Drinking beverages packed with protein, vitamins and minerals may make the difference between sluggish hair growth and vibrant, shiny hair that grows quickly. A proper diet is as crucial to healthy skin, hair and teeth as well as for overall body function. Boost the protein, mineral and vitamin content you get from solid foods and supplements with hot and cold drinks rich in at least some of the same nutrients. Talk to your doctor before radically changing your eating plan.
Vegetable Broth
Concoct broths rich in the vitamins and minerals necessary for healthy hair growth. The University of Maryland Medical Center singles out iron, biotin or vitamin H and B vitamins as essential for hair growth. Swiss chard, tomatoes, lettuce and carrots are rich in biotin. Shiitake mushrooms, crimini mushrooms, spinach, collards, kale and other leafy greens, along with the seasonings thyme and turmeric, provide iron and B vitamins. Eat these foods regularly and save the cooking liquid as broth to sip between meals.
Mineral Water
In general, any source of clean water can make a difference to hair growth, notes the nonprofit nutrition website World's Healthiest Foods, or WHFoods.org. Hair, like the rest of the body, needs adequate hydration to maintain proper growth and development. "Mineral waters can also be a good choice in this respect since hair itself is highly mineralized and sometimes used in lab measurements of mineral status," notes WHFoods.org. Aim for at six to eight 8 oz. glasses of water each day.
Milk
Protein intake is crucial to healthy hair because hair consists of mostly protein, the WHFoods website notes. Adults should consume about 45 g protein each day. Cow and goat's milk each supply more than 8 g per serving.
Yogurt or Tofu Smoothies
At almost 13 g per serving, low-fat yogurt offers more than 1/4 of your daily protein needs. Make yogurt smoothies by blending yogurt with antioxidant-rich orange juice and fruits such as blueberries, strawberries or bananas. Vegans might prefer a tofu smoothie, which offers 9 g protein per serving.
Horsetail Tea
The herb known as horsetail, an herb associated with hair growth, is rich in sulfur.
In particular, sulfur-rich foods help unclog hair follicles, spurring healthier and faster growth, according to UMMC. Look for horsetail tea in health food stores, or harvest your own from shady and moist places.
Nettle Tea
Nettles frequently appear in herbal hair care formulas as both external and internal aids to hair growth. "Nettles are rich in the mineral that hair needs for healthy growth," notes herbalist, Barbara Griggs. "These include iron, sulfur and silicon as well as beta-carotene, vitamin C and chlorophyll." Carefully gather stinging nettles from the wild or buy nettle tea at a health food store. Infused fresh or dried nettles can be consumed as a tea or applied to hair as a mineral-rich final rinse.
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