7 Nutrients That Liven’ Up Your Locks!

You know that hitting that popular fast food joint is bad for your physique, but have you ever considered what an unhealthy diet does to your locks?  It’s not glamorous.  Your hair and skin directly reflect the health of your body.  It stands to reason that what goes into your body definitely reflects what comes out. It’s clear to say that by eating unhealthy foods on a regular basis can lead to lackluster locks and even hair loss.  However, it’s not all that bad. If you can make the choice to alter your diet and make a few changes by incorporating the following items into your daily diet routine, you’ll immediately begin to see results and set yourself up for a lifetime of great looking hair.

Try to add these to your diet on a regular basis if you’d like healthy long locks:

Omega fatty acids –  Omega-3, -6, and -9 fatty acids have been receiving quite a bit of attention lately, and for good reason.  Omega 3, 6 and 9 are excellent producers of hair growth. Not only that, but they assist in the protection of virtually every system of your body, and that includes hair!  These awesome oils help to nourish your scalp and provide essential nutrients to your follicles, protecting and strengthening them to prevent hair loss and promote faster growth.  You can find omegas in salmon, sardines, and tuna, but if you don’t like fish look for high-quality supplements* at the health food store.

Lecithin* –  This essential nutrient is found easily in the incredible edible egg, and getting one serving a day really will impart some incredible effects.  Lecithin* stimulates hair growth and provides B vitamins and other nutrients that your hair follicle needs to remain healthy.

Active cultures –  These are bacteria that actually do your body lots of good.  You can get active cultures from yogurt, and one serving a day should do the trick.  These cultures promote digestion, and a major benefit of that for hair is the increased absorption of vitamins and minerals like Zinc and Iron which have been found important to hair health.

Antioxidants –  Vitamins C and E are strong antioxidants that strengthen the hair follicle and promote circulation of the scalp.  Oranges, blueberries, and acai berries provide high sources of Vitamin C*, and almonds, pumpkin seeds, wheat germ and olive oil* will give you the Vitamin E* you need.

Zinc – This mineral adds life to your locks by promoting tissue repair and reproduction.  It also regulates the oil glands attached to your hair follicle which moisturize the shaft and prevent breakage.  Get your Zinc from beef or other dark meats, or veggie options like hummus, pecans and cashews.

Iron – Your mom was right; you do need to eat that spinach! Iron* found in this leafy vegetable keeps hair follicles strong by assisting in overall circulation and oxygenation of the scalp.  Iron* deficiencies are a known contributor to hair loss, so if spinach is hard to stomach eat broccoli, beans, whole grains and lean meats.

Protein – High quality protein is key to a healthy body and healthy hair.  Sorry, your Big Mac doesn’t fit on this list.  Look for organic beef to get the most nutritional bang for your buck, or pure soybean protein like edamame.  Since hair is mostly protein, eating good quality sources will ensure locks stay luscious.

Taking the time to care for your hair can make all the difference in the end.