The Valentines Treat Packed With Nutrients for Healthy Hair Growth
Food has long been intertwined with celebrations and The Feast of Saint Valentine, better known as Valentine's Day, is no exception. Whilst this international date night is often associated with traditional love tokens such as flowers, there are a number of aphrodisiac foods also connected to it.
Some of the top Valentine's Day foods are not only romantic, but can also help to promote healthy hair growth.
What we eat is important for our overall health, including that of our hair. Dietary imbalances or malnutrition can leave the hair in a lacklustre condition and can even cause hair loss.
There are a number of vitamins and minerals known to be beneficial to hair health and one of the most popular Valentine's treats happens to include a multitude of these.
Dark chocolate-coated strawberries can not only help to woo your paramour but can also give you a decent dose of vitamin C, folic acid, manganese, potassium and zinc. It is important that the chocolate is dark and has a high cocoa content as this is generally a good indicator that the chocolate less sugar being used than normal. Sugar has been linked to thinning hair so consuming large amounts could potentially neutralise the good nutritional work.
Looking at each of these elements in turn, it's easy to see why strawberries are a great choice for showing your hair some love for Valentine's Day and beyond.
Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that can not only help to prevent dandruff, but also protect against free radical damage which can cause hair to become weak, thin and brittle. Oxidative stress caused by an excess of free radicals has also been linked to male pattern baldness.
Folic acid aids the cell renewal process involved in producing healthy hair growth whilst Potassium is vital for regulating hair's pH balance which, in turn, contributes to healthy hair.
Strawberries may be the main contributor to these benefits but dark chocolate is a good source of zinc and manganese - as are strawberries.
Manganese is important for helping the body to absorb other vitamins and minerals properly, and is also believed to help maintain the hair's colour. Low manganese levels have been associated with grey hair due to its affinity to melanin - the pigment responsible for our hair colour. Meanwhile Zinc plays an incredibly important role in hair health; zinc deficiencies have been linked to both female pattern hair loss, male pattern baldness and, most commonly, the autoimmune disorder which causes patchy hair loss: Alopecia Areata. It is believed that a lack of zinc in the system can lead to protein deterioration in the hair follicles, which can result in thinning hair and/or hair loss. Adequate, healthy zinc levels are understood to contribute to regular hair growth, though too much zinc can also cause shedding so it is crucial to get the balance right.
Whilst it is important to consult your GP or nutritionist before making any significant dietary changes, indulging in some of these fruity treats is a fun way to boost your everyday intake of hair-friendly goodness. For a more long-term solution, if you are worried that you follow a balanced diet but are not covering all your nutritional bases through your food, a dedicated hair health supplement can be a convenient way to top these up. Alternatively, if it is a hair loss condition rather than the condition of your hair that you are concerned by, a professional consultation - either online or in person - can put your mind at ease. Following an assessment, a specialist can provide you with the advice and hair loss treatment information needed to get you back on track.
Some of the top Valentine's Day foods are not only romantic, but can also help to promote healthy hair growth.
Chocolate strawberries
What we eat is important for our overall health, including that of our hair. Dietary imbalances or malnutrition can leave the hair in a lacklustre condition and can even cause hair loss.
There are a number of vitamins and minerals known to be beneficial to hair health and one of the most popular Valentine's treats happens to include a multitude of these.
Dark chocolate-coated strawberries can not only help to woo your paramour but can also give you a decent dose of vitamin C, folic acid, manganese, potassium and zinc. It is important that the chocolate is dark and has a high cocoa content as this is generally a good indicator that the chocolate less sugar being used than normal. Sugar has been linked to thinning hair so consuming large amounts could potentially neutralise the good nutritional work.
Nutritional benefits
Looking at each of these elements in turn, it's easy to see why strawberries are a great choice for showing your hair some love for Valentine's Day and beyond.
Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that can not only help to prevent dandruff, but also protect against free radical damage which can cause hair to become weak, thin and brittle. Oxidative stress caused by an excess of free radicals has also been linked to male pattern baldness.
Folic acid aids the cell renewal process involved in producing healthy hair growth whilst Potassium is vital for regulating hair's pH balance which, in turn, contributes to healthy hair.
Strawberries may be the main contributor to these benefits but dark chocolate is a good source of zinc and manganese - as are strawberries.
Manganese is important for helping the body to absorb other vitamins and minerals properly, and is also believed to help maintain the hair's colour. Low manganese levels have been associated with grey hair due to its affinity to melanin - the pigment responsible for our hair colour. Meanwhile Zinc plays an incredibly important role in hair health; zinc deficiencies have been linked to both female pattern hair loss, male pattern baldness and, most commonly, the autoimmune disorder which causes patchy hair loss: Alopecia Areata. It is believed that a lack of zinc in the system can lead to protein deterioration in the hair follicles, which can result in thinning hair and/or hair loss. Adequate, healthy zinc levels are understood to contribute to regular hair growth, though too much zinc can also cause shedding so it is crucial to get the balance right.
Whilst it is important to consult your GP or nutritionist before making any significant dietary changes, indulging in some of these fruity treats is a fun way to boost your everyday intake of hair-friendly goodness. For a more long-term solution, if you are worried that you follow a balanced diet but are not covering all your nutritional bases through your food, a dedicated hair health supplement can be a convenient way to top these up. Alternatively, if it is a hair loss condition rather than the condition of your hair that you are concerned by, a professional consultation - either online or in person - can put your mind at ease. Following an assessment, a specialist can provide you with the advice and hair loss treatment information needed to get you back on track.
The Belgravia Centre
The Belgravia Centre is a world-renowned group of a hair loss clinic in Central London, UK. If you are worried about hair loss you can arrange a free consultation with a hair loss expert or complete our Online Consultation from anywhere in the world for home-use treatment.
View our Hair Loss Success Stories, which includes the world's largest gallery of hair growth photos and demonstrates the level of success that so many of Belgravia's patients achieve.
