Healthy Head..

Well hello there..

As a teenage girl i'm constantly thinking about my hair. The colour, shape, volume, smell, style, the list goes on. But how often to we think about the health of our hair? I do often invest in oils, hair masks and conditioners to help my hair externally but there are actually fundamental changes we can make to our diet to beautify our head and hair internally- 100% au natural.

List of nutrients....

Vitamin B5 -prevents hair from going grey, Vitamin A+C -aids scalp production of sebum (bodies natural conditioner), Omega 3- increases hair strength, Protein- encourages hair growth, Zinc-prevents hair loss, Biotin- Promotes stronger and more hair growth.

.....And where to find them:

Salmon:

Contains Omega 3 fatty acids to aid scalp health consequently resulting in healthier and stronger hair growth. Not a fish lover?

My mum disguises salmon with strong toppings like cheese and pesto or alternatively bulk out a yoghurt or bowl of cereal with  2 tablespoons of flaxseed a day.

Dark Green Veg:

Contains tonnes of Vitamin A+C. This helps our scalp to produce more sebum which is natural hair conditioner so hair becomes, stronger, softer, shinier etc. So eat your greens! Eg. Broccoli, Spinach, Swiss Chard etc. Vitamin supplements are out there, but there are speculations just how healthy taking supplements is. Finding them in their natural foods really is the best way in my opinion.

Beans:

Beans beans, good for your..hair!? Beans contain protein providing those all important amino acids our body uses to reassemble into hair proteins. An excellent dietary option for those veggies trying to grow their hair longer. They're also a source of iron, zinc and biotin all essential nutrients for healthy hair. Lentil soup tastes amazing and is the perfect lunch for a healthy diet. 3+ cups of lentils a week should do the trick.

Nuts:

Another one for the veggies. As well as an excellent source of protein and zinc providing a stronger, fuller head of hair they are also a great source of selenium an essential mineral for healthy scalps. No more dandruff! I love snacking on savoury nuts like cashews, peanuts or brazil nuts instead of crisps however, if you're more of a sweet tooth almonds or pecans may be the nut for you. Beware nuts are fattening in large quantities!

Poultry:

Not sure 'Nando's' chicken is the healthiest source of poultry but at least when you do indulge you can take pleasure in the fact its doing wonders for your hair! Poultry (white meat) is excellent source of nutrients to help maintain hair colour and prevent your hair from becoming brittle. Unfortunately veggie chicken substitutes do not offer the same nutrition for your hair as the real meat however, there are plenty of veggie safe options in the list such as nuts to make up for it.

Eggs:

How do you like your eggs in the morning? Eggs are an eggcellent source of protein and vitamin B12. As said before protein is an essential dietary requirement for hair to exist in the first place! And vitamin B12 is known as the 'natural beauty nutrient' by all nutritionists and wins so make sure you look out for this beauty vitamin on future lists of ingredients!

Whole Grain:

Nutritionist say you should be getting at least 3 portions of whole grain in your diet each day anyway, due to its multiple health benefits. Its a complex carb therefore, sets you up with energy for the whole day and is an excellent source of B vitamins, zinc and iron for healthy hair and scalp. We're talking cereal, whole grain rice, pasta and oat cakes here; but I guess if you are going to be naughty, a chocolate digestive wouldn't be harmful if justified as a whole grain.

Oysters:

I find this upsetting to admit but oysters are actually great for your hair. Unfortunately, you will not catch me eating one however, for the benefit for those of  you who would you'll be happy to know that oysters are an excellent source of zinc which helps with the thickness and strength of your hair. Which sucks for me because i've been trying to get thicker hair for years! However us oysteraphobes can relax as beef and lamb are an ample substitute. Sunday roasts here I come! 

Dairy:

You have yet to have been lucky enough to hear my dairy rant but I believe the only justification for cutting dairy from your life is lactose intolerance. Every article was in unison about the importance of calcium and caesium for healthy hair growth. And your best source of these being dairy. I know a lot of people have issues with dairy but, just have a little bit of cheese, milk, cottage cheese, yoghurt whatever a day. Low fat really won't hurt and your hair will thank you for it!

Carrots:

Last but not least we have carrots. Not a fan of your green veg? These orange vegetables are packed with vitamin A for a healthy scalp. And a happy scalp means shiny well conditioned hair. Plus they help you see your gorgeous hair in the dark and one of your five a day for a healthy digestive system. Three for the price of one!

That pretty much sums it up. You may struggle to fit everything into your daily diet but I think that as long as your getting some form of each vitamin in your system a day and through a variety of different  sources every week, then providing your externally kind to your hair you should see healthier results very soon!

Love and peace, Wings ox