Do you know healthy food is important for healthy hair? Do you like to know more about food for healthy hair? Remember that everyone is absolutely unique and hence healthy hair will look different for each person. So don’t compare your hair to anyone else. You just have to get to know your hair so that you are able to nourish it in the best way possible. Let’s talk about the foods that you need for good strong healthy hair. Are you worried about what to eat for strong healthy hair? In this article, you can find some of the natural wonders that you can not only eat but also use topically to nourish your hair.
What is the food for healthy hair?
According to Ayurveda, there are three different body types, Kapha, Pitta, and Vata.
What is Kapha?
The Kapha body is physically solid, compact, and wide with extensive thighs, hips, bums, and chest and has a tendency to be perpetually overweight. Kapha types ordinarily have large, appealing eyes that are blue or dark in colour. Their skin is fair, cool and always glowing. Kapha hair is thick, extravagant, and abundant, typically blond or dark, and wavy. Kapha individuals tend to over-produce mucus and other milky secretions, and their voices are delicate, regularly obstructed by excess mucus. Kapha types are extremely elegant, have a natural, erotic sensuality about them, and are generally very fertile. Source: Dabur Kapha
What is Vata?
The word Vata means to blow or to move like the wind. Containing the elements like air and space, Vata manages all the movements in the mind and body. It controls blood flow, evacuation of wastes, breathing, and the movement of thoughts across the brain. Vata is dry, cold, light, moving, changeable, subtle, rough, and quick. Source: Dabur Vata
What is Pitta?
Ayurveda states that Pitta controls heat, metabolism, and transformation in the mind and body. In addition to this, it also controls how to digest foods, how to metabolize sensory perceptions, and how to understand the difference between right and wrong. Pitta controls the essential digestive “Agni” or fire of the body. Source: Dabur
So cover body types tend to have thicker hair. It usually is more prone to oiliness and it takes a little bit longer to dry because it’s a lot denser. Piston body types tend to have medium thickness. They have silky smooth hair but they also have a tendency towards the irritated or itchy scalp and vastly body types tend to actually have thinner strands and can be a little bit rough. And so they’re actually more prone to dry hair because their hair follicles are much more porous. Not one is better than the other. We are all uniquely different in so many ways. All you need to do is focus on understanding your hair better. So you can treat it and care for it in the way that’s best for you.
So she actually had a really wonderful analogy that sums it up pretty well. It says that trees end up shedding their leaves during winter because they’re trying to conserve energy to make it through. So in the same way when we feed our bodies if we’re not giving it enough nutrients then it works to feed our essential organs first. So as long as we have the right nutrients and the right amount of nutrients going into our body and being absorbed by our body then we can shine all the way from our cells to our hair, skin, and nails. But that doesn’t mean that external treatments are not beneficial.
According to eye radar, they are absolutely vital to healthy hair too because if we think about it every single thing that we put onto our skin which means our scalp too is absorbed into our bloodstream and into our body. And so we can have medicated oils and different natural treatments that can actually really really help soothe and nourish our hair from the outside too. So when we pair a good healthy diet and lifestyle with external treatments with good quality ingredients we are tackling the problem from all ends.
Food For Healthy Hair
Here are the ingredients you need to eat and how you can use them on your hair too.
1. Life force high pranic foods
First up I’m going to tell you about the concept of prana. Prana in Sanskrit means a life force high pranic foods which means foods with high nutrient content and filled with vitality are the foods that are going to really help nourish your body. Now that means that we should avoid foods with a high amount of pesticides and chemicals in them. So essentially saying we should be having as organic as possible and foods that are fresh and seasonal too. That way we’re getting as many nutrients as we can get absorbed into our body. This means that our organs are getting as many nutrients as it needs and therefore we get healthy luscious hair.
So I thought I’d do a little disclaimer before we start. I really really enjoy understanding the why behind the ingredients. Why we have to eat certain things and the reason behind it. And I feel like it’s my duty after having learned all of that to share it with you too. So I geeked out a little bit and I’ve shared a lot of scientific information with you but I really think it would help solidify the information in your mind.
Beans and Lentils
First up we have our beans and lentils. Beans and Lentils are some of the best food for healthy hair. Beans and lentils actually have a substance called folic acid or vitamin B9. Vitamin B9 is useful in supporting hair growth and renewing cells. A good-sized portion of your beans or lentils every single day can provide you with 90 per cent of your folic acid requirement. That’s right 90. If I was to recommend you incorporate just one lentil into your diet it would have to be Mung lentils. Mung lentils are the easiest lentils to digest they are great for all body types and they actually help to soak up the cholesterol in your body.
So you may say to me okay that’s great that mung lentils soak up cholesterol but what does it have to do with my hair? Well, I’m about to tell you cholesterol can actually build up in our hair follicles which means it could block them. That means that we don’t get as much hair growth and it can promote early greying. On top of all of those wonderful things that mung lentils do they also help to cleanse our gut. That means they help us release all of those toxins that are building up in our body which means it allows more room for good absorption to happen into our cells and our bloodstream which means again we have good gut health and great organs.
How can incorporate beans and lentils into your diet every single day?
And therefore now you may ask how can you incorporate beans and lentils into your diet every single day? Will ever tell you you’ve got your curries, your stews, your burgers, even your brownies, yes, black bean brownies delicious. But just remember that one major factor that can help with the absorption of the nutrients from the lentils is by soaking them. So make sure you soak your beans and your lentils before you eat them.
How to use these ingredients on your hair as a treatment?
Now I would also tell you how to use these ingredients on your hair as a treatment. Well, chickpea flour is going to be the lentil for that. So it’s very simple. Take your chickpea flour, and add in a bit of oil and the yoghurt. And it will make it into a really lovely thick paste. Take that paste and concentrate it on the roots of your hair. Leave it in for about 10 minutes. And then before it gets too dry or hard, wash it off with warm water.
Nuts and seeds
Nuts and seeds are important food for healthy hair. Now, these are the definition of tiny but mighty they have so many incredible nutrients. They are packed with nutrients we need for healthy hair from Zinc to Biotin too, mega-3s to proteins all of which promote luscious wonderful healthy hair.
Walnuts and sunflower seeds – First up we have our walnuts and sunflower seeds. They have incredible omega-3s and biotin which helps to reduce inflammation in our hair follicles.
Brazil nuts – We also have our brazil nuts which are rich in selenium. This magical little mineral is great for a healthy scalp and to prevent hair loss.
Pumpkin seeds – We have pumpkin seeds that are rich in zinc.
Flax seeds – We have our flax seeds which are rich in omega-3s and vitamin E which is also great for hair growth.
So as you can see they all have a variety of different vitamins and minerals in them and so it’s good to have a variety in your diet too. So you may be wondering how should you incorporate nuts and seeds into your diet?
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How should you incorporate nuts and seeds into your diet?
So you may be wondering how should you incorporate nuts and seeds into your diet? Well, there are many options for you. But before that must tell you that they are quite high in saturated fats. We must eat them in moderation just like everything else in life too. But when it comes to using the nuts you can use them in so many different ways whether it’s sprinkling them mover into your salads or soups, a little bit of creaminess in your sauces, you can make desserts, you can use them in pesto, and also just a little bit of nut butter on toast goes a long way.
So when it comes to using nuts and seeds topically we are going to be using flax seeds. Simply mix a flax seed milk with water, boil it, and then we’re going to strain it and use that liquid as a hair mask. This helps nourish our hair deeply and makes it super shiny.
There’s also almond oil which can help provide moisture to the scalp and prevents breakage.
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Fruits and vegetables
Fruits and vegetables are very good and important for better health and the best food for healthy hair. We have my favourite category next fruits and vegetables a whole lot of greens and more greens. A varied diet of colourful fruits, and vegetables can actually ensure that we are getting a varied amount of vitamins and minerals. Actually, the colours can indicate what vitamins and minerals are inside them. Nature’s gifts are packed with all these vitamins and minerals whether it is Vitamin A, Vitamin C calcium, or iron, they are jam-packed with them. So I’m sure you’re used to all the common fruits and vegetables but today I’m going to tell you about some of the fruits and veggies that you may not have heard of to do with hair health.
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Curry leaves
Do you know curry leaves are well-known food for healthy hair? First of let’s talk curry leaves. Now if you have not come across curry leaves, your food is seriously going to be lacking some curry flavour. Curry leaves will add so much to the flavour of your food but not only curry leaves are actually filled with antioxidants which means it helps prevent premature greying and promotes hair growth. They’re actually pretty easy to find. Just find your local Indian grocery store and I guarantee you they will have bunches full.
Avocados
Have you ever heard that avocados are good food for healthy hair? One of my favourite little fruits avocados is packed with all those healthy fats and vitamin E that we need for nourished supple strong hair, and also very rich in vitamin B and proteins which give us shiny silky smooth hair. So how might you eat this wonderful fruit? Well, If you know me you’ll know that I have tried avocado in pretty much everything. There’s avocado Thai curry. I use them as a base for brownies too. Yeah, another brownie surprise for you but also in smoothies, Avon toast of course or you could just grab one cut it in half, and eat it straight.
How might you use avocado on your hair?
Well, you just have to throw it into a bowl with some lavender oil, a little bit of olive oil and a bit of lemon, mash it up and spread it through your roots to your tips.
Cucumbers
Do you know cooling cucumbers are good for strong healthy hair? Not only is cucumber super hydrating it also has a compound called silica in its skin. Silica helps to thicken and strengthen your hair. According to Ayurveda a major factor of hair loss can be too much heat in your body and so cucumbers are seen to be cooling and so whether you’re eating them on the inside or applying it outside it can really help to cool down your scalp and your body to prevent hair loss.
How might you eat cucumbers?
Now, how might you eat this juicy vegetable? Well, you can make a little gazpacho soup, chop it up into your salad, or as I like to do cut them into sticks and dunk them into hummus. Now I bet you’re thinking there’s no possible way we could be using cucumbers on our hair topically. Let me tell you absolutely.
How to use cucumbers on your hair?
You could just add it into the avocado mask that we spoke about earlier or you could just whizz it up with a little bit of oil and apply it from your roots to the tips. leave it in for 15 minutes and then just wash it out.
Berries
Next up we have our beautiful berries. Berries are rich in antioxidants but also vitamin C and we need vitamin C to help build the collagen in our hair. We also need vitamin C to help us absorb iron and a lack of iron in our body can lead to hair loss too.
Sweet potatoes
Last, in our lovely fruit and vegetable category, we have sweet potatoes. Sweet potatoes have beta carotene in them which converts into vitamin A in our body. Vitamin A is also found to support good hair health.
Spices
Next up we have our spices. Spices not only make our food taste great. They are also really important to help us digest our foods, to help us get the most out of the foods that we eat in order for them to be digested properly and so that we can take the nutrients out of those foods and into our body and organs. Some great spices that support hair health are cumin, coriander, fennel, ginger, black pepper, fenugreek, cardamom, and many more.
Herbs
Now let’s talk herbs. Herbs are good food for healthy hair. According to Ayurveda herbs are key and vital to nourishing our bodies. These herbs can actually be taken internally but also they can be added topically by adding them into oils. Oils are seen as the carrier substance that actually helps penetrate those herbs deep into our tissues. There are of course many herbs but here are three of the ones recommended specifically for hair health.
Amla
First up we have amla. Amla is a fruit but it also gets dried into a powder. It has 10 times more vitamin C than an orange. It’s high in antioxidants is known to rejuvenate the hair and remove excess heat from the body. Amla is one of the best food for healthy hair.
Triphala
Next up we have Triphala which literally translates to three flowers one of which happens to be amla too. It rejuvenates and detoxes the digestive system allowing toxins to be removed and nutrient absorption to be at its best.
Bhringraj
Lastly, we have Bhringraj. It’s a little bit complicated to say but it is known as the ruler of hair. It’s a cooling herb that encourages hair growth. And after all of these can actually be found in powder form. You can either add them to your heated oil before applying it to your scalp or you can add them into hot milk or water if you want to drink them.
I would recommend seeing a doctor before you decide to take these herbs. But generally taking a teaspoon of milk or water every single day can be really beneficial. So there you have it.
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Food For Healthy Hair – What To Eat For Strong Healthy Hair?
Throughout the video Devika shares a lot of information that she has learned through her Ayurvedic studies. But the key message that she learned while she was studying is that hair health is not something you can treat individually, it’s actually so much more holistic. We have to think about our gut health, our body health, all of our organs, all of our systems work together and actually healthy hair and healthy skin are by-products of our systems and our body working efficiently.
Final Thoughts
These are the foods that really recommended you incorporate into your life to have great strong healthy hair. As long as we have a varied diet of fruits, vegetables, grains, pulses, beans, lentils, and herbs, and must have a balance of all of these. It can help us nourish our bodies in the way that it needs and get all the nutrients that our body requires to nourish them inside out. If you are having any serious hair issues it is highly recommended to try to evaluate your gut and digestive health. Believe that all of your external issues stem from inside and so getting to the root of the problem is going to be very important to treat it close your eyes.
Hope that you could find some food for healthy hair. As mentioned above, healthy food filled with nutrients and vitamins is important for strong healthy hair. You can find many hair oils promising for strong healthy hair. Simply applying any oil to your hair is not enough, but you have to eat healthy food. Healthy food and regular exercise are important for good health.
Recommended for further reading
- Beginners Guide To Healing Your Body With Spices Daily
- How To Detox Your Body? – Easy Ways to Naturally Detox Your Body Daily
What do you eat for healthy hair?
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Mathukutty P. V. is the founder of Simply Life Tips. He is a Blogger, Content Writer, Influencer, and YouTuber. He is passionate about learning new skills. He is the Director of PokketCFO.
He lives with the notion of “SIMPLE LIVING, CREATIVE THINKING”. He Believes – “Sharing is caring.” and “Learning never ends.”
