EAT THIS, NOT THAT
When you are trying to bring the life back to your hair and want to keep and maintain healthy, lustrous hair, the food you consume is just as important as the products you are using.
Scalp and hair health actually start from inside so consuming foods that support healthy hair is the best thing you can do for your locks. In addition to knowing what foods you should eat, it’s important to know which foods to steer clear from. Here’s a list of foods you should try to eliminate from your diet and some you should incorporate for nice, healthy, shiny hair.
FOODS TO AVOID
- Sugar and other sweets. Things that spike up your blood sugar, like sugar and other carbs, cause your body to release androgens, which is a hormone that will cause your hair follicles to shrink. If follicles shrink, you could experience hair loss. Avoid foods that will cause your insulin to quickly rise up.
- Alcohol. As we know, alcohol takes a toll on your body and that includes how it processes zinc, which is a mineral that is vital to the health of your hair. Alcohol tends to dehydrate you which makes your hair dry, brittle, and can lead to breakage.
- High amounts of protein. Protein is crucial if you want strong hair. Diets that eliminate protein or reduce it greatly can do more harm than good. If you don’t want to consume animal protein, add plant protein into your diet such as broccoli, red peppers, and wheat germ.
- Foods high in fats. A diet high in saturated fats and hydrogenated oils can clog your arteries, your pores, and yes, even your scalp! If you don’t want to speed up hair loss or are trying to prevent it altogether, then avoid greasy foods!
- Fish high in mercury. Fish actually tend to help with hair growth because the omega-3’s reduce inflammation however, when choosing a fish, try to avoid high-mercury seafood and stick to fish such as salmon and light tuna in the can.
FOODS TO EAT
- Almonds. Rich in vitamin E, almonds help to reduce inflammation which encourages hair growth. You can find other vitamin E rich foods such as sunflower seeds, spinach, avocado, and pine nuts.
- Cinnamon. Mmmmm, cinnamon. Cinnamon is fabulous at improving your scalp circulation which means your follicles are getting more of the nutrients they need to grow stronger, longer, and healthier.
- Chickpeas. Anyone here like hummus? High in folic acid, chickpeas are super important for your hair and its health. Incorporate dark leafy greens into your diet and your hair will thank you. Folic acid boosts the production of red blood cells, allowing oxygen to be transported all throughout your body and giving your hair the nutrients it needs.
- Squash and other orange fruits and veggies. Mango, pumpkin, squash, sweet potato – all are fabulous for hair health. The beta carotene will boost sebum production leaving hair shiny and moisturized.
Having healthy hair can sometimes be tricky but eating the right foods, avoiding the wrong ones, and using the right products can give you the full, lustrous, healthy hair that you are after. At Authentically Branded, we offer hair care products for all types and textures of hair. We offer something for everyone and our products are all paraben-free. Click here to browse our product offerings today!