12:14:00 PM
You are what you eat, the old saying
goes. Whether or not you think that pertains to the brain, nails, skin
or hair, I suspect that what we put in our bodies affects all of these
things. Simply put, food supplies your body with important nutrients to
keep it running at its best.
For
example, a few foods that have been shown to be beneficial to the brain
are walnuts, omega-3 fats, blueberries, turmeric, barley and quinoa,
according to the Cleveland Clinic. A low-carb Mediterranean diet, which
includes fruit, vegetables, legumes, "good" fats and fish are thought to
help protect against Alzheimer's disease.
And
what about your hair? While there are many products on the market that
can temporarily boost the look of your tresses, why not put some healthy
ingredients into your body to go to work for—and protect— those 100,000
hairs on your head?
Here are some foods with hair-health benefits:
Healthy omega-3 fatty acids
can foster hair growth and sheen. Your body is unable to manufacture
these healthy fats on its own, so fatty fish like salmon, mackerel,
herring, lake trout, sardines and albacore tuna can supply them. The
American Heart Association advises eating two servings (3.5-ounce
portions) of fatty fish per week. If you don't eat seafood, omega-3s are
also found in some nuts and seeds, such as flaxseeds, but it's in a
different form, so you may also want to talk with your health care
provider about taking a supplement.
Greek yogurt
is packed with protein, which is critical for keeping hair healthy. It
also contains vitamin B5 (or pantothenic acid), which may help prevent
hair thinning and loss. And while we're on the subject of protein, make
sure to get protein from foods like lean meat, chicken and turkey, which
can protect against hair loss and promote growth and thickness. Eggs,
milk and cheese are also considered complete protein sources. If you're a
vegetarian, find your protein in foods like quinoa, chickpeas and
lentils.
Strawberries, citrus fruits and peppers. What
do these have in common? They're high in vitamin C, needed by your body
to help produce protein. And since your body can't make or store
vitamin C, it's important to include foods that contain this vitamin in
your daily diet. Other sources include pineapple, cantaloupe, kiwi fruit
and veggies like broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower and leafy
greens.
Iron-rich foods. Low
iron can contribute to hair loss. Treat any deficiency with iron-rich
foods like lean meat, turkey, whole grains, dried fruit, beans and egg
yolks.
