Why a Balanced Diet is Critical for Your Hair

In our last blog post, we went over which foods to avoid if you’re hoping to grow healthy, strong hair. Now, I want to give you a little more detail about why it’s so important (for your hair’s sake) to keep a balanced diet and stay hydrated. Here’s a look at a little bit of the science behind hair growth and diet. 

First, hair cells are the fastest growing cells in your body! The average person has 120,000 hairs on their head, and each one needs proper nourishment in order to grow healthy and strong. But because other parts of your body need nourishment as well, the hair and scalp may not receive first priority when it comes to the distribution of those vital nutrients. That’s why you might see the signs of nutritional deficiencies in your hair before you see them elsewhere. Your hair is a kind of alert system for your overall health; when your hair looks healthy, you can pretty safely guess the rest of you is well-taken-care-of too! And when something isn’t quite right, you might see the signs  in the form of hair loss, dull or brittle hair, or thin or flat new hair growth. 

I know you’ve been hearing this tip since elementary school, but it’s true! Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, especially if you’re trying to grow healthy hair. Eating a balanced and protein-rich breakfast gives hair that nutritional boost it needs to stay healthy and gorgeous! 

Here’s another classic tip, but one that needs saying because it’s SO important: drink tons of water! Hydration has been shown to be one of the most important indicators of hair health, so make sure you keep your hair luscious by drinking at least 8 glasses of water per day. 

Last tip: eat healthy snacks throughout the day. Sugary or salty snacks only dehydrate you without adding nutrients, so try to stick with healthier snacks when you hit that 3 pm wall of fatigue. Suggestions: fruits, vegetables, whole grain crackers and high-protein nuts.