Our hair grows an average of 0.35 mm per day. Therefore, in order for the hair to grow, the hair follicle needs calories, proteins, trace elements and vitamins. Both the quality and extent of hair growth are closely related to the person’s diet. We need protein, minerals and vitamins for healthy growing hair. However, when we talk about the role of nutrients in the development of hair, we encounter a heavy misinformation and misconceptions. Some supporting works can be wasteful and toxic by being consumed unnecessarily, not only do they not provide benefits but also destabilize them.
So what can we do for healthy, fast growing hair?
First, we need to take in calories as needed. Hair follicles need power for hair to grow. For this reason, when the daily calorie intake is below 1000 kilocalories in unhealthy dieters, the hair becomes thinner, easily broken, its length decreases and shedding increases. The hair root needs power to produce hair, so we need to take the calories we need for healthy growth of our hair.
The other building block we need to take for healthy growth of our hair is protein. 80% of the chemical structure of the hair is made up of a protein called keratin. Therefore, consuming enough foods such as meat, fish and eggs contributes to the healthy growth of hair.
Iron deficiency is the most important issue to ensure healthy hair growth. Because it is a common issue among women. For healthy hair, it is not enough for the iron in the blood to be sufficient, it must be sufficient for the iron stores. For ideal hair growth, it is recommended that the ferritin level be 70 ng/ml. If it is below this level, it is necessary to use iron drugs.
Zinc, Vitamin B12, Essential fatty acids (such as linoleic acid and alpha-linoleic acid) are necessary for healthy hair. Deficiency is not seen in individuals fed a normal diet. It has been observed that supplementation with these artifacts, without deficiency, does not provide any benefit. But in people with malnutrition, it should definitely be examined and if there is a deficiency, it should not be taken from the outside.
What should we take as nutritional support for our hair to grow faster?
Yellow millet (millet) extract; Yellow millet is a natural product containing silicic acid, amino acids, vitamins and minerals. Base products containing yellow millet extract, cysteine, and calcium pantothenate can contribute to faster hair growth.
Soy; It has been suggested that protein-rich soybeans have positive effects on hair growth.
Selenium; Selenium is an essential trace element, a valuable component of glutathione peroxidase. It contributes to hair growth. But, under normal conditions, its deficiency is not seen. However, selenium deficiency can be seen in advanced malnutrition and in areas where the soil is poor in selenium. It should be remembered that high doses of selenium can cause intoxication, and excess of it can cause hair loss.