Diet for healthy hair

Have you ever experienced your hair falling off like autumn leaves? Well, I have. I was doing all the right things like keeping my scalp clean, oiling them regularly, and protecting them from heat and dust, still, I was losing them. I spent my entire pocket money on hair - just to make them stick to my head.

To my surprise, the reason for my hair fall was iron deficiency – which is surprisingly one of the common reasons for hair loss in women, especially in India. Wish I knew this before! I could have saved ‘my’ hair, money, time, and energy!

If you are also experiencing hair loss and want to do something about it, check ‘what you eat’. Here are 7 foods that can make your hair grow stronger, shinier, and healthier –

1. Yogurt: It is rich in protein and helps in hair fall control. Moreover, Greek yogurt contains Vitamin B5, a nutrient that protects against hair thinning and breakage. You can have one bowl of yogurt daily to meet your protein requirement. Opt for fresh yogurt as opposed to fruit flavoured ones.

2. Eggs: It can be your best friend as egg yolk contains sulphur which aids in hair fall control and the egg white is rich in protein which is necessary for the health of hair follicles. Egg is a formidable ingredient to use as a natural conditioner as well.

3. Carrots: It is rich in Vitamin A and C, beta-carotene, and antioxidants. Regular consumption of this vegetable will help strengthen your hair and even promote hair growth. Vitamin C in carrot improves blood circulation in your scalp. If you don’t like eating carrot as salad or vegetable, drinking fresh carrot juice is a good and delicious alternative.

4. Spinach: Remember the love of Popeye for Spinach? Interestingly, children increased their vegetable consumption after watching the cartoon. No doubt, it is truly a superfood for good health and great hair. It’s packed with iron, beta-carotene, and Vitamin A. Iron is especially important for maintaining a healthy count of blood cells. Iron is usually found in animal products such as lean meat and liver. Vegetarians should eat spinach at least two times a week to prevent different types of hair loss.

5. Oranges: Vitamin C is responsible for producing collagen which helps absorb iron for a healthy cell count. Thus, all citrus fruits are extremely important for healthy hair. Include oranges and lemons as much as you can in your diet. Strawberries are also rich in Vitamin C; however, they are seasonal.

6. Fatty fish: Fish such as salmon, trout, and mackerel contain high levels of iron and omega 3 fatty acids. These nutrients help to combat hair loss. Omega 3 fatty acids help produce natural moisture for your scalp. If you are a vegetarian, you can get omega 3 fatty acids from pumpkin seeds, flaxseeds, and walnuts.

7. Almonds: This super food contains Vitamins A, D, E, B2, B6, magnesium and mono fatty acids. Eating almonds daily will help hair fall control and aid in the growth of new cells. The best way to eat almonds is to soak them overnight and eat them on an empty stomach as soon as you wake up. This is a great habit for healthy skin, hair, and nails. 

If your diet appears to be adequate, but you continue to suffer from hair loss, speak to a hair expert. He/she will be able to examine and find out the root cause of hair loss and suggest a customized treatment plan for your condition.