When it comes hair care, healthy doses of proteins and minerals in your meals matter. Super foods that promote healthy hair growth are also beneficial for skin and nails, while contributing to your overall well-being. We rounded up the 10 best foods for gorgeous hair so get cooking, with these hair beauty boosters!
Salmon
Loaded with protein and vitamin D, salmon also contains the superstar ingredient for gorgeous hair: omega 3 fatty acids. About 3% of each individual hair shaft is made up of fatty acids, and because the human body can’t produce fatty acids, it’s important to incorporate this nutrient into your diet regularly to keep both your hair and scalp hydrated from the inside out.
Sweet potatoes are rich in the antioxidant beta carotene which, one ingested, is converted into into vitamin A. Vitamin A produces and protects the oils that sustain your scalp, so if you don’t have enough you’ll soon notice dry skin, a scaly scalp and itchy, irritating dandruff. Sweet potatoes can be a tasty side dish or even a starring entree enjoyed by vegetarians.
Other foods that are a good source of beta carotene include:
Besides being known as a great source of protein, eggs are loaded with key minerals that are important for healthy hair and skin: selenium, zinc, sulfur, and iron. We know that an iron deficiency leads to anemia, but it can also be the cause of hair loss in women because iron has a vital role to play: helping cells carry oxygen to the hair follicles.
Other options for increasing the body’s iron stores come from animal sources like:
This humble everyday entree is a winner in delivering protein, and packs plenty of hair-healthy punch with minerals zinc, iron and B vitamins that keep strands strong and plump for a fuller-looking head of hair. Protein is the essential building block for hair health. Hair is made up almost entirely of protein, so poultry (like chicken, turkey, and duck), lean beef and eggs are important sources that should be part of your nutritious diet every day.
Greek Yogurt
Read the labels on expensive hair care products and you’ll likely see the ingredient pantothenic acid. Translate that into a name we recognize: vitamin B5, add some hair-friendly protein and a dose of vitamin D for stronger follicles; mix it together in creamy goodness and you have Greek yogurt! This is a yummy low-fat treat that’s as good for your waistline as it is for your hair! Other similarly smart choices from the dairy aisle include:
These dairy products are brimming with benefits for hair and body!
Beans and Lentils
An awesome source of essential minerals for healthy hair comes from beans and lentils, tiny packages that pack a punch of the good stuff: protein, zinc, iron, and biotin to fight dryness and help prevent hair breakage. Incorporate filling kidney beans into soups, salads, stews or a vegetable wrap—or choose mini and mighty lentils or other bean varieties as a dietary staple that works for meat eaters, vegetarians and for vegans alike.
Spinach
If you want to keep scalp oils circulating and improve hair follicle health, spinach delivers the vitamins and minerals that do the job: iron, beta carotene, folate (aka folic acid), and vitamin C. It’s tasty and tempting as the base of a fresh salad and equally impressive served as a cooked side dish. Add some variety by incorporating other nutrient-packed dark and leafy green vegetables into your diet. Good options include:
There’s a new super food touted every day, but blueberries retain their rightful place as a nutrient superhero when it comes to being a sweet source of vitamin C. Too little of this vitamin can lead to hair breakage, and vitamin C is critical to circulation throughout the body and to the scalp. It supports the tiny blood vessels that feed hair follicles. Toss blueberries onto your morning cereal to start the day right! Other vitamin C sources that are healthy and helpful hair choices:
Hair rarely gets shielded from the sun, so vitamin E is critical in protecting cells from DNA damage that comes from UV rays. Walnuts are loaded with this vitamin, as well as containing a significant amount of omega 3 fatty acids, and other hair-helper nutrients: biotin to fight hair loss, and copper (the mineral that helps keep your natural color hair rich and lustrous). Snack on a handful, or try walnut oil in your salad dressing and stir-fry dishes instead of other oils. Almonds are loaded with the boost of zinc that hair needs to be shinier and well moisturized, and Brazil nuts also deliver similar healthy hair benefits.
Quinoa
Strengthen your strands from the inside out with protein and vitamin E packed whole grains! Quinoa is a top choice for hair growth because it contains high levels of both protein and vitamin E, with more nutritional value per serving than rice. The vitamin E in quinoa plays a significant role in growing longer, stronger and healthier hair and helps balance the production of natural oils that keep the scalp and follicles properly moisturized and beautifully shiny. Quinoa cooks up quickly and delivers a healthy helping of protein deliciously!
Chia Seeds
This super seed is being lauded as the new magical food for total nutrition, and while you should always be sure to eat a balanced diet, these tiny little seeds sure do pack an enormous healthy punch in just a couple of tablespoons. One of the most concentrated sources of omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids these support heart health in addition to making your skin glow and your hair shine. Chia seeds are also rich in calcium which stimulates hair growth for long tresses and are a fabulous source of antioxidants which protect your hair follicles from damage.
