Fantasia Salon / Spa and Wig Specialists

We’ve talked quite a bit about what or how to eat for overall hair health but I believe some of it bears repeating.

For good hair health, your diet should contain the following foods:

• The sulphur foods which include onions, radishes, hemp seeds, aloe vera.
• The silicon foods which are cucumbers, red peppers and other shiny-skinned produce.
• The vitamin A foods which are carrots, arugula and papaya.
• The zinc foods which are coconut, nuts and seeds.
• The vitamin C foods which include all citrus foods.
• The vitamin E foods including avacado and olives.

What it the recurring theme here? Raw foods. Reality is that every raw plant food has something good to offer your body and your hair. Because nutrition is the newest of the sciences, they are discovering new things daily about the benefits of raw foods for the human body.

Since most of us are not eating all of the above mentioned foods daily, supplementing is necessary. Make sure the supplements you choose have good science behind them. Selenium, which is a necessary trace mineral, if consumed in too great of quantities, can actually cause hair loss. At Fantasia, we promote Isagenix products because of the science behind them. Jon Anderson, the product formulator of Isagenix products, has been formulating supplements for various companies for over 25+ years. He got frustrated with companies changing his formulations over time. As a scientist of nutrition, he knows what the requirements of the human body are for the various minerals and vitamins. About 6 years ago he came to the conclusion that the only way he was going to assure that the formulations would remain as he created them, was to start his own company. That was beginning of Isagenix International and they have enjoyed record breaking success ever since!

Silica, calcium and iron are all good for hair growth, because, essentially, hair is an extension of your blood. Healthy blood, in conjunction with a healthy scalp, determines the state of your hair and its rate of growth.

So, again, some natural things you can do to assure healthy hair? Eat raw and green, as much as possible. And, as we’ve discussed before, you can stimulate your scalp to keep it healthy by massage. Whenever you shampoo your hair, spend some extra time massaging your scalp. If you are using one of the “minty” refreshing shampoos such as Nioxin or Pureology, this feels wonderful. I always joke with the hair stylist when I have my hair done and they are shampooing and massaging my head that they can continue with it for about a couple of hours!

Most of us know that each part of the body is nourished by vitamins and minerals. We are dependent on vitamin/mineral supplements to maintain our health. This is because our food choices do not always provide our body with all of the vitamins and minerals needed in order to keep it strong and healthy. At Fantasia, most of us rely on the Isagenix products for total health and wellness.

Well, what about our hair? If our body is not getting enough vitamins and minerals, it will pull them from our hair for other more critical parts of the body (such as heart, brain, etc.) So, we need to provide more than we actually need so that the hair doesn’t suffer. Here is a list of vitamins which will help combat hair loss in women and men.

Vitamin A (Retinol) This is an anit-oxidant that encourages the production of sebum in our scalp. The recommended daily dose in 5,000 IU’s daily. Vitamin A is found in apricots, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, peaches, eggs, milk, cheese, meat and fish oil.

Vitamin B Complex The B vitamins such as B2 (niacin), B5 (pantothenic acid), B6 (Pyridoxine), and B12 (cobalt) assist is fighting hair loss. Recommended daily doses are 15 mg, 4-7 mg, 1.6 mg and 2 mg, respectively. Niacin promotes the circulation of blood in the scalp area. It is found in fish, chicken, turkey, pork, beef and wheat germ. If you overdo it with niacin you will get what is known as a niacin flush. Pantothenic acid helps in reducing hair loss and premature graying of the hair. Food rich in this are meat, whold grain cereals and egg yolks. Pyridoxine aids in the creation of melanin wich is what gives our hair it’s color and prevents hair loss. It is found in liver, vegetables, whole grain cereals and egg yolks. Cobalt also prevents hair loss and is found in fish, eggs, chicken and milk.

Vitamin C Is an anti-oxidant that maintains the health of our skin and hair. Citrus, kiwi, melons, pineapple, strawberries, tomatoes, potatoes, green peppers and green vegetables are rich in vitamin C. The mininum daily dose recommended is 500 mg.

Vitamin E Just like B3, vitamin E promotes scalp circulation. Dried beans, green leafy vegetables and raw seeds and nuts are rich in vitamin E. The recommended daily dose is 400 IU. Those on blood pressure medications or anti-coagulants should consult their physician before taking vitamin E as it can heighten blood pressure and decrease blood clotting.

Vitamin H (biotin) This is actually part of the B complex group. It is considered one of the most important hair loss vitamins. An inadequate supply of vitamin H may cause hair thinning and loss. Vitamin H aids in the metabolism of fats, which are essential in hair growth. It also aids in keratin production and helps prevent premature graying. Foods rich in vitamin H include milk, eggs, liver, kidney and yeast. The recommended daily dose is 300 mcg. It should be taken with the B complex family to be more efficiently absorbed in the body.

So, as you can see, unless you are making a conscious effort to consume all of the above mentioned foods daily, it’s a really wise idea to take supplements. Think of it as cheap insurance to assure wonderful hair for a long, long time!