Foods for Healthy Hair

When we think of hair loss, we mostly think of men. Why? Probably because men complain about hair loss a lot ... and with good reason. By age 35, 40% of men have experienced noticeable hair loss. By age 85, that figure doubles to 80%. No wonder men are concerned about hair loss!

But women have the same problem with hair loss. In fact, women make up 40% of the population that suffers from hair loss. And most women can't "solve" the problem by just shaving their heads. So what should you do, whether you are a man or a woman, to prevent hair loss (or prevent further hair loss)?

Well, a great place to start is with the food that you eat.

Foods for Healthy Hair
It turns out that what you eat has a lot to do with how much hair stays on your head. True, genetics is a major determining factor as to whether you will have hair loss. At the same time, you can offset the effects of your genetics by eating a healthy diet and taking the right supplements. To figure out which foods for healthy hair you need to add to your diet, let's first take a look at what nutrients promote healthy hair.

Here are the most important nutrients for healthy hair growth and retention:

• biotin
• omega-3 fatty acids
• protein

BIOTIN
Most people have heard of the nutrient biotin as an important ingredient for healthy hair. Bioton is an essential B vitamin that does a lot for your hair. Biotin promotes healthy hair growth, increases hair elasticity (prevents breakage), and protects against dryness. The neat thing about biotin is that it also contributes to the healthy digestion of fats and carbohydrates. So biotin is a definite "must" to add to your diet.

Where can you get biotin? This nutrient is found in beans, breads, egg yolks, fish, liver, meat, dairy products, nuts, peanut butter, whole grains, and poultry. But do you want to know the absolute BEST source of biotin? The BEST source of biotin is the biotin that your body makes on its own. It turns out that the probiotics--the healthy bacteria that live in your large and small intestine--actually manufacture a lot of biotin. And this source of biotin is most readily absorbed and used by your body. This source of biotin is your fastest route to healthy hair. So if you want to support your body in making more biotin, all you have to do is supplement your diet with high-quality acidophilus and bifidus, which are the two main probiotics in your gut. Adding these probiotics means that you don't have to be so stringent in your diet, and your body will supply a ton of biotin to support healthy hair growth. Perfect!

OMEGA-3 FATTY ACIDS
While biotin is great for your hair, omega-3 fatty acids do a lot to promote a healthy scalp. Since healthy hair comes from a healthy scalp, taking care of your scalp is just as important as focusing on the hair itself. Find omega-3 fatty acids in fish, nuts, and leafy greens. To ensure that you get plenty of omega-3 fatty acids, one of the best wholefood supplements you can take is AFA blue green algae. This humble algae contains one of the richest sources of omega-3 fatty acids of any food on the planet. Plus, popping a couple of pills daily is a very convenient way to get your omega-3's on a consistent basis.

PROTEIN
Healthy proteins can also support a healthy scalp and healthy hair growth. Fish, nuts, leafy green, beans, carrots, and white meat are all great sources of healthy protein. AFA blue green algae is another rich wholefood source of protein.

Other Tips for Healthy Hair
In addition to adding probiotics, omega-3 fatty acids, and high-quality proteins to your diet, you can also take certain actions to promote healthy hair. For instance, occasionally rinsing your hair with apple cider vinegar will unblock hair follicles, stimulate scalp circulation, and slow hair loss. Also, avoid rinsing your hair with hot water. Instead, use lukewarm water, which won't strip the protective oils from your hair and protects your hair from breakage. Finally, don't brush wet hair. Use a comb instead to reduce breakage. When brushing dry hair, use a brush with ball-tipped bristles to protect your hair.

Simple, Right?
As with most healthy habits, the ones mentioned in this article are simple, simple, simple. It's not rocket science. If you want healthy hair, just eat the right foods for healthy hair and follow a few simple guidelines. You'll be surprised how fast your hair responds to all of this pampering!

Photo Credit: http://pinterest.com/sofiaadriana/hair/

If you enjoyed this post, please consider leaving a comment or subscribing to the feed to have future articles delivered to your feed reader. Also, check out the free health resources or order blue-green algae products at wholesale prices on our website.