Vitamins for Hair Growth
- Author :
- TATA AIG Team
- ●
- Last Updated On :
- 18/04/2024
- ●
- 2 min read
When bad hair days become a pattern, most of us would become concerned and seek corrective measures to have those locks back. Several factors could contribute to stunted hair growth, including genetics, age, underactive thyroid, hormone levels, stress, etc.
Although poor hair health can affect self-confidence, there are certain remedies you can try to improve your hair.
Ever so often, we have heard of the role that nutrients can play in boosting hair growth.
This blog will explore these essential vitamins for hair growth to boost your hair care routine. But before giving in to the buzz, it is important to know if these vitamins for hair growth even work.
Do Hair Growth Vitamins Work?
As growing healthy hair became a challenge, the market responded with a multitude of hair supplements to treat the concern. However, it is important to analyse whether these nutrients for hair growth are any good or if they are just another marketing gimmick.
Scientifically, hair growth occurs through a multi-phase process called the hair growth cycle, wherein hair follicles create new hair that grows to its full length over a few years. For this process, the follicles need a balance of vitamins, minerals, and other essential nutrients.
So, to boost hair growth, one can include vitamins required for hair growth into their diet. These vitamins can also strengthen your immune system, which subsequently improves the thickness and shine of your hair.
To embark on this nutritious journey, one must know what these great vitamins for hair are.
List of Essential Vitamins for Hair Growth
We all wish for beautiful and luscious tresses, and in addition to consuming a nutritious diet, incorporating the right vitamins for hair growth in your meal plan can play a prominent role in improving your hair health. Vitamins may play a role in preventing thinning and shedding. Here are some great vitamins for hair health:
Vitamin A:
Of all the necessary vitamins required for hair growth, vitamin A is considered particularly beneficial in improving your hair health. Consuming foods that are rich in vitamin A can significantly contribute to boosting your hair health.
However, it is important to note that vitamin A can also lead to an oily scalp, which can cause hair fall. So, it is essential to speak with your doctor to determine the right amount of vitamin A that should be included in your diet.
Vitamin A food sources: leafy greens, tomatoes, fish oil, milk, eggs, etc.
Recommended Dietary Allowance: 0.9 milligrams per day for men and 0.7 milligrams per day for women.
Vitamin B12
The role of vitamin B12 for hair health and growth has been well recognised. Vitamin B12 supports the functions of hair follicles, a deficiency of which may lead to hair loss or thinning.
Moreover, in addition to vitamin B12 for hair, there is one more vitamin in the B complex compound that is important for hair: vitamin B7, also known as Biotin.
Biotin vitamins for hair growth are commonly celebrated for hair growth benefits. This is because biotin develops red blood cells that carry oxygen and nutrients to hair follicles and the scalp. So, biotin vitamins for hair growth are also an important dietary inclusion.
Vitamin B12 food sources: Low-fat milk, cheese, chicken, salmon, tuna, etc. are good sources of vitamin B12
Recommended Dietary Allowance: 0.024 milligrams of vitamin B12 per day
Vitamin C
Not only does vitamin C strengthen your immunity, but it also contributes to enhancing your hair health. Vitamin C strengthens your hair and as a powerful antioxidant, it is an important element in healthy hair growth. It improves blood circulation throughout your body, including your scalp.
The role of vitamin C is also known for supporting collagen synthesis, which is important for the creation of proline to create keratin.
Vitamin C food sources: strawberries, peppers, broccoli, citrus fruits such as oranges, etc.
Recommended Dietary Allowance: men should consume 19 milligrams of vitamin C, whereas women need 75 milligrams of vitamin C per day
Vitamin D
It is often believed that a deficiency in vitamin D can lead to hair loss. Vitamin D gets metabolised in the skin via keratinocytes, which are skin cells that create keratin.
When there is an inadequate amount of vitamin D in the body, the keratinocytes in hair follicles find it challenging to facilitate hair growth, which causes shedding and hair loss.
Vitamin D food sources: Egg yolks, red meat, liver, oily fish such as salmon and sardines, and certain fortified foods such as breakfast cereals
Recommended Dietary Allowance: Adults are advised to consume about 0.025 milligrams of vitamin D per day
Vitamin E
While vitamin E has been celebrated for its antioxidant properties, the role of vitamin E for hair is not as widely known. However, it is an essential vitamin that reduces free radical damage and protects the body’s cells.
Moreover, because it is fat-soluble, it is also vital for maintaining healthy skin and strengthening your immune system.
In recent times, vitamin E for hair has been hailed for its ability to transform frizzy, damaged, unmanageable hair into shiny, luscious locks.
Vitamin E food sources: Leafy greens, nuts, olive oil, and sunflower oil are some of the best sources of vitamin E. Meats and fortified foods such as breakfast cereal also contain vitamin E.
Recommended Dietary Allowance: Adults are advised to consume about 10 milligrams of vitamin D per day
How Long Does it Take for Hair Growth Vitamins to Work?
Generally, your hair grows by half an inch every month. However, it is influenced by factors such as environment and an individual’s body type.
When one is using vitamin supplements or incorporating nutrients for hair growth in their meals, results can be visible after approximately two months. Individuals indulging in this natural hair growth route must also know that hair growth is a slow process, and it takes about years for a new strand of hair to reach shoulder length.
So, it is important to have faith in the process and embrace a healthier lifestyle
In Conclusion
In our fast-paced life, individuals find it challenging to make time for exercise and instead choose unhealthy foods which affect several body functions.
To reverse this damage, changing one’s lifestyle and incorporating the necessary vitamins into meals is an efficient solution. However, while this takes care of one aspect of health, it is not a be-all and end-all solution to healthcare.
To safeguard your health from medcial costs of unexpected illnesses, it is important to invest in health insurance.
A health insurance plan ensures you get the best treatment without the worry of soaring medical bills so you can work on a speedy recovery. Without medical insurance, these costs can pinch your pockets and may also significantly dent your savings.
Moreover, with the convenience of the internet, one can easily browse and compare the best health insurance plans to find a suitable cover that meets their healthcare needs.
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