The Quest for Healthy Hair: Understanding the Vital Role of Supplements
With the abundance of beauty products available, you may have a lot of questions. For example, regarding niacinamide vs azelaic acid: Which is better for your skin? If you are not happy with how your hair looks, you may be asking: Should I use hair serum, or is there a better option? When it comes to healthy-looking hair, there are many things to consider.
Introduction to Healthy Hair: More Than Just Aesthetics
There is no arguing that a healthy head of hair looks amazing: It is shiny, and there are no split ends or bald spots. However, it is more than just looking good. When your hair is healthy, this indicates that you are healthier as well. There are many factors that contribute to healthy strands, and they include:
- Adequate sleep
- Balanced diet
- Healthy maintenance routines
- Less exposure to pollution
- Low alcohol consumption
Although what you do plays a large role in how your hair looks, sometimes genetics and other factors make it harder to get healthy hair. If that is the case, one option is hair growth serum for women.
Nutritional Foundations: The Role of Diet in Hair Health
What you put in your body is one of the big determinants of how your hair looks.
Appropriate Diet for Hair Health
Protein makes up a large part of your hair. If you do not get adequate protein on a daily basis, your hair can become brittle and weak. You may also begin losing hair if you are extremely low in protein.
The general recommendation for protein intake is 45 grams. Good sources include:
- Eggs
- Beef
- Poultry
- Fish
- Dairy
If you are vegetarian or vegan, consuming adequate amounts of protein is more difficult. Your diet should focus more on beans, lentils, and nuts.
Omega-3 fatty acids keep the hair follicles stimulated, which results in a healthier scalp. Good sources include sardines, salmon, and cod liver oil.
Another nutrient that is important for hair health is zinc. If you are deficient in this nutrient, your hair may start to shed. Food sources include veggies, fruits, and leafy greens.
Important Supplements
It is sometimes hard to get the adequate nutrients through food alone. Fortunately, there are many supplements available that can fill in nutritional voids. In fact, there are even supplements designed specifically to support healthy hair. For the best hair supplements, look for ones that contain zinc, omega-3s, and other vitamins, herbs, and minerals.
Good looking hair is not just about what you put on your hair or scalp. It also depends on what you put in your body. When you take hair growth supplements, you support the production of keratin, which is what hair is made of. The result is new hair growth that is full, strong, and shiny.
Additional Factors
Certain things can be detrimental to healthy hair growth. These include:
- Chronic stress
- Overconsumption of alcohol
- Crash diets
- Low thyroid hormone
Certain medications also contribute to unhealthy hair. These include blood thinners and those for depression, high blood pressure, heart issues, and arthritis.