Hair Care From the Inside Out

Most individuals recognize the fact that your hair is "dead" or
at least not living however this is not entirely true. The
follicle that produces your hair is part of your skin which is
the biggest organ of your body, therefore it is directly
affected by your lifestyle, your habits and your diet.

Consumers are constantly looking for the next great hair
product that promises to fix all their hair woos without
realizing that building a healthy foundation is extremely
important. Experimenting with different products is perfectly
fine however many of us over look the fact that our hair health
is determined by our over all health.

In order for our body to function properly we must provide it
with specific nutritional factors. For instance in order for our
bones to stay healthy and strong we must take in a minimum
amount of calcium and vitamin D. This premise is the same if we
expect our body to produce strong healthy hair, there are
certain requirements that must be met that has nothing to do
with the type or brand of hair products we choose to use.

1. Ribolflavin also known as Vitamin B2 is essential to the
body and must be consumed on daily basis as it is water soluble
meaning that it is not stored in the body. The functions of
Vitamin B2 are numerous and include energy metabolism, red blood
cell production, enzyme reactions, vision, health of skin
(including hair and nails), and functions as an antioxidant.
This vitamin can be found in dairy products, whole grains, eggs,
nuts, meat, fortified cereals and dark green vegetables.

2. Biotin or Vitamin B5 is also a water soluble vitamin which
must be ingested on a daily basis. It is important for the
synthesis of fat, glycogen, and amino acids, enzyme reactions,
healthy hair and nails and DNA replication. This vitamin can be
found in liver, yeast, nuts, egg yolks, soybeans, cauliflower
and mushrooms.

3. Deficiencies of Folic acid (Vitamin B9) can lead to hair
loss. This water soluble vitamin can be found in foods such as
citrus fruits, fortified cereals, nuts, legumes, and dark leafy
vegetables.

4. Deficiencies in Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid) can lead to
scurvy, this has not been a concern for many years but cases are
becoming more common. Vitamin C can be found in citrus fruits,
strawberries, tomatoes, broccoli, and red peppers.

5. Iodine is necessary in making thyroid hormones, and symptoms
of an under active thyroid can often be seen in hair health.
Hair may be dry, brittle, limp, or in some cases thinning. It
should be noted however these symptoms may also indicate an over
active thyroid. Iodine can be found in salt, seafood, and sea
vegetables such as kelp. This is becoming a greater issue
because the use of salt has greatly decreased in an effort to
combat high blood pressure.

6. Iron deficiencies can also cause hair loss therefore ensure
that you are getting enough in your diet. Iron can be found in
many fruits and vegetables, meat, poultry, fish and fortified
breads and cereals.

We all know that exercise is not only good for our waist line
but also our over all health and this is again important to hair
health. Exercise improves hair health by increasing circulation.

Smoking is bad for us and we are all aware of the dangers of
this habit but did you know that smokers are four times more
likely to have grey hair then their non smoking counterparts.
Smokers are also more prone to hair lose.

Healthy hair is one of the indicators of over all health. Take
care of your body as a whole and you will have strong healthy
hair.

About The Author: Looking for tips on hair health and facts on
hair care products? Visit:
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