Gray hair is a sign of aging, but it can happen to anyone with vitamin deficiencies, because vitamins help prevent premature graying of hair. In fact, by the time you reach 50, you control 80 percent of how well you age, according to Mehmet Oz and Michael Roizen, authors of the bestselling "YOU: The Owner's Manual, Updated and Expanded Edition: An Insider's Guide to the Body That Will Make You Healthier and Younger." You should consult your physician before implementing any vitamin regimen to resolve issues in your body.
Step 1
With breakfast, take 2 mcg of vitamin B12. Eat meats for breakfast to help your body absorb this essential vitamin. Certain medical conditions, such as hyperthyroidism, anemia, irritable bowel syndrome or even tapeworms can prevent the body from absorbing vitamin B12, says Dr. Alan Greene, clinical professor of pediatrics at Stanford University School of Medicine. If you suffer from a medical condition that prevents vitamin B12 absorption, then talk to your doctor before taking this vitamin. He may prescribe additional supplementation.
Step 2
Eat a healthy lunch that contains some fat, and take 200 international units (IU) of vitamin E after lunch. Fats help your body absorb vitamin E, an essential vitamin that promotes strong hair at the cellular level, and corrects dryness that is typically associated with graying hair. For food sources rich in vitamin E, eat tomatoes, bell peppers, blueberries and broccoli.
Step 3
Take 400 to 800 mcg of vitamin B9 every day with food. A lack of vitamin B9, typically referred to as folic acid, is one of the culprits in graying hair, according to the Huntington College of Health Sciences. Include food sources in your diet that are rich in folic acid, such as spinach, whole grains and mushrooms, foods that will help your body absorb vitamin B9 better.
Step 4
Take 400 mcg of para-aminobenzoic acid (PABA) daily with food or milk. According to health-care-clinic.org, PABA, which is related to folic acid, can prevent the graying of hair and restore hair color to hair that has already become gray. Take PABA with other PABA-rich food sources such as liver, brewer's yeast, grains and molasses so your body absorbs this form of folic acid.
Things You'll Need
- Vitamin B12
- Vitamin E
- Vitamin B9
- PABA
References
- YOU: The Owner's Manual, Updated and Expanded Edition: An Insider's Guide to the Body that Will Make You Healthier and Younger; Mehmet Oz and Michael Roizen; 2008
- Dr. Alan Greene: Children and Gray Hair
- Huntington College of Health Sciences: Have a "Good
- Health-care-clinic.org: PABA
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