is one of the most common symptoms of aging and can have a negative impact on skin and hair health. Vitamin C effectively combats oxidative stress that has a large contribution to greying hair and hair thinning. Supplementing your diet with Vitamin C rich fruits and vegetables is the most effective way to increase vitamin C intake; however, you can also try supplements with advice from your doctor to combat hair thinning.
Vitamin D has well documented benefits for hair growth and thinning hair. This essential vitamin is used to treat patients with alopecia areata. The best way to increase intake of vitamin D is by limited exposure to the sun; however, vitamin D is also present in foods like halibut, mackerel, eel, salmon, white fish, swordfish, portabella mushrooms and maitake mushrooms. Including these foods in your diet will effectively help you control your thinning hair.
Zinc is an important mineral that has long been used to control hair thinning and there are numerable clinical studies that prove the effectiveness of zinc for hair growth and prevention of hair thinning. Zinc compounds have been largely used to treat Telogen effluvium and alopecia Areata by hair specialists and this can be largely credited to the effectiveness of zinc as an agent that promotes hair growth and health.
Adding the mineral zinc to your diet is quite easy considering that you can increase their intake of this nutrient by eating a wide range of foods including, but not limited to oysters, beef, lamb, spinach, pumpkin seeds, squash seeds, nuts, dark chocolate pork, chicken and mushrooms. Zinc can also be supplemented with over-the-counter pills and tonics.
Iron is yet another important mineral which is known to promote healthy hair. Foods that are rich in iron include spinach, chicken, lean meats, beans or lentils. Iron is an essential mineral for the production of red blood cells what supply oxygen to all the cells in the body. Hair related problems like hair thinning, hair loss, grey hair are some of the common symptoms in people who are anaemic. You may not be iron deficient, but having low iron levels can be a contributing factor for thinning hair.