What Vitamin Or Mineral Is Most Important To Your Hair?

Numerous vitamin and minerals can help to keep you healthy and strong, while also ensuring that it grows properly and is protected from hair disorders and conditions that can damage your hair. Vitamins such as B, C, E and H and minerals lincluding zinc are all effective in helping to promote healthy hair. These vitamin substances can be found in food you eat every day.

Vitamin C (Ascorbic acid)

Vitamin C is an antioxidant. Antioxidant vitamins block damage from free radicals -- compounds that naturally form when your body transforms food into energy. Free radicals can harm your hair follicles, making your hair brittle and weak. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, individuals suffering from a mild deficiency in vitamin C may experience dry and splitting hair symptoms. You can find vitamin C in foods such as Brussels sprouts, red peppers, potatoes, strawberries, raspberries, pineapples, oranges and cabbage.

Vitamin H

The University of Maryland Medical Center explains that vitamin H improves thin, splitting hair by keeping your hair strong. Unfortunately, symptoms of a vitamin H deficiency may include partial or complete hair loss. Good sources of vitamin H include mushrooms, brewer's yeast, nut butters and mushrooms.

B Vitamins

B vitamins help your body deal with stress, which can contribute to hair loss, according to Natural News. Vitamin B-12 or cobalamin helps to prevent hair loss, as it is a component of the hair itself. Vitamin B8 or inositol is also another important B vitamin for the hair as it may help to increase the speed of hair growth. The US National Library of Medicine says that B vitamins can be found in produce such as dairy products, fish, eggs, peas and green vegetables.

Vitamin E

Vitamin E enhances capillary growth, helping to grow hair. Vitamin E promotes healthy blood circulation in your scalp, preventing hair loss, according to Natural News. Also, vitamin E can help to treat split ends and cure dry or damaged hair conditions. Vitamin E is also an antioxidant vitamin, protecting your hair from free radicals. Foods such as nuts, spinach, corn and sunflower seeds contain high amounts of vitamin E.

Zinc

Zinc is another antioxidant vitamin that can help to protect your hair from damage that free radicals may cause. The University of Maryland Medical Center says that low zinc intake may result in hair loss. Rich sources of zinc include oysters, miso, pumpkin, cooked greens, pinto beans, peanuts, cheese, poultry, whole grains and red meats.