Keratin, the basic building block of your hair, is a protein formed by the combination of 18 amino acids, according to Loreal Hair Science. A sufficient amount of protein is needed in your daily diet for your hair to grow at a healthy rate. The protein in your diet is obtained either from an animal source or from a vegetable source, such as soy protein.
Protein
Twenty different amino acids make up different types of protein, says the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Keratin, the protein that hair is composed of, contains 18 of these amino acids. The amino acids that cannot be made by your body are known as essential amino acids and have to be provided by the food that you eat.
Types Of Protein
Protein is considered complete or incomplete and there are complementary proteins, says the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. In a complete protein, all of the essential amino acids are present. In an incomplete protein, one or more essential amino acids are insufficient. When complementary proteins are combined from different sources, together they contain all of the essential amino acids. An example of complementary proteins are rice and beans.
Soybeans
Soybeans are legumes filled with high levels of essential fatty acids, numerous vitamins, minerals and fiber, says the Worlds Healthiest Foods. Soybeans are regarded as a protein equal in quality to that of animal protein. A cup of soybeans provides approximately 28.62 grams of protein. Women require approximately 46 grams of protein per day and men require approximately 56 grams of protein per day.
Soy Protein
According to Soy Connection, soy protein contains enough of the amino acids to meet biological requirements as long as it is consumed at the recommended level of protein intake. The high quality of protein found in soy benefits your hair and the growth of it without the worry of high cholesterol and saturated fats found in animal products.
Soy Products
Soy protein can be added to your diet in a number of ways. According to the U.S. Soyfoods Directory, products containing soy protein are: soy milk or soy beverages, tofu and tofu products. Green soybeans known as edamame are sweet tasting and can be part of your main dish or eaten as a snack. Soy cheese is made from soy milk and you can use it instead of cream cheese or sour cream. There are textured soy products that you can use as meat substitutes, soy yogurt and soyanut butter. A visit to your local health food store will enlighten you to all of the wonderful soy products available.
As with any new health product, consult with your primary care physician before incorporating soy into your diet.
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