Vitamins A, B, C, and E for Hair Growth
Hair as fabled as that of Rapunzel may be the stuff of fairy tales but everyone wants their crowning glory to be as healthy and beautiful. Unfortunately, in today’s lifestyle our hair more often than not, takes the brunt of all the trips to the fast food joints and of course, stress. For good hair growth not only do we need to have the right set of genes and external care, but what goes into our diet vis-à-vis proteins, vitamins and minerals, is also just as important.
Hair, as you know, is composed of protein so we obviously need a good source of protein in our diet. Next, we need to understand that hair grows by the addition of cells at the very base of the hair, at a place called the hair follicle. If the metabolic rate of these follicles increases hair growth will automatically improve. To up the metabolic rate of the cells in the hair follicle a person’s diet should also contain the right amount of vitamins. So there is a direct correlation between your vitamin intake and your hair growth
Here are the hair friendly vitamins that will add luster and length to those tresses:
Vitamin B: The vitamins in the B group are very helpful in promoting hair growth. They help fight premature graying of hair, hair loss, help in increasing hair growth and improving blood circulation. They include Inositol, Biotin, Niacin, Panthenol, Para-aminobenzoic acid, Folate, Vitamin B6 and B12. Bran, beans, carrots, soybean, yeast, nuts, brown rice, lentils, turkey and eggs are very rich in Vitamin B in one or more of its forms. Vitamin B is also available as a supplement in the form of tablets and syrups.
Vitamin E: This vitamin helps to prevent hair loss. It also improves the circulation to the scalp as a result the scalp is better nourished. Leafy green vegetables, nuts and whole grains are a good source of vitamin E.
Vitamin C: This vitamin improves the circulation to the scalp. All citrus fruits contain vitamin C, as do berries, peppers, tomatoes, kiwi and pineapples.
Vitamin A: Also known as beta carotene this helps in making hair shiny. It helps improve the immune system which in turn affects hair growth. Vitamin A is found in abundance in things like liver, eggs, cheese, milk, fish liver oil and all red and yellow vegetables.
Consuming the right amount of vitamins as a part of a well balanced diet will not only help your hair grow beautifully but will also keep you healthy, positive and fit. While all these vitamins are easily available as supplements sold over the counter, it is better to get at least a part of them from the natural sources they occur in. Once you have the awareness it is not so hard to bite into an apple instead of a doughnut during that snack break. A healthy and well balanced diet helps hair to grow to its highest potential and the best part is that it shows.
You can learn more about vitamins for hair growth on the next article.