Vitamins to Aid Hair Growth

Many factors affect hair growth. Incorporating the proper vitamins and minerals in a diet has a big impact on healthy hair and hair growth. Nutritional deficiencies lead to hair loss as well as dull, brittle and damaged hair.

Significance

• Nutritional balance and a healthy lifestyle can keep hair glowing and growing. A lack of sleep, smoking and exposure to smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, and overexposure to the sun all affect hair health and hair growth.

Considerations

• Certain medical conditions can cause hair to fall out or cease to grow. Thyroid disorders, anemia, viral and bacterial infections, crash-dieting and stress all affect hair growth.

Benefits

• Vitamins that help hair growth include the B vitamins -- biotin, folic acid, and inositol. Vitamin C and vitamin A are also beneficial.

Insight

• Hair is made of a protein called keratin. When the body is deficient in protein, hair is affected. Vegetarians, athletes, dieters and others who may not get adequate protein in their diet are at risk for hair loss or slow hair growth.

Prevention/Solution

• Tight hairstyles, constant pulling on the hair, harsh chemicals and shampoos, blow-dryers and hair straighteners can damage hair, affect hair growth, and even cause healthy hair to fall out.

Potential

• A good multvitamin with iron, a healthy lifestyle, and moderate exercise are often sufficient to maintain a healthy head of hair that grows and shines. Don't stress over hair loss or slow growth. Most often, both are temporary.