FOODS FOR HEALTHY HAIR
Hi guys!!
HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!! So sorry I haven’t posted in a while! I was on holiday in Mar del Plata, Argentina for 2 weeks and the wifi was BADDDDD!! So the bad wifi and Christmas festivities kept me very busy. But I’m back to you now!
So today, I wanted to talk about something we all know and love (especially at this time of the year): FOOD!! As I’ve told you guys on here and on Instagram, living a healthy lifestyle is crucial for having healthy, strong hair. Of course, there are exceptions – I know people who eat rubbish all the time and still have beaut hair BUT those people are abnormal lol! It’s so important to be healthy to make sure you feel and look good. We’ve all heard the sayings “you are what you eat” and ” what you eat in private, you wear in public”. I am a firm believer in these sayings, hence why I try to make sure I live as healthy as possible. So let’s begin!
WATER
Ok, I know this is not technically food but we all know how important water is for your hair, skin and overall health and wellbeing. I drink a MINIMUM of 2 litres per day and it has helped my skin and hair immensely. Your strands are 25% water therefore, if you are dehydrated, you can just imagine how dry your hair probably is. TUMBLEWEED!! Water also helps to stimulate growth because it renews the cells in your scalp. In addition, drinking lots of water will help to clear your skin and can aid in weight loss (if that’s what you want lol).
SALMON
As you all already know, your hair is made up of protein (keratin) therefore it is important to eat protein to maintain strength in your hair. Salmon contains protein but it also contains that bonus ingredient: omega 3. Omega 3 is great for your hair. It adds shine, strength and helps to prevent moisture loss. Omega 3 is also very good for skin and bones. I’m no scientist so I can’t tell you how exactly but, what I do know is that ever since I started incorporating omega 3 into my diet, my skin and hair have been healthier. If you can’t get your hands on salmon, you can try cod liver oil tablets (which contain omega 3) – these will be available anywhere vitamins are sold.
NUTS
Nuts are excellent for your hair. They contain omega 3 and numerous nourishing vitamins and oils that promote healthy hair. Those of you that are health conscious will probably know that nuts contain good fats – so the fats that you require instead of fat from Burger King or something lol. These good fats are essential for maintaining a healthy body and, thus, for looking healthy. I like nuts such as almonds, walnuts, pecans and hazelnuts. Obviously you can eat whichever nuts you like – just try to make sure they’re not the really salty or sugary ones because that’s not very good for you. And obviously don’t eat nuts if you’re allergic or something lol!
AVOCADOS
Now most of us know just how good avocados are for you. Avocados are considered to be one of the healthiest foods on the planet. Like with the nuts, avocados contain good fats that are necessary for mantaining a healthy body. They also contain omega 3 and protein – both great for hair. In addition, avocados are very good for your skin as well. Whenever I eat one, I just picture myself having shiny strong hair and clear skin lol! I know that avocados are a little pricey so I’m not saying you have to eat one at every meal! Just try to incorporate some when you can.
MILLET
So I’m not sure how many of you know about this one but this was one of my little secrets when I was trying to grow my hair. When I cut my hair very short about 4 years ago and I was eager for it to grow ASAP, my aunt (shoutout Aunty Yasmin!) told me about millet. I had never heard of it before but she explained that it was a grain (a bit like oats) and that she knew someone who had taken it and it made their hair grow. MILLET IS HEAVEN SENT! My hair grew like crazyyyy. At that time, I wasn’t taking any supplements and I didn’t really know how to take care of my hair so my haircare regimen was pretty much non-existent – I was basically treating my hair badly (texturiser, heat, dry combing etc etc). I used to eat it every day. I mixed it into my yoghurt, sprinkled it over my cereal, cooked it with my oatmeal – I basically ate it with everything that seemed logical. I definitely credit it with getting me out of that awkward length stage. I would suggest buying the millet FLAKES instead of millet GRAIN because the flakes are much easier to incorporate into food. You can purchase it at any health food store. I still eat it now but not as often.
PROTEIN-BASED FOODS (CHICKEN, BEEF, BEANS, LENTILS, EGGS, QUINOA ETC)
I doubt I need to say much on this category because I’ve mentioned the necessity of protein for hair sooooo many times but this is just to reiterate. Protein strengthens the hair therefore it is very important to eat protein. Whether you are vegan, vegetarian or virtually a carnivore, there are many foods you can eat to incorporate protein into your diet. Strong hair is healthy hair. I have found that, because I eat a lot of protein, I don’t need to do protein treatments thaaaat often.
DARK LEAFY GREENS (E.G. SPINACH ETC)
Most dark leafy greens contain zinc and iron (among others) – both very good for the maintenance of healthy, strong, shiny hair. The best thing about these is that they’re very easy to incorporate into your diet – you can put them in smoothies, soups, stir fries, salads and the list goes on and on! Just do make sure you are consuming them when possible.
FRUITS AND VEGETABLES
This one is just a given to be honest. Most of us have had it drummed into our heads from childhood: EAT YOUR FRUITS AND VEGETABLES. As I’ve mentioned before, if you have a healthy inside, you will have a healthy outside. Fruits and vegetables are essential for maintaining a healthy system so eat up!
I could go on and on and on about what other foods you can eat but these are just a few examples. Overall, try to be as healthy as possible – it will help your hair, skin, mood, focus and, most importantly, your general health.
If you have any questions, email me or comment below and follow on Instagram!
Tara xXx
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