Vitamins and minerals play a vital role in the function of
the body, the use of certain vitamins can most certainly play a major part
in helping to maintain a healthy head of hair.
Introduction
The human body is an amazingly complex and wonderful machine, but it cannot
function without a supply of food. The nutrients in food are needed for
energy, movement, heat, growth, repair, hair growth and sometimes
reproduction. The body needs to be able to digest the foods it takes in so
that it can be used in various ways.
There are six basic types of nutrients and two basic non-nutrients found in
food. The six nutrients are carbohydrate, fat, protein, vitamins, minerals,
trace elements; the two non-nutrients are fibre and water. Generally
speaking most foods contain several nutrients, in varying amounts.
Carrots, for instance, contain a little protein, a trace of fat, some
carbohydrate, a good deal of water, a little sugar, fibre, and a selection
of vitamins and minerals such as potassium, sodium, calcium, iron, zinc,
vitamins B6, C and E, folic acid, biotin and pantothenic acid, etc. We need
a combination of all the above nutrients to maintain a normal and healthy
body.
Inositol
Inositol is also a member of the B vitamin group. It is a compound occurring
in the brain, muscles, liver, kidney and eyes.
In laboratory animals, a diet lacking Inositol produced baldness, but when
the vitamin was added to the food of these animals, the hair grew back
again. It was also observed that male animals lost hair twice as fast as
female animals. The result of this experiment would suggest that males
require a higher Inositol intake than females. An Inositol deficient diet
can also cause eczema, a form of skin irritation.
One doctor in a series of experiments prescribed Inositol together with
other sources of B vitamins to all his balding patients. In almost all
case's hair loss was arrested, in some case's hair growth was noticeable in
as little as one month. In one case hair recovery was total and not one bald
spot remained.
Inositol, also appears to reduce the amount of cholesterol in the blood.
Biotin
Biotin often called vitamin H, is yet another B complex component. Biotin is
a proven hair growth vitamin and a preventative to excessive hair loss. It
appears to metabolise fatty acids. Fatty acids are a valuable growth factor
in numerous processes in the body including the hair. Biotin is also seen as
an aid in preventing hair turning grey.
Biotin is found in egg yolks. Raw egg whites actually hinder effectiveness,
but when the albumen (egg white) is cooked, the culprit - a substance called
avidin is destroyed by heat. Biotin is also present in liver, milk, yeast
and kidney.
Balding men might find that a Biotin supplement may keep their hair longer.
Zinc
In laboratory tests animals fed with a zinc supplement showed signs of more
hair growth, as opposed to loss of hair in animals that were deprived of
zinc in their feed. It was discovered that there was a change in the hair
protein structure when zinc was deficient in the diet.
Severe zinc deficiency in humans has been shown to produce baldness and
scalp problems that were reversed when zinc was returned to the diet.
Zinc has also been shown to stop hair turning grey. One doctor taking zinc
for a year reversed the grey hairs which returned to their original colour.
Zinc can be depleted by high stress levels. For a good source of zinc, wheat
germ is the best, other sources are brewer's yeast, pumpkin seeds, oysters
and mussels, shrimps and egg yolks.
One delightful effect of zinc is that it has long been regarded as an
aphrodisiac, and as such it can be very beneficial for your sex life, which
is not a bad side effect to have.
Protein
Protein is a basic ingredient in many hair shampoos and conditioners and is
also the major ingredient of hair itself, which is at least ninety per cent
protein. Whilst this should not necessarily be the main ingredient in your
diet, its importance should not be ignored.
In controlled tests volunteers, supplementing their diets with protein in
the form of 14g of gelatine daily, found it increased the thickness of
individual hair strands by as much as 45 per cent in only two months.
Diet can influence both hair growth and quality and gelatine has exhibited
one of the highest specific dynamic effects of any food or supplement.
Given that a strong hair is a healthy hair, the study noted that the
gelatine induced increases in the diet constituted an improvement in the
mechanical properties of the hair, including strength. When the volunteers
stopped eating the gelatine, their hair returned to its original diameter
within six months.
Vitamin E
A Canadian physician who started going grey was able to reverse the process
by taking 800iu of vitamin E in capsule form daily. At the age of 68 after
some 15 years of taking vitamin E he still has a healthy head of thick black
hair, and is the envy of men half his age.
Vitamin E has also been shown to retard the ageing process. It has been
suggested that grey hair is a symptom of body degeneration so a supplement
of vitamin E can only be beneficial whether you have grey hair or not.
The best natural sources of vitamin E are wheat germ, Soya beans, broccoli,
brussel sprouts, spinach and eggs.
Vitamin A
A deficiency of Vitamin A will cause dry hair and rough skin. Vitamin A is
stored in the liver and if large doses (50,000 - 100,000 iu daily) are taken
for a prolonged period the liver cannot store the A vitamin, and it can
build up in the body to give unpleasant side effects which include nausea,
headaches, hair loss, drowsiness and weight loss.
The R.D.A. for vitamin A is 2,500 iu.
Pantothenic Acid
Pantothenic Acid also known as Calcium Pantothenate is considered to be
important to the health of the skin and scalp. Pantothenic acid is necessary
for the well being of every body cell and neither carbohydrate nor fat can
be changed into energy without it.
This nutrient is also important for the functioning of the adrenal glands
that produce much of the male sex hormones.
Volunteers who were feed on a diet deficient of pantothenic acid showed
increased vulnerability to infection and adrenal levels dropped, blood
pressure also dropped and constipation developed.
Animals lacking this nutrient in their diet became grey haired and the
follicles started to waste away.
This supplement is most often found in B complex formulas.
This nutrient is obtained from liver, kidney, egg yolks, whole grains, milk
and potatoes.
Seven Wonders "Hair Food" Cocktail
The following drink contains Protein, Choline, Inositol, Pantothenic Acid,
Biotin, Vitamin E and Zinc: The seven ingredients' nutritionists most often
recommend for growing healthy hair.
8 Fl oz Plain Yoghurt
8 Fl oz Orange Juice
3 Tablespoons Wheat Germ
3 Tablespoons Brewers Yeast
1 Tablespoon Lecithin Crystals
1 Teaspoon Vitamin C Crystals
1 Raw Egg Yolk
1 Tablespoon Unflavored Gelatine Powder
Honey to Taste (optional)
Combine all the ingredients and blend until smooth. If a blender is not
available put all the ingredients into a jar with a lid and shake
vigorously.
This tonic makes a quick and nutritious breakfast and will work wonders for
your hair.
This cocktail should help just about everyone, and you will certainly notice
a difference to your hair once you try it.
Another recommended regime for hair loss which has proved to be very
effective is a supplement of the Amino Acids, Zinc and Vitamin C. This
supplement is particularly good for people who go on crash diets and find a
problem with hair loss, or problems which are less obvious such as women who
are losing hair as a result of birth control pills and subsequent vitamin
and mineral deficiencies.
Hair loss supplement
A daily vitamin and mineral supplement
B Complex
Pantothenic Acid
Folic Acid
P.A.B.A.
Vitamin A
Zinc
A daily supplement of the above will help produce healthy hair and helps
restore grey hair to its original colour.
0ne multi- vitamin formula 1000mg and 500mg magnesium taken daily can have a
great effect on hair growth - There is no guarantee but many people have
reported a definite reduction of hair loss with this regime.
Another combination that has produced excellent results with some people is
a daily supplement of choline and inositol, 1000mg of each daily.
The Amino Acid L Tyrosine is also recommended for helping hair regain its
natural colour.
While there are a number of supplements which can be beneficial, it is
important for the diet to improve and take precedence over supplements
alone. That said there are enormous benefits to be derived from using
vitamins, many food products today have been treated with chemicals during
the growing process.
When anyone is embarking on a course of vitamins or minerals they should be
aware that results will not happen overnight. Vitamins are not some magic
potion that is suddenly going to cure hair loss overnight. They may not do
anything for some people but for others they will achieve excellent results
with noticeable differences in hair growth and in the slowing down of hair
loss.
Results will usually take from about three to four months before the body
actually reacts to the effects brought about by the vitamins.
Vitamins should always be taken as directed on the bottle and not more than
the stated dosage. An extra helping of a vitamin does not make it work twice
as much, besides which it can be dangerous overdosing on certain vitamins.
When taking vitamins you may find that you have to take them after a meal
otherwise they may cause a stomach upset.
Copyright stophairlossnow.co.uk