The Best Food for Hair Growth

Having a full head of healthy hair is important to many people. Often people feel hair loss is something that can't be controlled, whether it is due to hereditary factors or medical conditions. However, there are certain foods that can be beneficial to hair health and promote hair growth.

Proteins

• Hair is compromised mainly of protein. Because of this, hair growth can be stimulated by providing the body with plenty of protein. Liver, fish, beans, eggs, yogurt and cottage cheese all supply good amounts of protein. Many of these foods also provide moderate doses of B vitamins, another important factor in hair health.

Iron

• Liver is great for your hair, but most people don't like to eat it. The good news is that you don't have to eat liver to get a good dose of iron every day. Cereal grains, dark green, leafy vegetables (especially spinach), eggs and tree fruits like dates and raisins are other sources of high iron content. Deficiencies in iron intake in relation to hair loss is more common in women where conditions like anemia cause hair shedding.

B Vitamins

• The B vitamins are good for hair health and growth. B vitamins are found in protein-rich foods and are responsible for good skin health and healthy follicles. They also help break down the protein in your body making it more usable. Along with eggs, chicken and beef are two good meat forms of vitamin B. However, keep in mind that too much fat and meat in the diet, especially among men, raises testosterone levels, which can cause hair loss.

Silica

• Silica sounds like something whipped up in a science lab but the compound is actually quite natural. You can load up on a diet of silica by eating the skin off of potatoes, peppers, cucumbers and sprouts. A December 2007 study performed by the University of Cincinnati School of Pharmacy found that those ingesting 10 milligrams of silica a day for nine months showed visibly thicker hair versus a placebo.