Eat Like You Mean It!

Overall, your diet and general health is reflected in your hair.  Your hair is fed by your bloodstream, thus if your liver and kidneys are healthy, it should show on the outside of your body.  You can also look at the quality and vitality of your skin and the whiteness of your eyes.  If your hair is dry and brittle or your skin is dry and itchy, your diet should be adjusted. Here are some suggestions for the overall body health including your scalp and hair health:

1. Avocado: Moisturizes hair shafts and strengthens with healthy proteins.

1. A low-fat, high-fiber diet: A diet containing healthy amounts of fresh vegetables and fresh fruits plays a vital role in preventing the shedding of hair associated with aging. I say fresh because fruits and vegetables that are canned are usually stripped of some nutritional value and are preserved in sugars, syrups or salts.  Rarely is male-pattern hair loss reported in places where people consume the proper amounts of vegetables.

1. Biotins: Mainly found in nuts, brown rice and oats.

1. Citrus fruit: Eat after an iron-rich meal. Vitamin C is necessary in assimilating Iron.

1. veg­etables: Veggies such as leeks, cashews, berries, dried fruits, and figs.

1. Nuts, seeds, avocados and olive oil: Get your Vitamin E in these tasty forms.  An easy way to incorporate this is by cooking with Olive Oil whenever possible.

1. ORGANICALLY GROWN veg­etables “Green Juices”: For hair and general physical health, consume several freshly prepared green juices a day.  Be sure to flavor to taste.

Juicing Tip: If you are new to juicing vegetables, start with a fruit juice like an orange or apple juice base then add berries, carrot or two and cucumber slices, etc. I have found that starting with sweet flavors and adding vegetables over time, will help you not be completely turned off to drinking a “veggie” drink.  Starting with a kale, broccoli, carrot and beat drink will make you think that the taste is just not worth the health benefits! Try pre-packaged green drinks either in powder form or in ½-gallon jugs at your local health food store.  Many pre-mixed green drinks are extremely tasty and the label will teach you more about what to put in your own mixes.

8.      Mix together (in even parts) carrot juice, lettuce and alfalfa sprouts. Blend in other fruits to personal taste.

1. Proteins: Beans, nuts, fish, and lean poultry are great building blocks for hair.

1. SOY: Strengthens hair and helps it grow. Found in soy drinks, tofu, and in soy protein drinks.  It is becoming more popular to find soy in many health foods.

1. Walnuts, flaxseeds, and fish: (salmon) are excellent sources of Unsaturated Fatty Acids.  It is also found in POULTRY, EGGS, CEREALS and SOYBEAN OIL.  It is important to have the proper balance of Omega-3 and Omega-6.  Excessive amounts of O-6 relative to O-3 may cause health problems. A ration of 4 to 1 (Omega-6 to Omega-3) or lower is best.

1. Silica-Rich foods: Strengthens hair and encourages growth. Increase intake of sprouts, potatoes with skins, cucumbers with their skins and peppers.

1. Whole WHEAT grains: Good source of Biotin also found in milk and rice.

1. Vitamin A-Rich foods: it can be dangerous to overdose on vitamin A; however receiving Vitamin A through natural sources average amounts can be safe and beneficial.  Vitamin A can be found in foods such as: liver, sweet potatoes, carrots, mangos, spinach, cantaloupe, dried apricots, milk, egg yolks and mozzarella cheese.