How many times have you heard the words, “You are what you eat”? This is certainly true when it comes to healthy hair. A poor diet, combined with too much stress in your daily life, will certainly affect how well your hair grows, and how healthy and shiny it is. This article will look at how your diet can affect healthy hair growth.

Many people think that their diets are just fine. But this is often not true for the following reasons:

• When whole grains are refined, it reduces the amount of vitamin B in them.
• Many people don’t eat ANY raw leafy greens like lettuce or spinach.
• Overcooking vegetables destroys B vitamins.
• Drinking a lot of coffee, or smoking, or drinking alcoholic beverages affects how well your body absorbs vitamins.
• If you don’t get enough fiber, your digestion is poor. Poor digestion means there are few nutrients going into your bloodstream.
• Many people drink a lot of soda. Soda promotes obesity, as it’s full of calories, but very low on nutrition.

If you really take a good look at your diet, you may be surprised. Vitamins for hair growth are the same ones that are essential for good over-all health.

Which vitamins promote hair growth?

B vitamins are probably the most important. Biotin is probably the best-known B vitamin for preventing hair loss. In fact, many specialists in this field recommend supplementing with biotin to prevent thinning hair. Other B vitamins for healthy hair include para-aminobenzoic acid, inositol, niacin, panthenol, biotin, vitamin B-6, and vitamin B-12.

Vitamin E is another vitamin recommended by hair loss specialists. This antioxidant increases blood flow to your scalp, which nourishes the hair follicles. Well-nourished hair follicles produce healthier hair.

Vitamin A lubricates your hair roots, which leads to healthier hair follicles. It’s necessary to use caution with vitamin A. Your body doesn’t get rid of an excess of this vitamin, so it can easily build up to dangerous levels. Don’t take more than you need.

There’s probably not a person on the planet who hasn’t heard about the health benefits of vitamin C. But many people don’t realize how beneficial this vitamin is for shiny, healthy hair.

Too much stress in your life can cause your blood vessels to contract so that less blood can reach your hair follicles. And as mentioned above, good blood flow is important so the hair follicles receive an adequate supply of nutrients. Try to minimize daily stress by setting aside some time to relax every day.

Eating a wide variety of fruits, veggies, meats, nuts, and whole grains will keep provide your body with the nutrients it needs for optimum health. If you smoke, stop. Try not to drink more than a couple of cans of soda a week. Cut back on the caffeine and alcohol, too. Not only will your body thank you, but your hair will, too!

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