There are a ton of things you can add into your diet to help your hair grow faster, or topical to put on your face to make those fine line soften. But did you know that the majority of the supplements and anti aging creams usually have extracts and or vitamin variants added in to enhance the product. So if they put vitamins in our supplements, often times originating from a food source, can’t we eat our way to healthier hair, skin, and nails? If we eat more foods containing what the supplements do, is it possible to optimize hair and nail growth?
There are specific vitamins that contribute to healthy hair, skin and nails. We’ve made a list of all the vitamins to look out for to boost your chances of having long luscious hair that should be features in a Herbal Essence commercial.
Vitamin A
If you’ve ever gone to a dermatologist for the treatment or prevention of fine wrinkle lines chances are they’ve thrown around a topical cream containing retinol or retinoid. This is another name for vitamin A. Vitamin A contributes to proper bone growth, immune function, eye health, among other things, but it is also known for being an antioxidant. In the correct amounts, vitamin A reduces oxidative stress on the body, which we know can present itself as wrinkles. Have you ever heard of stress lines? Egg yolks, deep orange and yellow fruits and vegetables, dark leafy greens, broccoli are great natural sources of vitamin A. Consider fitting any or all of these foods into your routine to help reduce oxidative stress on your body.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C can be found in lots of skin serums and over the counter anti-aging creams. That’s because vitamin C is another key antioxidant that decreases the amount of free radicals in the body. More importantly, vitamin C is heavily involved in collagen synthesis. So if you’re looking to keep that elasticity in your skin try eating some of these foods rich in vitamin C: papaya, oranges, cantaloupe, cauliflower, broccoli, brussel sprouts, green peppers, grapefruit, kale, lemons, strawberries.
Biotin
Biotin should be a familiar sounding vitamin; it’s also known as B7, and often appears on a label for prenatal vitamins. Biotin is utilized by all the cells in the body, and it contributes to the health of skin, hair and nails, as well as many other functions. Adding more biotin-containing foods to your daily diet, means your cells are running more efficiently to grow out those luscious locks you’re seeking. Foods that are naturally excellent sources of biotin are: soybeans, egg yolks, legumes and nuts. Bacteria located in the gut are also responsible for producing some of the biotin we use, so make sure eating to keep you gut happy too!
Adding foods rich in any of these vitamins we’ve talked about today are a great way to add variety and create a well balanced diet!
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