Food Fare For Great Hair…

“Here are some additions which you can make to your diet to restore your hair to its crowning glory.”

Do you dread having to wash your hair or even to run your hands through your hair? Does the hair which you find on your pillow give you sleepless nights? Fear not, here are some additions which you can make to your diet to restore your hair to its crowning glory. Today, men and women alike, are concerned about their grooming and appearance. Hair forms a great part of your looks, with shiny, healthy hair, makes you look decades younger. In search for the same, people young and old are resorting to coloring, straightening, re-bonding and perming the hair. To this, add the stressors of pollution, poor lifestyle and diet, and most people today have faced hair loss as invariable part of their lives.

Before you start calling your dermatologist, take a closer look at what you are eating. Chances are with small modifications to what you eat, your hair fall may actually stop! Want to know how? Read on.

CARROTS

If you thought that carrots were good only for your eyes, look again. The humble carrot, rich in Vitamin A provides excellent nourishment for the scalp. A healthy scalp ensures shiny, well-conditioned hair that is strengthened and moisturised. An overall balanced diet of lean proteins, fruits, and vegetables, whole grains, legumes, fatty fish like the Indian salmon and low-fat dairy are great boosters for healthy hair.

GREEN PEAS

Green peas contain a well-balanced amount of vitamins and minerals such as iron, zinc and B group vitamins. These are essential for maintaining healthy hair.

OATS

Not only are oats loaded with fiber that helps maintain a healthy heart and bowels, they also contain a high concentration of other essential nutrients such as zinc, iron and omega-6 fatty acids. Together, these are also knows as polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs). Omega-6 fatty acids in particular are essential to maintain normal skin, hair growth and development. Since this essential ingredient is only obtained through the diet, make sure your breakfast includes a bowl of oatmeal every few days in the week.

GREEN LEAFY VEGETABLES

If your hair suffers from dryness, thinning, stiffness, discoloration or hair fall, depleting reserves of iron might be the culprit. Green leafy vegetables are known to be great sources of iron and greatly help improve the quality of hair. They also contain B vitamins, which help in arresting hair fall.Another food containing good sources of iron is ragi.

YOGHURT

Vegetarians need not look further that their daily cup of yoghurt to serve their protein needs. Cottage cheese and milk can also be protein substitutes in vegetarians. If you are strict vegans, try the soy milk or tofu or soya nuggets. They are a great source of protein and are also very helpful in hormone mediated hair loss.

SHRIMP

While red meats are best avoided in excess, finding an appropriate substitute for proteins might be a little difficult for those looking to build muscle etc. Alternatively, of the wide variety of sea food available, shrimps are a great substitute. They not only go excellently well in a number of curries and pastas, their potent concentration of Vitamin B12, iron and zinc contain all the necessary nourishment to prevent hair loss.

WALNUTS

Not to be outdone by the oats, walnuts are one of the most hair friendly nuts in the category. Not only do walnuts have more omega-6 fatty acids than any other food, but they’re also full of zinc, iron, B vitamins (B1, B6 and B9), and plenty of protein. 

EGGS

For a head full of healthy hair, the egg is probably one of your best friends. It’s loaded with essential nutrients such as proteins, Vitamin B12, iron, zinc and Omega 6 fatty acids in large amounts. Being deficient in any of these vitamins and minerals is known to result in poor quality of hair. In addition, it’s also a good source for biotin (Vitamin B7) which is a great aid to fight hair loss.

So, now that you have these superfoods on your weekly shopping list, you can let your hair down and stop worrying about that dreaded hairloss. Take care till next time.

Dr. Rasya Dixit is a post graduate from the Christian Medical College, Vellore. Rasya Dixit brings cutting-edge dermato-surgical techniques to the practice of Dermatology, and is an expert in dermatological and hair disorders. She is also the recipient of the prestigious International League of Dermatologists Award for the year 2007-2008.