Possessing glossy and shiny hair has remained the most iconic symbol of beauty. It could be achieved easily by most with good hair care and a balanced diet. However, some individuals may need some extra love and care.
Are Vitamins Necessary For Healthy Hair?
Just like any part of your body, your hair requires a variety of nutrients to remain healthy and maintain its attractiveness. The overall quality of your hair, scalp health and hair growth can be affected by a number of factors such as age, genetics, diet, illness, the weather and extent of pollution and hormonal changes in your body.
While there is no scientific evidence suggesting that any individual vitamin or nutrient promotes the quality of your hair and hair growth, vitamin deficiency could certainly play a huge part in causing its ruination.
A well-balanced diet could be the first step in avoiding such circumstances. However, one could also utilise the various vitamin supplements available to boost hair growth and fix brittle or dry hair.
A good head of hair is every individual’s dream. Hair fall or dry and brittle hair can cause people serious self-image issues and cause them to lose confidence in their appearance. This article aims to discuss the 5 vitamins that are known to affect the health of hair and support hair growth.
1. Vitamin A
Vitamin A is one of the healthy hair vitamins that are essential for sebum production in the human body. Sebum is the moisturising agent that is generated by the glands in your scalp and coats the hair strands making it look glossy and healthy.
It is also responsible for the growth in tissues in the body and thus helps in hair growth. Vitamin A intake should be practised with caution as too much of it may lead to hair loss because of the toxicity.
Natural food sources that are rich in this vitamin include sweet potatoes, cod liver oil, milk products and eggs. Spinach also contains high levels of vitamin A.
2. Biotin (Vitamin B7)
Biotin is available in a variety of food items, so its deficiency is very rarely seen in individuals. People who are expecting or breastfeeding or take heavy drugs such as antibiotics or epilepsy drugs tend to have lower biotin levels.
This nutrient is needed by the cells in the body. While most B-vitamins are available in foods like leafy vegetables, almonds, meat and seafood, specific sources of biotin include whole grains, egg yolks and meat.
3. Vitamin C
Vitamin C is a great antioxidant that can protect hair strands against the damage caused by free radical agents. It helps reduce oxidative stress which could have otherwise caused premature ageing of hair and block hair growth.
It is also essential in the production of collagen. Collagen forms a part of the hair structure. Berries and other citrus fruits form a great source of vitamin C.
5. Vitamin D
Vitamin D deficiency is very common in a lot of people and this could result in alopecia – which is the clinical term for hair loss. Vitamin D is important for hair growth and plays an important role in creating new follicles.
Sunlight can facilitate the production of vitamin D in your body. Food items that are rich in vitamin D include seafood, cod liver oil, and mushrooms. Vitamin D supplements are often prescribed with magnesium as it enhances bioavailability.
5. Vitamin E
As mentioned before, antioxidants reduce the chances of oxidative stress caused by free radical agents, thus protecting your hair against damage. Vitamin E is another one of the healthy hair vitamins that are also a strong antioxidant.
It also improves overall hair health, thus giving you shiny, healthy-looking hair. It is also responsible for increasing blood circulation in the body, which might promote hair growth. It is found in foods like sunflower seeds, spinach and avocados.
Conclusion
Good hair health can be achieved through a balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle. However, individuals may be deficient in the vitamins mentioned above due to illness, genetic reasons or ageing those suffering from ailments.
You can increase the specific healthy hair vitamins intake by focusing on the food groups which are rich in them. You can also avail the various supplements available in the market to resolve your deficiency.
