Inexpensive Hair Products to Manage Your Mane
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There are many vitamins you can take to boost your hair growth, though doctors recommend trying to get most of those nutrients through the food you eat rather than from supplements. If you do take supplements, it's best to take half in the morning and half at night to keep a constant vitamin level in your blood throughout the day, according to Mehmet C. Oz, M.D., and Michael F. Roizen, M.D., authors of "You: Staying Young."
Start Eggs, milk and cheese are high in vitamin A.
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Vitamin A is not only an antioxidant, it also stimulates sebum production in your scalp, keeping your hair moisturized. But be cautious, because taking too much vitamin A can be toxic and actually cause hair loss. The recommended daily allowance (RDA) of vitamin A is 2,000 to 3,000 I.U. and can be found in eggs, milk, cheese and liver.
Foods high in beta-carotene are also valuable, as they safely convert into vitamin A in your body. Eat carrots, sweet potatoes, apricots, leaf lettuce, broccoli and spinach to get the beta-carotene you need, and drinking carrot juice will deliver the greatest amount. The RDA has no daily recommendations for beta-carotene intake.
Fish, chicken and whole grains are high in vitamin B.
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Vitamin B keeps your hair from thinning, falling out and turning gray prematurely, and the most important ones for hair growth are biotin, B3, B5, B6 and B12.
Eat 300 micrograms of biotin daily to promote hair growth and prevent hair graying. You can find it in egg yolks, whole grains, liver, milk and brewer's yeast.
Vitamin B3 stimulates your scalp's circulation, nourishing your hair follicles. Get at least 30 milligrams of B3 daily, which you'll find in fish, poultry, wheat germ and brewer's yeast.
Eat foods rich in vitamin B5 to thicken your hair and prevent it from graying, such as whole grains, egg yolks, brewer's yeast, organ meats and carrot juice. You can also take a B5 supplement (300 milligrams), which is also called pantothenic acid.
Prevent hair loss with at least 4 milligrams of vitamin B6 daily. You can do this by eating egg yolks, liver, organ meats, brewer's yeast, liver, whole-grain cereals, and vegetables, which will also restore color (melanin) to the hair.
Eat vitamin B12 in the form of eggs, fish, chicken, spirulina and milk to promote hair growth. If you are vegetarian or vegan or feel you are lacking B12 in your diet, take an 800-microgram supplement.
Strawberries and oranges are high in vitamin C.
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Take 800 milligrams of vitamin C daily to increase scalp circulation, either via a supplement or by eating strawberries, oranges, lemons, pineapples, tomatoes, potatoes, peppers and dark green vegetables.
You can increase circulation to your scalp and your hair growth by taking vitamin E supplements (400 I.U.) or eating foods such as raw seeds and nuts, green, leafy vegetables, soybeans, dried beans, wheat germ oil and cold-pressed vegetable oil.
Walnuts
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Oz and Roizen also recommend a list of "vitamin-like substances you should get daily," such as 1,000 milligrams of fish oil, six walnuts or 1 to 2 tablespoons of flaxseed oil. These omega-3 essential fatty acids are important for hair growth and promote shiny hair.
Stimulate circulation in your body and scalp by eating 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon daily, as well as unlimited amounts of red cayenne pepper. In addition, take 15 milligrams of zinc daily for hair growth.
Eliminate red meat from your diet to promote hair growth.
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Eliminating red meat from your diet will promote hair growth. According to Roizen, "There is a connection between balding and animal fat, particularly red meat," as a high-fat diet leads to more DHT (dihydrotestosterone) production, causing damage to your hair follicles. DHT blocks vitamins and protein from nourishing hair follicles, but drinking green tea will slow down its production.
