"Have a Good Hair Day"
Your hair is one of the first things that others notice about you. The shape and structure of your hair depends on your race. For instance, African hair is typically flat with tight curls. Asian hair is typically round and thick. Caucasian hair may be fine and straight or thick and wavy. Natural oils from hair glands also affect the look and feel of your hair.
Healthy skin and hair are signs of good overall health.
Although the use of external products, such as shampoos, conditioners and hair “tonics” of various sorts common approaches to these problems, the internal use of certain nutrients and other natural substances may do much to support the appearance of healthy and beautiful hair.
These are the most important nutrients for hair health:
Vitamin A
This vitamin protects hair follicle cells from damage caused by free radicals.Vitamin A deficiency causes dry hair.
Vitamin C
One of vitamin C’s major functions is to help produce and maintain healthy collagen, the connective tissue type found within hair follicles. Vitamin C is also a strong antioxidant and protects both the cells found within follicles
and cells in nearby blood vessels.
Vitamin E
Vitamin E helps to maintain the integrity of cell membranes of hair follicles. The vitamin provides physical stability to cell membranes and acts as an antioxidant while promoting healthy skin and hair.
Vitamin E and selenium work together to prevent attacks on cell membranes by free radicals by reducing peroxide concentration in the cell.
Vitamins B1, B2, Niacin & Pantothenic acid
Reduced levels of thiamin (vitamin B1), riboflavin (vitamin B2), niacin, and pantothenic acid can contribute to the undernourishment of hair-follicle cells.
Folic acid
A decrease in folic acid may contribute to decreased hair-follicle cell division and growth.
Folic acid is also essential for the maintenance of healthy methionine levels in the body. Signs of folic-acid deficiency include anemia, apathy, fatigue, and graying hair.
Biotin
Biotin is required for a number of enzymatic reactions within the body, and is necessary for the proper metabolism of protein, fat, and carbohydrates.
Over time, poor metabolism of nutrients can contribute to undernourished hair
follicle cells. Although rare, a biotin deficiency results in skin rashes and hair loss. A study conducted at Harvard University suggests that biotin is one of the most important nutrients for preserving hair strength, texture, and function.
Calcium
A fraction of the body’s calcium stimulates cell mediators that act on cell-membrane phospholipids in hair-follicle cells.
Most Americans fail to meet the recommended daily intake for calcium.10 Magnesium should be taken with supplemental calcium to maintain healthy calcium levels in the body.
Iodine
Suboptimal thyroid functioning can lead to abnormal hair growth.11 Because iodine supports proper thyroid functioning, 112-225 mcg of iodine (in the form of kelp) per day is the recommended dosage.
Zinc
Zinc is essential for DNA and RNA production, which, in turn, leads to normal follicle-cell division. Topical applications of zinc have been shown to reduce
the hair loss activity.
Selenium
Selenium is also necessary for iodine metabolism.Case studies have indicated that selenium deficiency can lead to cancer, heart disease, and poor hair growth.
