HEALTH

Healthy Hair and Vitamins

By Erin, age 21, Washington

Frizzy, breaking, dull, thin, even balding - do any of these describe your hair? When attempting to get their dream hair, most people stick to a decent shampoo and conditioner and that's it. But many tend to forget to take into consideration other factors that could help them get healthy hair, such as eating right and getting enough vitamins through diet.

Vitamin A

Also known as beta-carotene, vitamin A is necessary for healthy hair. Upon consumption, vitamin A works to complete various jobs in your body, including protecting nerve fibers. This is significant because nerve fibers work to promote hair growth and, of course, healthy hair. Be sure to include vitamin A rich foods in your diet, such as milk, eggs, broccoli, and carrots.

Vitamin C

Hair follicles are required to produce hair. They also keep the hair you already have healthy and strong. In order to perform all of these tasks, hair follicles need collagen, a protein that is formed by none other than vitamin C. Citrus fruits such as strawberries, oranges, and guava are all naturally rich in vitamin C.

The Vitamin B Group

Vitamin B is actually a group of vitamins. Without B vitamins, the cells in your body cannot naturally thrive the way they are supposed to. This, in turn, leads to health problems such as shedding hair. It can also cause hair to break more often and to grow at a much slower pace.

Vitamin B3

Also known as niacin, vitamin B3 is needed for healthy hair. You can get this vitamin through certain fish, such as tuna and salmon.

Vitamin B5

Sometimes referred to as pantothenic acid, vitamin B5 is actually found in a lot of today's hair care products. It's no wonder why, as vitamin B5 prevents gray hairs and balding, and keeps hair strands strong. Include both whole grains and meats in your diet to get an adequate amount of vitamin B5 daily.

Vitamin B6

Vitamin B6, or pyridoxine, is wonderful for your skin, nails, and of course, hair. It's found in foods like eggs and peas, as well as meat such as chicken.

Vitamin B7

Vitamin B7, also called vitamin H, is important if you're looking to have healthy hair. The Mayo Clinic website explains that deficiency of this vitamin can lead to balding. Nuts and eggs are naturally rich in Vitamin B7.

Vitamin B9

In addition to genetics and the natural aging process, a deficiency of vitamin B9 can also cause gray hair. To help keep this from happening when you're older, be sure to get lots of leafy greens in your diet, as well as citrus fruits.

Vitamin Bh

Look to inositol, or vitamin Bh, when trying to keep your hair soft and radiant. Vitamin Bh is a carbohydrate that works to complete many jobs in your body. These jobs include promoting hair growth and hair strength. Vitamin Bh has natural antioxidant properties which work to protect your hair follicles as well.

Vitamin E

Last but not least to take into consideration is vitamin E. Sometimes called tocopherol, vitamin E shields your body's cells against components called free radicals, which are bad news for your overall health. This vitamin also aids the circulation of flowing blood - and therefore nutrients flowing through said blood - through your body to your scalp and hair follicles. Almonds and sunflower seeds are generous in vitamin E.

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