| In order for our bodies to function healthily | | | | popular ingredient in shampoos and |
| on a daily basis we need to have an adequate | | | | conditioners. It helps to produce Keratin and |
| supply of vitamins, minerals, and other | | | | some studies have shown that Biotin in a |
| nutrients in our diet and our hair is no | | | | natural form (as well as folic acid, PABA and |
| different. What we eat can influence the | | | | vitamin B5) can help restore hair to its |
| state of our hair and the rate at which our | | | | natural colour. Biotin can be found in |
| hair grows. Hair follicles consume a high | | | | brewer's yeast, nuts, cheese, meat and fish. |
| number of nutrients and if the diet is | | | | |
| deficient in these nutrients then the result | | | | Inositol |
| will be unhealthy looking hair, slower hair | | | | |
| growth, thinning of the hair and hair loss. | | | | Again, Inositol is part of the vitamin B |
| | | | complex group of vitamins and is believed to |
| An important point to remember is that the | | | | promote healthy hair growth and healthy hair |
| rate at which your hair can grow is finite | | | | follicles as well as prevent hair loss. It |
| and what is normal hair growth for one person | | | | can be found in brewers yeast, cereals, nuts, |
| can be different for another. However, on | | | | rice, meat, vegetables and bananas |
| average, hair grows at a rate of about a | | | | |
| centimetre a month. The trick to faster hair | | | | Vitamin A |
| growth is to maximise your own hair growth | | | | |
| potential by making sure your hair and scalp | | | | Vitamin A is an antioxidant and helps to |
| has everything it needs to help it to grow. | | | | promote a healthy scalp, which in turn |
| There is no overnight fix either, it takes | | | | facilitates hair growth. An important point |
| time and effort and several months before any | | | | to note is that in too high quantities, |
| changes are noticeable. | | | | vitamin A can be toxic and can be |
| | | | particularly harmful if taken during |
| There are several vitamins that are | | | | pregnancy. Vitamin A can be found in liver |
| particularly beneficial for the hair and | | | | and fish liver oil as well as in dairy |
| which can facilitate faster, healthier hair | | | | produce and some vegetables. |
| growth and these are in particular the B | | | | |
| Complex Vitamins, and Vitamins A, C and E. | | | | Vitamin C |
| The B complex vitamins and vitamin C are | | | | |
| water soluble, which means they are not | | | | Vitamin C is an antioxidant and a detoxifier |
| stored in the body and therefore have to be | | | | that helps to keep hair and the scalp healthy |
| consumed every day. Vitamins A and E on the | | | | and is found mostly in citrus fruits and |
| other hand are fat soluble, are stored by the | | | | fresh vegetables |
| body, and as such, do not need to be taken | | | | |
| daily. | | | | Vitamin E |
| | | | |
| B Complex Vitamins | | | | Vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant that |
| | | | encourages good blood flow to the scalp. |
| Vitamin B complex vitamins are best taken at | | | | Again, high levels can be harmful. It can |
| the same time as they work together and the | | | | also raise blood pressure and affect the |
| combined properties of the Vitamin B group, | | | | blood's ability to clot so should not be |
| which include Vitamin B1 (Thiamine), Vitamin | | | | taken as a supplement without seeking advice |
| B2 (Riboflavin), Vitamin B3 (Niacin), Vitamin | | | | from a doctor first. It can be found in |
| B5 (Pantothenic Acid), Vitamin B6 | | | | vegetable oils, seeds, beans and nuts and in |
| (Pyridoxine), Vitamin B12, folic acid and the | | | | dark green leafy vegetables. |
| lesser known PABA (Para-aminobenzoic acid), | | | | |
| can help to promote healthy skin and scalp | | | | Conclusion |
| and facilitate healthy hair growth as well as | | | | |
| inhibit greying of the hair and hair loss. | | | | Vitamins are very powerful and too much can |
| Vitamin B vitamins can be found in meat, | | | | be just as harmful to the body as too little |
| fish, vegetables, eggs, wholegrain cereals | | | | so before taking vitamin supplements, it is |
| and legumes and of course, Vitamin B Complex | | | | wise to discuss the option with your doctor |
| supplements. | | | | first to eliminate any potential health |
| | | | problems that might arise. |
| Biotin | | | | |
| | | | Ideally, the most effective way of obtaining |
| Biotin, sometimes known as Vitamin H, is also | | | | all the vitamins and nutrients you need to |
| part of the Vitamin B complex group of | | | | encourage faster hair growth and a healthy |
| vitamins but deserves a special mention as it | | | | head of hair as well as promote good health |
| is particularly beneficial for the condition | | | | in general, is to obtain them naturally |
| of the hair and scalp and consequently is a | | | | through the diet itself. |