Vitamins are crucial to having long, thick hair. Tissues and other organs use up most of the vitamins you take in and leave the rest for your skin and hair. Without enough of the proper vitamins, hair appears unhealthy and brittle. Several vitamins are vital to having healthy, long hair, although they aren't medically proven to treat any condition.
B Vitamins
Dr. George Obikoya at The Vitamins and Nutrition Center says B vitamins are some of the most important vitamins to take for hair growth. He suggests taking 50mg of the major B vitamins--folic acid, biotin and inositol--and 50mg. of B6. According to the Healthcare Information Directory, a deficiency in vitamin B results in thinning hair. To get your needed B vitamins, Harvard Health Publications recommends eating vitamin B-rich foods such as whole grains, meat, fish, peanut butter, chicken, potatoes and eggs. B vitamins are not proven to benefit hair conditions.
Vitamin C
Dr. Obikoya recommends taking 1g to 2g vitamin C with bioflavonoids daily to help your hair grow. Vitamin C increases scalp circulation, which facilitates blood flow to the hair follicles, according to the website HolisticOnline.com. Eat fruits, potatoes, broccoli, strawberries and spinach to get your vitamin C from foods. Vitamin C is not a proven treatment for hair growth.
Vitamin A
Beta-carotene is very important to hair growth, Obikoya says. As the body needs it, beta-carotene is converted to vitamin A. Vitamin A is an antioxidant that promotes scalp health by helping produce sebum, which is oil deposited on the scalp. Dr. Obikoya suggests taking 1 tbsp. or one tablet of 10,000IU to 15,000IU daily of beta-carotene. The Healthcare Information Directory warns that a scalp that's too dry can result in brittle, dry hair that will break easily.
Vitamin A is responsible for producing healthy cells for organs, tissues and your hair. According to Harvard, some of the best sources of vitamin A are found in beef, liver, eggs, shrimp, cheddar cheese and Swiss cheese. Vitamin A has not been medically proven to treat any scalp conditions.
Vitamin E
Vitamin E is recommended by the Healthcare Information Directory to improve scalp circulation and hair follicles. This vitamin helps hair grow and replaces lost hair. HolisticOnline.com reports that healthy hair depends on a strong immune system and says vitamin E may be an immune stimulator to help hair grow. Dr. Obikoya suggests taking 400IU to 800IU of vitamin A daily for optimal hair health. Vitamin E is found in vegetable oils, whole grains, nuts and leafy green vegetables. There is insufficient evidence to support the use of vitamin E for hair growth.
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