Your hair is an outward sign of your inner health, just like your skin. And since healthy hair starts from the inside, here are my top recommendations for 6 foods to eat for healthier hair!
Before we start, I think that it’s important to clarify a few things before I get into the weeds with all of the nutrients that can play a role in achieving and maintaining shiny locks.
First of all, let’s talk about supplementation. There isn’t strong evidence to support individual nutrient supplementation in the absence of a deficiency: which is something that should be ruled out of course! It’s not to say that supplements don’t help, but we just don’t have a heap of solid research to prove anything specifically related to hair growth beyond supplementing to treat a deficiency at this point. All that being said, in case you’re wondering, I personally take a few supplements including a multivitamin, vitamin B12, magnesium, vitamin D and omega 3 (DHA & ARA).
Reasons for Poor Hair Health
There are also many underlying potential reasons for hair loss or poor hair health that should be ruled out that includes:
- genetics
- hormones (which can be linked to life stages such as pregnancy, breast feeding or menopause)
- stress
- restrictive diets (such as many fad diets that aren’t nutritionally sound or lead to excessive rapid weight loss)
- underlying disease states (ie: thyroid disease, celiac disease, Crohn’s disease, PCOS, chronic renal failure etc.)
- excessive supplementation (ie: too much vitamin A, selenium, boron …)
This article provides a more in-depth summary surrounding hair loss and potential issues.
It is vital that you eat a well-balanced diet that meets your body’s needs (the Mediterranean pattern of eating, emphasizing plant foods and healthy fats, is my favourite). I highly recommend talking to a Registered Dietitian if you have concerns regarding your diet to ensure that you are getting the proper nutrition to meet your requirements (the information contained in this article is not a substitute for personalized recommendations from your healthcare professional). Check out Dietitians of Canada for a directory to find a dietitian in your area
How Diet Affects Your Hair
Diets that are very restrictive may leave you in a state of deficiency, depending on the diet and how long you are following it for. The good news is that most nutrient-related hair loss can be corrected with a balanced eating pattern. If you are experiencing hair loss, speak with your doctor to uncover the root cause first and to establish a plan for addressing the underlying issue(s). In case you’re wondering, you can still get everything you need on a vegan diet (I’m not vegan but eat mostly plant-based) but there are certain supplements you will want to add to your diet, including some of the above (this is a whole other post!).
Here are the Dietary Reference Intake (DRI) tables if you’re wanting to find out how much of a given nutrient you need (from all sources) to meet your minimum requirements in a day according to Health Canada.
Note that while a nutrient deficiency could be at the root of hair loss, excess amounts of some nutrients, including vitamin A, selenium and boron, may actually cause hair loss! Crazy, hey? The moral of the story is talk with your doctor and/or dietitian before starting any supplement regime. Here is the low-down on the key nutrients that support great, healthy hair including the food sources that I highly recommend including in your diet!
Top 6 Foods For Healthy Hair
Nuts
Rich in healthy fats, fibre and plant-based protein, nuts and seeds are nutrition powerhouses that are a big part of my diet. A diet containing too little fat or protein can contribute to hair loss and nuts and seeds are rich in both. Nuts (especially Brazil nuts) are also rich in selenium which helps maintain a healthy thyroid. Try Brazil nuts, ground flax seeds, hemp seeds, walnuts, almonds or macadamia nuts. Throw them on a salad, on top of your oatmeal or pack your favourite nuts in a small container as an easy filling snack on the fly. Make a batch of this nut-heavy Top Secret Granola for a tasty way to sneak in more nuts and seeds!
Salmon
Fish like mackerel, sardines, herring, tuna and wild salmon are rich in anti-inflammatory omega-3 fats (along with ground flax and walnuts listed above) and are also a great source of protein. In case you are wondering, the daily recommendation for adults for protein is .86g/kg/day. While this is a baseline requirement, you’ll be happy to know that getting enough protein really isn’t that difficult if you are eating a variety of healthy foods and enough calories to meet your needs (even if you are eating a vegan diet). I recommend including a source of protein in every meal; I aim for around 20 grams per meal but it will vary depending on your needs. A serving of fish, chicken or meat is the size of a deck of cards in case you’re wondering. If you are vegan or vegetarian, fear not, protein is abundant in plant based foods and you can absolutely meet your needs eating a variety of grains (ie: quinoa, freekeh etc.), nuts, seeds, tofu etc.. Make a quick meal out of this Honey Orange Glazed Wild Salmon, the Smoked Salmon Cakes (sooooo good!), or these mouth-watering Cedar Plank Salmon Burgers!
Berries
Berries are packed with anti-inflammatory nutrients, a big plus in my books! Berries are high in fibre, vitamin C (to support collagen formation and may help strengthen hair), antioxidants and also helps with the absorption of iron which may be important, especially if you have lower iron levels which may contribute to hair loss. Toss berries into salads, on top of hot or cold cereal, blend into smoothies or pile them on top of a yogurt parfait. Give this Raspberry Rainbow Smoothie Bowl a whirl for a special morning treat that will leave your body saying ‘thank you’!
Eggs
Also a great source of protein, eggs yolks also contain biotin (also known as vitamin B7, needed for protein, fat, and carbohydrate metabolism). Although rare, biotin deficiency can cause hair loss (note that there is insufficient evidence to show that supplementing with biotin will prevent hair loss in individuals who are not suffering a biotin deficiency). These Mini Smoked Salmon Quiches are so yummy or try this Kale Potato Breakfast Skillet Pie for something different.
Avocados
High in ‘good fats’, avocados are rich in mono-unsaturated fatty acids and vitamin E which helps support cell membranes and also is a powerful antioxidant that reduces the effect of free radicals on hair. Getting enough fat in your diet (the right kinds) is essential to maintaining good health, and your hair is no exception. Try dicing avocados on your salad, slicing on toast, adding to smoothies or layering them on your favourite veggie loaded sandwich! Try this Creamy Avocado Pesto Pasta Salad or my healthy Chocolate Avocado Pudding for a fun and easy way to use up those avocados that are starting to go west!
Spinach
Spinach is at the top of my list here but honestly, any greens are SOOOO good! Dark leafy greens are a source of folate and are also a source of iron, calcium and vitamin A. Lightly sauté a big pile of fresh spinach with olive oil and a clove of crushed garlic for a healthy side dish – you will be shocked at how much it cooks down, I love eating greens this way! Kale, arugula, Swiss chard, spinach, beet greens … shall I go on? Throw them in your smoothies to start your day off the RIGHT way; try this incredibly delicious Green Smoothie that we have nearly every day for breakfast (and the kids LOVE it!) or perhaps try a Green Smoothie Bowl.
Salmon Superfood Salad
I decided to whip up a simple and delicious salad that featured ALL these amazing hair heathy foods. Enjoy this Salmon Superfood Salad, guaranteed to make both your hair and tummy happy!
Salmon Superfood Salad
A salad FULL of my top recommendations for foods that help give you healthy happy hair! Enjoy salmon, avocado, walnuts, berries, eggs on a bed of vibrant spinach.
Ingredients
For the Salad
- 8 cups spinach
- 2 hardboiled eggs sliced
- 1 avocado sliced
- 1 cup sliced strawberries
- 1 cup blueberries
- 1/2 cup walnuts
- 2 cooked salmon filets
Classic Vinaigrette
- 2 garlic cloves minced
- Juice of 1 lemon
- 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon sugar or honey
- 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
- 2/3 cup olive oil
- salt & pepper to taste
- 1 tablespoon fresh dill (optional)
Instructions
-
Layer the salad ingredients together in a platter.
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Combine the vinaigrette ingredients and whisk together. Drizzle on the salad and toss together before serving.
ikramul hossain says
I’m very tense about my Hair. Because everyday i lost my hair more. i also dont know what should i need to do? I’m currently following this website. Would you please check if the website is suitable for me? Although I think they write well about hair fall and health…
website: “https://fitnessfirst.info/tips-for-preventing-male-hair-loss/”
Tori Wesszer says
Hi there, I would highly recommend that you see your doctor if you are losing a significant amount of hair daily, I would not follow the advice of a blog if this is the case as there may be something more serious going on with your health. Tori
Lisa says
This was great & very helpful, thank you
Tori Wesszer says
Hi Lisa, thanks very much!
Amy says
Hi Tori, what products do you use on Max’s hair and how do you comb/brush it? My daughter has curly fine hair and it’s ways tangled and a frizzy mess if I comb it.
Thanks!
Tori Wesszer says
Hi Amy! I’ve been liking the Beauty Counter products as well as a curl product that my girlfriend gave me (it’s a salon product trying to recall the name!). Scallywags in Kelowna has some really nice natural curl products too! I only brush it wet, not dry, as it would be frizzy as well. Take care! Tori
Zala Hair says
Healthy food is the key to shiny hair! Great list of ingredients to include in one’s diet! Thanks for sharing!