Did you know there are certain foods that you are probably already eating that can help your hair grow longer, strong, and faster? A balanced diet along with a dietary supplement, like this one from HairMax available here, you can start reversing the effects of hair loss from the inside out! Here are 5 foods that help boost hair growth from the inside out and a little bit about why they help.
Chia Seeds
Have you noticed chia seeds popping up everywhere lately? In smooth shops, restaurant menus, and even in some beauty products, people are starting to understand the major health benefits of this tiny seed.
Not only do chia seeds have a whopping 10 grams of fiber in a 2 tablespoon serving, they are jam packed with antioxidants that help protect the body from free radicals, aging and cancer. Along with antioxidants, which helps your hair grow stronger, chia seeds are also rich in Omega-3 Fatty Acids…and by rich, I mean that 60% of chia seeds are composed of omega-3s!
How does that help your hair? Well, omega-3 fats can help improve the integrity of keratin and elastin in your body. By improving these, your hair is able to be thicker and more voluminous. Also, these fats help nourish your scalp giving you that healthy shine, no hair products or oils needed!
Protein
Protein doesn’t just fuel cross-fit nuts and body builders, it is required for the growth of all cells in our bodies, including our hair cells. While we already know it is the building block for building muscle, did you know that our hair and nails are mostly made up of protein, too? Basically, protein provides the necessary nutrients to allow repairing and replacing of our hair follicles. If hair doesn’t have enough protein, these follicles will weaken and hair growth will slow down.
Along with promoting strong and happy hair follicles, a diet rich in protein reduces food craving, gain muscle mass and strength, potentially lower blood pressure, and increase your bodies metabolism! Talk about a win-win-win! The best part? There are so many ways to add more protein to your daily diet. For example, how many of these are you already eating weekly? Lean meat, like chicken and turkey, soy, eggs, beans, nuts, and even some types of fish?
Brown Rice
Full of fiber and rich in antioxidants, manganese, and selenium, brown rice also is high in biotin. So much of our bodies need these necessary nutrients, especially your hair!
Foods highly concentrated in biotin, or vitamin B3, help improve the elasticity of hair and help strengthen brittle or weak hair. Another common name for vitamin B3 is niacin, and is a water-soluble vitamin that plays a crucial role in the metabolism in a living cell and DNA repair.
Along with the strengthening benefits of brown rice on hair, it also helps our bodies synthesize fats, normalize cholesterol levels, aid digestion, and even stabilize blood sugar levels. What’s great? A lot of restaurants have created ‘healthy alternative’ options on their menus, usually offering a brown rice substitute.
Figs
Do you remember the last time you ate a fig? No, a Fig Newton cookie does not count. This commonly overlooked health gem is loaded with fiber, vitamin B6, potassium, and iron. How does this pertain to you hair? Well, did you know that iron deficiency is one of the most common reason for hair loss and the easiest solutions is adding iron rich foods, like figs, to your diet.
Luckily, dried figs are available throughout the year, so there’s no excuse that they aren’t ‘in season’ to skip out on this power food. A review of 40 years of research has shown a strong link between iron deficiency and hair loss and might even be on of the keys to restoring hair growth.
Now, don’t go out and buy every iron supplement you can find. Even if you are diagnosed with an iron deficiency, your doctor is the only one to safely understand how much iron your body can handle, because iron supplements can lead to a very dangerous condition from overload.
We are just talking about foods that are naturally rich in iron, and once introduced in your daily diet, will naturally help your body replenish your hair health. Figs are a great way to add that little bit of iron to help out your hair, but also can help lower blood pressure, satisfy cravings, and even thought to have cardiovascular effects.
Grapefruit
Grapefruit has been getting a lot of attention in the weight-loss world and for good reason. There is scientific research that revealed the grapefruit’s natural fat burning benefits by simply enjoying half a grapefruit before meals and watching the pounds fall off.
The high concentrate of vitamin C in a grapefruit is essential for your hair, because it is an essential vitamin for synthesizing collagen. What is collagen? Basically collagen is a structural fiber that helps the body hold everything together. It is the key to unlocking beautiful hair and making sure your body can protect and nourish it.
When you have a diet lacking in vitamin C?
You will not only notice shorter eyelashes, but dull sad hair.
Making sure you have around 250 milligrams of vitamin C can boost your collagen production and see more vibrant hair, and bonus will help reduce wrinkles in your skin! From adding grapefruit to your salad, or simply drinking a glass of Simply Grapefruit before you eat, the body benefits are too good try and think of an excuse not to add this effortless power food to your daily diet.
