Prevent hair loss with these foods

Nutrient

Required for

Effect of deficiency on hair

Vegetarian sources

Non-vegetarian sources

Protein

These are building blocks of every tissue of the body including hair and scalp. It helps in new hair generation to replace the ones that are lost.

Dry and brittle hair; thinning of scalp due to non-replacement of the shedding hair.

Proteins from beans, nuts, grains etc are good but not optimal since they contain protein in the incomplete form.

Proteins from animal sources are the best eg:

meat, chicken, fish, eggs, milk, cheese.

Vitamin C

(If you are a smoker, your requirement for Vitamin C doubles)

This vitamin is required for producing collagen which is essential for holding tissues in the hair together.

Weak and brittle hair leading to split ends and hair loss.

Oranges, lemon, sweet lime, berries, watermelon, palak, methi, tomatoes and potatoes.

Not available from animal sources

Iron

(If you are a woman, your requirement for iron is even more since you lose blood and iron during menstruation. Pregnant and lactating women also need more iron)

Required for formation of hemoglobin in turn providing enough oxygen and blood to the hair

Weakening of the hair and hair loss.

Non-heme iron from palak, rajma, dal, chana, soyabeans

Meat, chicken, eggs, fish are the better sources since heme iron from animal sources is more easily absorbed.

Copper

 Same as above

Weakening of the hair and hair loss.

Sesame seeds (til), soya, cashews

Meat (especially liver), seafood

Zinc

Helps the oil glands in the hair follicle to function normally.

The oil glands do not produce enough oil leading to dry scalp, dandruff and hair loss.

Nuts, whole grains, dals

Meat, seafood

Vitamin B complex

Helps hemoglobin which helps supply oxygen to the scalp and hair and hair follicles.

Weak, undernourished and damaged hair

Not available from vegetarian sources

Tuna fish (bangda) and salmon fish (rohu), chicken