If you read my posts, you know I talk a lot about what proper diet can do for your hair. Since we specialize in dealing with thinning hair and hair loss solutions at Fantasia, I always like to pass along anything I can about what we can do naturally to promote overall healthy and the health of our hair.

Food number one for healthy hair is salmon. Salmon is loaded with omega-3 fatty acids as well as being a high protein source and it’s filled with vitamin B-12 and iron.

Your scalp needs essential omega 3 fatty acids for good health. A deficiency can result in a dry scalp and your hair will then, look dull. If you don’t eat salmon because you are a vegetarian, include one-two tablespoons of ground flax-seed in your daily diet. That will give you some plant based omega 3 fats.

Dark green vegetables such as spinach, broccoli and Swiss chard are an excellent source of vitamins A and C wich your body needs to produce sebum. This is an oily substance secreted by your hair follicles and is the body’s natural hair conditioner. Dark green vegetables also provide iron and calcium.

Beans are good for your hair. They are loaded with protein and also have iron, zinc and biotin. If you aren’t getting enough biotin, your hair will be brittle. You should try to eat three or more cups of lentils or beans each week.

Nuts are great for thick, shiny hair. Brazil nuts are one of natures best sources of selenium which is an important mineral for your scalp.

Chicken and turkey have high quality protein for your hair. If you protein levels dip too low, your hair will be weak and brittle and a profound protein deficiency can result in the loss of hair color.

Eggs are great for your hair, whether you like them fried, scrambled, hard boiled, eat your eggs. If you study nutrition, you will learn that eggs are the perfect protein, the standard by which all other protein is judged. They also contain biotin and B-12, both which are important beauty nutrients and great for your hair.

Whole grains will help give a hair healthy dose of of zinc, iron and B vitamins. So, enjoy your cereal and toast!

Oysters are known as an aphrodisiac but they also promote healthy hair. I must admit, I cannot bring myself to eat oysters. But the good news is we can get what oysters have to offer(except for the aphrodisiac effect) from whole grains and nuts. Zinc we can get from lamb and beef.

Low fat dairy products are good sources of calcium which is an important mineral for overall health and healthy hair. Yogurt, skim milk and cottage cheese and all great for hair health. You can boost the hair benefits by adding some ground flax-seeds or walnuts to your cottage cheese or yogurt.

And, last but not least, carrots are an excellent source of vitamin A which promotes a healthy scalp in adddition to good vision.

So, the bottom line, for healthy hair, have a lot of variety. Enjoy an balanced diet of lean proteins, fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, salmon and low-fat dairy. And enjoy your beautiful, healthy hair!