Vitamins for Preventing Hair Loss

The problem of hair loss has been bedeviling men and women the world over for many a moon. The search for a cure has been a marathon quest and, for the most part, a futile one. Fortunately, in recent decades there has been a dramatic increase in scientific understanding of the underlying biochemical dynamics of hair loss, and this has helped researchers looking for hair loss remedies approach things more intelligently and with a laser-like focus.

Products like finasteride (Propecia) and minoxidil (Rogaine) are the result of these developments in the science of hair loss, and there is now new hope for sufferers. But a deeper understanding of the biology of hair loss has done something else: In addition to helping clear the way for the creation of pharmaceutical remedies, the increase in knowledge about how healthy hair grows and what it needs to continue growing has allowed nutritionists to make recommendations about dietary steps that people can take to rejuvenate, regenerate and protect their ability to grow or regrow a full head of hair naturally and without additional outside intervention.

Critical Nutrients for Hair Growth

The cells of the hair are really no different than the cells of any other part of the body. They need a balanced package of vitamins, minerals and other nutrients to function properly and to maintain their long-term viability. Nevertheless, scientists and nutritional experts now know that certain nutrients are especially important for healthy hair growth, and nutritional counseling and advice is available to help those who are losing their hair.

The first thing that everyone should know is that a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains and other healthy foods like nuts and beans is vitally important to every system in the body, including the ones responsible for regulating the normal cycles of hair growth. A healthy body supplied with good nutrients does everything better than one lacking in these critical substances, because ultimately all biological functioning is interconnected. Therefore, the idea that good hair growth needs a balanced package of nutrients is not just a trite observation, but a living reality.

Many researchers stress the importance of getting plenty of Omega-3 fatty acids. These nutrients, found mainly in fatty fishes such as salmon, sardines and mackerel, and also in flaxseed and flaxseed oil, appears to give hair extra vitality and thickness. Additionally, hair that is lacking in these acids will tend to be brittle and will break quite easily.

Anemia has been connected with sudden unexplained hair loss, and it is now understood that this is because hair needs iron in order to grow and thrive. Foods rich in iron include dark, leafy green vegetables like spinach, dried fruits like raisins and prunes, various types of beans, liver, artichokes and broccoli, and egg yolks.

B vitamins are extremely important for the body, and the two types that appear to do the most to promote robust hair production are B12 and biotin (B7). Foods that contain copious amounts of the former include most types of animal products, and this is because B12 is produced in the bodies of animals through bacterial activity. Generally speaking, fish and seafood tend to contain more vitamin B12 than products coming from land animals. Biotin is unique because it is the first vitamin that has shown a direct ability to stimulate healthy hair growth, and supplements containing biotin are recommended by nutritionists who study hair loss because it is very difficult to acquire significant amounts of it through diet alone.

Saw palmetto and green tea are two herbal substances that, like biotin, have demonstrated some ability in controlled studies to improve hair growth and prevent hair loss directly. Some people are now taking biotin and saw palmetto in supplement form and washing it down with green tea as a way to get maximum benefit from these potent hair-friendly nutrients.

Natural Supplements to Do It All

This may seem like a lot of information to digest; however, doing this on your own is really not necessary. Using all the nutritional knowledge that has been gained, experts have come up with natural hair loss supplements that contain powerful mixtures of all of these important nutrients, as well as some others that have shown some ability to promote healthy hair production. Through extensive testing, makers of these supplements have been able to develop precise combinations of these ingredients in just the right amounts, leading to the creation of natural supplements that are capable of achieving maximum hair-protecting and growth-promoting results.

Whether people suffering from hair loss decide to take natural supplements in addition to minoxidil or finasteride, or to simply take the supplements alone, good nutrition can play a role in stopping or even reversing hair loss. Knowing what we now know, anyone who has been losing their hair would be wise to at least consider a natural supplement as a part of their ongoing treatment plan.