You have changed shampoos; you have applied conditioners. You seek expert advice for your hair from your best friend and relatives and have tried every possible remedy to cure your dry, dull and thin hair, but nothing worked. Why? Because you did everything else, besides bringing a change in your diet.
As Dr Akshay Batra, a well known hair expert, puts it, “various hair related problems, including hair loss, and dryness of hair, is caused by an insufficient diet. If you pay proper attention to your diet and have foods that actually boost the health of hair, many problems would vanish”.
The way is to alter your diet, get rid of foods and drinks that can be detrimental to your hair, like caffeine, sugar, fat and Carbonated drinks and instead include, foods rich in nutrients like proteins, iron, zinc and vitamins as this will help you experience least hair problems and instead have healthier hair than you ever thought possible!
But, what’s the logic?
The logic is simple. Food is needed for hair growth and since in many cases, hair loss occurs more as a result of the failure of the body to create new hair that can replace the hairs that naturally die and fall out, eating the right foods can help in boosting the body’s capacity to make new hairs that can replace the ones that are lost.
If any of the vitamins and minerals are lacking, your hair shafts become weak resulting in massive hair loss. Sometimes, simply altering your diet to include healthy foods can decrease the amount of shedding you experience.
Some foods you should add to your diet to have shiny, bouncy and voluminous hair-
These must form a part of your daily breakfast and snacks. Either you take a few nuts – almonds, walnuts, cashews, pistachios – with milk in the morning or simply keep chewing on them during the day, but ensure you do not miss out on these. Because, these nuts come packed with a whole lot of nutrients, including iron, that plays a main role in the making of healthy hair. Besides, dry fruits are good sources of Vitamin E which enhances blood circulation on the scalp, and maintains healthy hair follicles. Walnuts are also a great source of zinc, as are cashews, and almonds. Zinc deficiency can lead to hair shedding.
Dr Batra lays special emphasis on iron when he says, “iron deficiency is the main cause of most hair problems. And this is why including green leafy vegetables in the diet becomes pertinent as they are rich sources of iron”. Dark green veggies, include spinach (palak), fenugreek (methi), broccoli, etc. all of which are very good sources of iron as well as calcium. In fact, spinach and broccoli, being good sources of vitamins A and C, also help the body in producing sebum - an oily substance that acts as the body’s natural conditioner.
Fruits have always been associated with umpteen benefits for the body. But did you know these could be as beneficial for your hair as well? Yes, fruits play a major role in preventing excess hair loss and even help in giving your hair the required luster and shine. Melons, berries, bananas, oranges, apples and many other fruits can supply your body with the proper vitamins that help reduce hair loss.
If you thought that the benefits of drinking water are limited only to a charming skin, think again! The shine and luster, the bounce and volume that you crave for, in your hair, can actually be seen if you consume at least eight glasses of water per day as water will help transport the needed nutrients to your hair and help keep your hair strands hydrated and strong.
Ensure you have lots of whole grains, including whole-wheat bread and fortified whole-grain breakfast cereals, for a hair-healthy dose of zinc, iron, and B vitamins. A whole-grain snack can also be a great nutritional option when your energy is zapped halfway through the afternoon, and you've still got hours to go before dinner.
Now that you know, that diet is of prime importance as far as health of your hair is concerned, get started, and flaunt your hair in style!
