Good Nutrition = Good Hair

A healthy body is the ideal environment for healthy hair to thrive. A well balanced diet and good hydration is the secret of healthy hair. Hair loss can be due to a variety of reasons like hormonal imbalance, poor nutrition, illness or heredity, and most of these can be corrected with food. So, good hair starts with what you eat. Remember the old adage: You are what you eat.

Lack of adequate nutrients in your body will be reflected on your hair. Other symptoms may include proneness to allergies and autoimmune disorders, chronic fatigue, migraine headaches, fibromyalgia, and even diabetes.


Since hair is made primarily of proteins, new hair growth depends on having an adequate supply of protein in order to create healthy hair cells. It is important to remember that the body can produce only 11 of the 20 amino acids needed to grow your hair, and that the rest must come from somewhere else.

Crash dieting, or just inadequate nutrition, is often responsible for diminished levels of sulphur in the body. Since sulphur is a major mineral that counteracts the process of aging, it is critically important to ensure an adequate supply of sulphur from the foods we eat. Onion is one of the best dietary sources of sulphur. Others are cruciferous vegetables, such as cabbage or bok-choi, eggs, dairy products, and a variety of meats.

Those who suffer from hair loss or excess shedding of hair will benefit from topical applications of sulphur-rich onion extracts directly on the balding areas of the scalp. A study conducted several years ago and published at the Journal of Dermatology showed that onion applications were an effective treatment for alopecia areata. A whopping 73 percent of the participants experienced a noticeable reduction in hair shedding and had different degrees of hair re-growth.

Proteins, vitamins and minerals in a good ratio boosts hair growth. The hair is made up of 97% of protein and the remaining 3% includes all vitamins and minerals.

PROTEIN is the important growth factor that strengthens the hair as well as prevents premature graying. Foods that are rich in protein are milk, thin sliced chicken, egg white, fish, cottage cheese, yogurt, soy milk and beans.

Fat soluble VITAMINS A, D and E keep the hair slightly oily and prevent it from becoming dull and dry. This also prevents split ends. But an over dose of vitamin A causes hair loss. Foods rich in Vitamin A, D and E are all yellow and orange vegetables and fruits, fish liver oil and whole grain cereals.

BIOTIN, part of the B-complex family produces healthy hair and prevents hair loss. biotin is found in foods like beans, nuts, legumes and yeast.

VITAMIN C rich foods like citrus fruits, cabbages, berries helps in formation of collagen, improves absorption of iron and can even protect the hair from bad effects of pollution.

PARA-AMINO-BENZOIC-ACID(PABA) is another vitamin that prevents hair from graying and losing prematurely. The foods rich in PABA are mushroom, spinach and organ meats like liver and kidneys.