Nutrition for your hair

Lack of certain nutrients can lead to slowed hair growth, dry and brittle hair, flaky scalp and hair loss. The answer to these hair and scalp problems is hidden in having a balanced diet and leading a healthy lifestyle.

* Try low-fat cottage cheese for a protein-packed breakfast or lunch on the go when you don’t have time to make eggs. Top it with some fresh berries for an added serving of fruit. Plus, cottage cheese is also a good source of calcium.

*  Soy is a great source of protein for vegans and vegetarians. It also contains a substantial amount of iron and vitamin E. Iron is an important part of haemoglobin production. Haemoglobin is responsible for getting oxygen to the tissues of the body. Without it, your hair won’t grow. Vitamin E helps with the absorption of oxygen in the blood.

*  Almonds are good sources of vegetarian protein, iron and vitamin E. They also help to lower cholesterol helping you avoid having to take cholesterol – lowering drugs which actually cause hair loss.

*  Milk has absorbable iodine. It’s impossible to overdose on iodine from food sources. Only food sources like iodized salt may cause so.

*  Eat all that spinach for healthy hair. Spinach is an excellent source of vitamins A and C, which your body needs to produce sebum. Sebum is the oily substance, secreted by your hair follicles, which is the body’s natural hair conditioner.
 
(The writer is an infertility specialist)