5 foods for healthy hair

5 foods for healthy hair

There are good hair days, and there are bad hair days. On good hair days, you probably feel like you can conquer the world and shine. On bad hair days, you probably wish you can just avoid seeing anyone you know.

One way to improve the odds of having more good hair days is by starting off with hair that's healthy from the inside. To achieve this, get into the habit of incorporating ingredients that contain nutrients that are good for it.

We take a look at five of these ingredients and what they can do to your hair.

1. Ginseng

If you've always lusted over thick, luscious locks but could never achieve that due to thin hair, then consider incorporating ginseng into your daily routine.

Ginseng is a plant root that contains all the necessary nutrients for hair care such as zinc, minerals, vitamin B and Ginsenosides. Collectively, they encourage hair growth by stimulating blood flow to the scalp and improve the health of hair follicles and cells, thus preventing hair loss.

If time is not on your side, opt for a hair treatment that uses ginseng, which has been widely adopted in both Western and Asian hair care. Jean Yip, for instance, uses this medicinal herb in its Oriental Hair Solutions, together with more than 100 Natural Oriental Plant Herbs such as Polygonum Multiflorum and Gentian, to treat your scalp and pamper your tresses.

2. Ginger

Who knew this staple ingredient in Asian dishes would be a hair care solution?

Regular use of ginger is an excellent way to promote hair growth amongst other benefits. The spicy components in ginger cause vessels around the scalp to dilate, which stimulates blood circulation within the scalp. It is also an effective remedy for those of you who are battling with dandruff or dull hair as ginger root and its natural oil contains anti-inflammatory properties with moisturizing benefits.

When incorporated into hair treatments, this powerful herb will leave your scalp feeling tingly and hair smelling fresh.

3. Dandelion

This is one versatile flower.

Apart from its gorgeous golden yellow blooms, the leaves of dandelions can also be consumed. You can incorporate this into salad dressings, sandwiches or even in teas.

Its long taproots, on the other hand, hold valuable medicinal properties that are used for various purposes, one of it as a hair care solution. Highly anti-bacterial and anti-fungal, dandelion could effectively treat fungal infection on the scalp and also hair loss caused by infection.

A rich source of vitamin A, C and E as well as B-complex vitamins, dandelion roots help to strengthen hair as well as stimulate hair growth through the plethora of nutrients namely choline, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, biotin and calcium.

4. Seaweed

Seaweed is a superfood for heath, skin and hair.

Apart from being a low-calorie food packed with nutrients for your body and skin, this underwater plant can give your hair a healthy, shiny boost thanks to its rich source of vitamins A and C that produces sebum, acting as a natural hair conditioner. Vitamins B and E that exists in seaweed aids in the maintenance of healthy hair.

Seaweed also contains omega-3 fatty acids that feed hair follicles to stimulate growth together with iron and zinc to maintain hair production. Massaging seaweed onto your scalp is one of the ways to reap all the benefits of this marine ingredient.

5. Soybean

We know soy as one of the healthiest alternatives to processed food and milk.

Adding to its already exceptional status in the food pyramid, soy is also a nutritional heavyweight in hair care. High in protein, calcium, fibre, folic acid, B vitamins, potassium, and iron, these are essential vitamins and minerals to aid in the growth and maintenance of healthy hair.

Soy products are an excellent source of protein and since hair is primarily composed of protein, a regular hair care routine rich in soy is definitely beneficial for optimum hair growth.

This article was part of a sponsored series first published by SPH Content Studio.

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