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Most people underestimate the role of diet and a healthy lifestyle in getting lovely looking, healthy hair. They reckon just products are enough to do the trick. Nutrients such as biotin, omega-3 fatty acids, zinc, copper, proteins e.t.c play a huge role in getting that beautiful black sheen you so much desire. Also a healthy lifestyle such as abstaining from smoking, getting enough rest and sleep and avoiding stress (physical and emotional) go hand in hand with a good eatting habit. With the right food, you probably won’t even need those products as much. What food?..find out.
Salmon
Besides being rich in protein and vitamin D (both are key to strong hair) the omega-3 fatty acids found in this tasty cold-water fish are the true superstar. Your body can’t make those fatty acids, which your body needs to grow hair. About 3% of the hair shaft is make up of these fatty acids. Omega-3s are also found in cell membranes in the skin of your scalp, and in the natural oils that keep your scalp and hair hydrated.
*Other options: If salmon doesn’t thrill you, you can also get essential fatty acids from fish like herring, sardines, trout, and mackerel, as well as avocado, pumpkin seeds, and walnuts.
Walnuts
These are the only type of nut that have a significant amount of omega-3 fatty acids. They’re also rich in biotin and vitamin E, which helps protect your cells from DNA damage. Since your hair rarely gets much shielding from the sun, this is especially great. Too little biotin can lead to hair loss. Walnuts also have copper, a mineral that helps keep your natural hair color rich and lustrous, 
Avocados:
 Due to their high concentration of essential fatty acids naturally found in skin cells (which help to keep your skin smooth and supple), avocados are an age-old beauty secret. When topically applied to the hair and scalp, they have the added ability to stimulate collagen and elastin production. Mix a little avocado with sour cream (which contains lactic acid to help exfoliate dead skin and clean up buildup on the scalp) and apply to your hair and scalp for about ten minutes before washing it off.
 Sweet Potatoes:
Sweet potatoes are a great source of the antioxidant beta carotene, which your body turns into vitamin A. “Basically, every cell of the body cannot function without enough A,” Fishman says. It also helps protect and produce the oils that sustain your scalp, and being low on vitamin A can even leave you with itchy, irksome dandruff.
*Other options: Carrots, cantaloupe, mangoes, pumpkin, and apricots are all good sources of beta carotene.
Eggs:
A great source of protein, eggs are loaded with four key minerals: zinc, selenium, sulfur, and iron. Iron is especially important, because it helps cells carry oxygen to the hair follicles, and too little iron (anemia) is a major cause of hair loss, particularly in women, .Eggs: Eggs are an excellent source of those aforementioned omega-3s, and they are also contain biotin (which many people trying to grow their hair take in supplement form). But, just so you’re aware, it’s not the egg white that will make your hair long and beautiful, it’s the yolk. Eating too many egg whites can actually block the absorption of biotin into the body, causing a depletion of this micronutrient.
*Other options: You can also boost your iron stores with animal sources, including chicken, fish, pork, and beef.
Spinach:
The iron, beta carotene, folate, and vitamin C in spinach help keep hair follicles healthy and scalp oils circulating.
*Other options:Try similarly nutrient-rich dark, leafy vegetables such as broccoli, kale, and Swiss chard.
Poultry:
This everyday entree is extraordinary when it comes to protein, as well as hair-healthy zinc, iron, and B vitamins to keep strands strong and plentiful. Because hair is nearly all protein, “foods rich in protein are literally giving you the building blocks for hair,” Drayer says.
*Other options: Lean cuts of beef are another good source of lean protein
Other Important Tips:
Styling:

Excessive styling can hurt your hair. It probably looks fantastic on you, but it’s not the best for your hair. Certain chemical applications and cleansers may cause thinning, damage or even hair loss if improperly used. Styling your hair in certain manners may make hair loss even worse. It’s okay to style your hair in isolation, but repeated styling can exacerbate damage to hair.
Brush and comb sparingly: 
There used to be a myth out there than brushing your hair 100 times a day would promote hair growth. Not only is this false, brushing your hair to excess can actually pull hairs out of the scalp.
* Comb your hair when it’s dry, not wet. Your hair is especially vulnerable when it’s wet, so it’s best to wait until it’s on the drier side before you take a wide-toothed comb to go through your lovely locks.
*Try not to detangle or pull at your hair without the aid of a leave-in conditioner or detangling spray.
Rubber Bands:
Don’t use rubber bands to style or pin the hair back.If you need to pull your hair back and pin it up, use a hair tie. The hair tie won’t cause the hair to get stuck on its surface as much and lodge it from its roots.
Clean your hair carefully:
Use the right products when cleaning your hair. Depending on how oily your hair is, shampoo and condition your hair only about 3-4 times per week. You don’t need to shampoo and condition every day, as this will suck out the natural oils present in your hair.
*Those with curly, coarse, or dry hair may want to wash their hair only 2-3 times weekly, as natural oils are key for strong and healthy hair. People who have oily skin probably want to wash their hair more than the 3-4 per week average, as a buildup of oil can be harmful to growth.
*Choose products that contain ingredients that are healthy for hair. Ingredients like avocado, coconut, jojoba, and olive are all beneficial when used in moderation. They help retain moisture and oils while minimizing split ends and other hair damage.
When your body has enough nutrients and energy stored up so that it doesn’t need to focus on simply keeping you alive, it can devote resources to build up and protect your hair. Maintain a good diet and healthy lifestyle to maximize your body’s daily resources.
Tags : Foods That Encourage Hair GrowthFoods That Keep Hair Health
Prince

The author Prince

Hi, I’m Prince.. a registered Dietitian, an avid reader and a passionate writer. I hope you enjoy my articles as much as I enjoy writing them

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