11 Best Foods for Hair Growth, According to Dietitians

food for hair growth

Omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin E both possess anti-inflammatory properties that protect hair follicles from oxidative stress, he notes. “Zinc plays a role in protein synthesis in our body, including keratin—one of the main structural proteins that form hair,” explains Gans. So, what foods can you add to your meal planning that will boost your intake of these helpful vitamins that support hair growth? Dr. Camp says that “unprocessed, natural food sources are the best places” to look for these vitamins and nutrients.

Best Foods That Will Help Your Hair Grow Thicker and Stronger, According to Dermatologists

Karla Walsh is a Des Moines, Iowa-based freelance writer, editor, freelance writing coach and level one sommelier who balances her love of food and drink with her passion for fitness (or tries to, at least!). She has over 15 years of professional experience covering food, wine, travel, nutrition, health, fitness, psychology, beauty, relationships and beyond. Just one large egg has about 41 IU of vitamin D, or 10% of your daily value.

Sweet potatoes

The right foods can be really good for your 'do, but hair loss has many causes. Sometimes, genetic factors like male or female pattern baldness can play a role. Thyroid disease, anemia, autoimmune diseases, and hormone issues may also cause changes or loss of hair. Nuts and seeds are small but mighty ways to pack in a lot of hair-growth promoting nutrients into almost any meal or snack.

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While the body isn’t able to use this omega-3 as efficiently as the ones in fatty fish, nuts and seeds are a good source of omega-3s for people who don’t regularly eat fish. The body also uses vitamin C to make a protein called collagen, which helps support the health of your scalp, hair follicles, and hair (Almonhanna, 2019). Greek yogurt also has an ingredient that helps with blood flow to your scalp and hair growth. It’s called vitamin B5 (known as pantothenic acid) and may even help against hair thinning and loss. You may recognize pantothenic acid as an ingredient on your hair and skincare product labels. Each of the 100,000 hair follicles on your head is connected its own blood supply, and nurturing the circulation to those areas can help hair grow faster, says Li.

food for hair growth

Fatty fish include salmon, herring, trout, mackerel, tuna, and sardines. They are full of beneficial nutrients like protein, niacin, iron, selenium, calcium, and omega-3 fatty acids (Goluch-Koniuszy, 2016). It’s important to meet your needs and correct any possible nutrient deficiencies, but taking extra supplements beyond your daily needs doesn’t infinitely increase hair growth. When you don't get enough protein, hair growth "rests." Since it stops and older hairs fall out, you can have hair loss. To get protein from meat, pick lean options like chicken or turkey, which have less saturated fat than sources like beef and pork.

Super Foods for Hair Growth: What to Eat for Healthy Hair

This means it contains all of the essential amino acids your body needs to function properly, but can't make on its own. And your body (and hair) need plenty of those essential amino acids and protein to prosper. An L-lysine deficiency can cause hair loss, but getting enough of this amino acid can prevent this issue and promote regular hair growth.

Seeds

Though fish and meat are the main dietary sources of zinc, sunflower seeds are a great vegan and vegetarian option. A 3.5-ounce serving of smoked oysters will add about 7 milligrams (mg) of iron and a whopping 63 mg of zinc to your diet. With scalp boosting vitamins A and C, along with keratin-producing biotin, this combo is sure to support healthy hair growth. Strawberries are an excellent source of vitamin C, says Keri Gans, M.S., R.D., registered dietitian and author of The Small Change Diet. “Berries are well-known to be high in powerful antioxidants that help protect our body cells from harmful substances while also positively impacting hair cells and hair follicles,” Tamburello says. While all berries will offer these hair health benefits, raspberries, blackberries, and blueberries are among the most antioxidant-rich, making them especially excellent choices.

What foods cause hair to grow faster?

While you are unlikely to consume excess biotin through food, many supplements for hair, skin, and nail growth contain biotin over the recommended daily intake (1). In just five minutes, Redken’s mask proves why so many professional hair stylists rave about the brand. At the end of the treatment, you’ll find yourself with fewer split ends and silky strands.

Diet is one thing that may be easier to change that will have an impact on hair,” says Gomer. Vitamin C also assists with iron absorption, where those with iron deficiency anemia have been shown to have hair loss. Valerie Agyeman (she/her) is a women's health dietitian and the host of the Flourish Heights podcast, where she produces science-driven content covering overlooked nutrition, wellness and women’s health topics. She has over 10 years of nutrition communications, corporate wellness and clinical nutrition experience. Valerie is a trusted expert and regularly appears on networks including ABC’s Good Morning Washington, and she is a contributing expert to publications like Women’s Health, The Thirty and Shape.

Nutrients such as protein, zinc, selenium, B vitamins, and vitamin E are essential for the regulation of the hair growth cycles and keep hair looking healthy and strong. This oily fish also does wonders for hair health because it’s rich in protein, selenium and vitamin D and B vitamins. Many health organizations recommend eating two servings of fish per week, and salmon is a delicious and versatile option you’ll want to add to your grocery list. If you don't eat seafood, talk with your healthcare provider to see if taking a supplement is the right plan for you. Omega-3s are also found in some nuts and seeds, such as flaxseeds, but it's in a different form. Look for foods rich in "fat-soluble vitamins, B-complex vitamins, omega-3 fatty acids, and iron to support hair health," says Valerie Agyeman, RD, dietitian and host of women's health podcast Flourish Heights.

They belong to a group of plants called legumes, which are full of nutrients. They can be especially helpful for boosting the protein and zinc intake of people following vegetarian and vegan diets. How fast and strong your hair grows depends on many factors like age, genetics, stress, and diet. While you may not be able to control things like your age and genes, you can eat a balanced diet full of nutrient-dense foods that support hair growth.

11 Best Hair Growth Vitamins And Supplements (2024) – Forbes Health - Forbes

11 Best Hair Growth Vitamins And Supplements ( – Forbes Health.

Posted: Fri, 05 Jan 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]

A breakfast time favorite, yogurt can be easily added to smoothies, parfaits, savory dips and marinades, or even pancake recipes. Aside from aging, illness, and genetics, malnutrition is one of the most common causes of hair loss. Following a healthy, well-balanced diet can help people maintain typical levels of hair growth and replacement.

Some studies show that people with chronic telogen effluvium, androgenetic alopecia, and alopecia areata, are more likely to have low levels of ferritin, which is the storage form of iron. Legumes, such as chickpeas, lentils, black beans, and peas, are a good alternative for people who follow a vegetarian diet and want to consume more protein. There's no one best food to support hair growth, but a diet rich in various nutrients can help. "Seaweed is an excellent source of iodine, which is necessary for a healthy thyroid, which is important in hair health," says St. Surin-Lord.

“Vitamin C is a water-soluble vitamin which has antioxidant properties that are protective of hair follicles and it is also a component in collagen production, which is vital for hair strength,” says Wheeler. More research is needed to understand the exact connection between diet and hair loss, but it's smart to sneak in these nutrients to support your 'do. Pill or powder hair growth supplements may help, but you might as well start with what's on your plate. Iron deficiency, which is the most common nutrient deficiency worldwide, can cause hair loss.

Incorporating these nutrients into your diet can improve hair loss symptoms in certain cases, per a review of studies published in the journal Dermatology and Therapy. Deficiencies in protein, minerals, fatty acids, and vitamins can lead to hair loss, found a study published in Dermatology Practical & Conceptual and a review in Dermatologic Clinics. These fish have nutrients, such as omega-3 fatty acids, protein, selenium, vitamin D3, and B vitamins, which may help promote strong and healthy hair growth. Our bodies can't produce omega-3 fatty acids on their own, so it's important to get these fats through our diet. Avocados are a great source, and they're also rich in vitamins E and B(s).

For example, consuming foods high in vitamin C, E, D, biotin, and zinc all play a role in hair growth. That being said, we wanted to get specific on what we can incorporate into our diet to get the locks of our dreams, so we tapped nutritionists and dietitians in addition to St. Surin-Lord. A lack of proper nutrients, including vitamins A, C, D, and E, zinc, B vitamins, iron, biotin, protein, and essential fatty acids, may slow hair growth or cause hair loss.

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