Our hair grows an average of 0.35 mm per day. Therefore, in order for the hair to grow, the hair follicle needs calories, proteins, trace elements and vitamins. Both the quality and quantity of hair growth are closely related to the person’s nutrition. We need protein, minerals and vitamins for healthy growing hair. However, when talking about the role of nutrients in the development of hair, we encounter intense misinformation and misconceptions. Some support products can be harmful and toxic by unnecessarily consumed, not only do they not provide benefits, but also disrupt the balance.
So what can we do for healthy, fast growing hair?
First, we need to get enough calories. Hair follicles need energy for hair to grow. For this reason, when the daily calorie intake is below 1000 kilocalories in unhealthy dieters, the hair becomes thinner, easily broken, its length decreases and shedding increases. The hair follicle needs energy to produce hair, so we need to get the calories we need for healthy growth of our hair.
The other building block we need to take for healthy growth of our hair is protein. 80% of the chemical structure of the hair is made up of a protein called keratin. Therefore, consuming enough foods such as meat, fish, eggs contributes to healthy hair growth.
Iron deficiency is the most important issue to ensure healthy hair growth. Because it is a common problem among women. For healthy hair, sufficient iron in the blood is not enough, the iron stores must be sufficient. For ideal hair growth, a ferritin level of 70 ng/ml is recommended. If it is below this level, it is necessary to use iron drugs.
Zinc, Vitamin B12, Essential fatty acids (such as linoleic acid and alpha-linoleic acid) are necessary for healthy hair. Deficiency is not seen in people who eat a normal diet. It has been observed that the support made with these products, without deficiencies, does not provide any benefit. However, in people with malnutrition, it should definitely be examined and if there is a deficiency, it should not be taken from the outside.
What should we take as a nutritional supplement for our hair to grow faster?
Yellow millet (millet) extract; Yellow millet is a natural product containing silicic acid, amino acids, vitamins and minerals. Support products containing yellow millet extract, cysteine, and calcium pantothenate can contribute to faster hair growth.
Soy;It has been suggested that protein-rich soybeans have positive effects on hair growth.
Selenium ; Selenium is an essential trace element that is an important component of glutathione peroxidase. It contributes to hair growth. However, its deficiency is not seen under normal conditions. However, selenium deficiency can be seen in advanced malnutrition and in areas where the soil is poor in selenium. It should be remembered that high doses of selenium can cause intoxication, and excess of it can cause hair loss.