The 5 Best Foods for Healthy Hair

Healthy shiny hair starts from the inside out. Eat a healthy hair diet to make sure you have all the nutrients your needs to produce beautiful healthy hair. Healthy hair diets are high in protein, vitamins and important minerals such as zinc and folate. Listed below are several of the best foods for healthy hair.

Salmon
Salmon is one of the best foods for healthy hair for several reasons. First, it's high in protein. Since hair is made primarily of protein, a high-protein diet is a healthy hair diet. Second, it is a great source of Omega-3 Fatty Acids, which Men's Health magazine points out has tremendous benefits for healthy shiny hair and nails.

Green Leafy Veggies
Isn't this always the answer? Leafy greens are good foods for healthy hair because of their zinc, folate and B-Vitamin content. But eating green leafy vegetables for healthy hair doesn't mean that you're stuck eating boring salads. Add some spinach to your pizza toppings. Go Chinese and choose something with Bok Choy. Ditch the Iceberg and experiment with new tastes like Endive, Arugula, Kale and Swiss Chard. Artichoke counts as a leafy green as well.

Milk
The commercials were right-- milk does your body good, and your hair too! All the sources seem to agree that dairy is one of the best foods for healthy hair. Choose low-fat varieties if you are concerned about your weight, and always buy organic dairy products that do not contain rBGH, an artificial hormone that has been linked to cancer.

Eggs
Eggs can be one of the best foods for healthy hair for the same reason as salmon: high protein and high Omega-3. Eggs that are labeled as being enriched with Omega-3 Fatty Acids come from vegetarian-fed hens who have been given a more natural diet, rather than fillers such as corn and soy.

Beans
Beans are high in folate, protein and B-Vitamins, all of which are important for healthy shiny hair. Explore all the many kinds of beans that are available: lentils, lima beans, black beans, garbanzo beans, azuki beans-- all of them have different tastes and can be used in a variety of dishes. Pre-soak your beans to decrease flatulence.

Other Foods for Healthy Hair
WebMD also recommends foods such as nuts, whole grains and oysters in a healthy hair diet. Ladies Home Journal suggests short-grain brown rice and cottage cheese. Ayurveda, an ancient system from India, lists fruit juice, yogurt and coconut as foods for healthy hair. Other foods with nutrients for healthy shiny hair include carrots, avocado, sweet potato and sunflower seeds.

Foods to Avoid
When eating a healthy hair diet, avoid processed sugars and starches, and limit your intake of caffeine and alcohol. These foods can strip away important nutrients that you need in order to have healthy shiny hair.

Sources:
Livestrong.com; Foods for Thick Healthy Hair http://www.livestrong.com/article/24835-foods-thick-hair/

Hair Boutique; Magic Foods For Luscious Locks; Karen Marie Shelton http://www.hairboutique.com/tips/tip1003.htm

Boloji; Nine Tips for Healthy Hair http://www.boloji.com/women/02001.htm

Men's Health; The Best Foods for Healthy Hair; Brittany Risher http://www.menshealth.com/spotlight/hair/best-food-for-healthy-hair.php

WebMD; Top 10 Foods for Healthy Hair; Hilary Parker http://www.webmd.com/skin-beauty/features/top-10-foods-for-healthy-hair

Ladies Home Journal; 6 Superfoods for Healthy Hair http://www.lhj.com/style/hair/hair-care/6-superfoods-for-healthy-hair/