Food for Healthy Hair Growth

By head stylist Chanel Beck

Everyone is looking for the ultimate miracle pill that’s going to add Rapunzel inches to the length of your locks instantly.

What if we told you healthy hair growth doesn’t lie in the hands of a daily pill, but it all starts with you and your diet. 

Ask yourself, are you eating enough nutrient dense food?

Think fibre, antioxidants, healthy fats and proteins.

But before diving deep into what you should be eating, we need to first look at what you are not eating.

Deficiencies in vitamins A, B, C, D, E, zinc and iron can compromise hair growth. Basically, if it’s in the alphabet, you could be deficient in it.

The good news is that getting these vitamins in is as easy as A, B, C, D, E…

Vitamin A – sweet potatoes are a great source of Vitamin A as they are loaded with beta carotene promoting a healthy scalp and hair growth.

Vitamin B – two large eggs can provide up to 46% of your daily value of Vitamin B12 and 36% of your daily value of Vitamin B2, two essentials that aid in hair growth.

Vitamin C – bell peppers contain triple the amount of Vitamin C than oranges, and a great source of fibre.

Vitamin D – fatty fish and milk are an excellent source of Vitamin D and protein that promote strong healthy hair.

Vitamin E – almonds are rich in Vitamin E, which is an antioxidant that helps nourish your hair and scalp.

Zinc – chia seeds are high in antioxidants, plus it’s super easy to throw a teaspoon in your morning smoothie, overnight oats or pumpkin salad.

Iron – dark leafy greens like spinach and kale are loaded with iron nutrients that will promote hair growth.

Collagen – bone broth not only supports collagen, it also has healthy amino acids which support a healthy immune system.

Iodine – seaweed is an excellent source of iodine, which also aids in a healthy thyroid.

Silica – this is a mineral that strengthens cartilage, tendons, skin, hair and more, found in green beans, bananas and brown rice.

Biotin – this stimulates keratin production in hair and can increase the rate of follicle growth.

Ready to pump your body, and your strands, with vitamins? We’ve got our go-to Biotin Rich Smoothie recipe below! 

BIOTIN RICH SMOOTHIE

1 banana

2 tbsp almond butter

1 tbsp honey

1 tbsp chia seeds

Handful spinach

2 cups almond milk

Pinch cinnamon

Simply blend and enjoy over ice! Then reap the benefits inside out.