Happy Monday!
With Valentine’s day just around the corner, I wanted to share a post with foods that are great for healthy hair & nails! All of the foods below are great for overall health but contain nutrients that are essential for healthy hair and nails.
Lentils & Quinoa
Protein | Hair and nails are made up mainly of protein therefore consuming enough protein is essential for healthy hair and nails. Lentils & quinoa are great plant-based foods that are rich in protein and iron. See more plant-based proteins here.
Sweet potatoes
Vitamin A | Sweet potatoes are a great source of beta-carotene {a red-orange pigment} which provide a range of antioxidiants that keep hair and nails healthy. Sweet potaotoes are also a good source of vitamin A, which helps the growth of cells in the body.
Eggs
Biotin | Many products on the market aimed at helping hair grow contain biotin (a B vitamin). Eggs are rich in biotin, which is essential for hair growth. They are also a great source of zinc, a mineral that helps the growth and function of hair and nail cells.
Walnuts & Chia Seeds
Omega-3 & Omega-6 Fatty Acids | Walnuts and chia seeds are a great source of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids {healthy fats!} that will help your hair with natural shine!
Dark chocolate
Iron | Dark chocolate is a great source of iron and is loaded with antioxidants. Antioxidants fight free radicals in the body, which are produced in the body {exposure to sun, exercise, damage to cell}. Too many free radicals cause oxidative damage to healthy tissues and induces aging. For those who enjoy chemistry: Free radicals are an unpaired electron in orbit around the nucleus of an atom. In order to regain balance, antioxidants are able to neutralize free radicals and protect the cell from oxidation.
Brazil Nuts
Selenium | Brazil nuts are an amazing source of selenium, a trace mineral. This mineral helps with hair growth.
Bell peppers
Vitamin C | Bell peppers are a great source of Vitamin C, which is important to create collagen. Collagen is a type of protein that provides structural strength, making rich vitamin C foods essential for healthy hair & nails.
Leafy Greens & Almonds
Vitamin E | Vitamin E helps with the circulation of blood in the scalp and is also an amazing antioxidants. This will help fight free radicals and help keep your hair and nails looking beautiful.
Recent Recipes containing these foods:
Roasted Brussels Sprouts & Quinoa Salad
Anytime Kale, Potatoe and Poached Eggs Dish
Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups
& many more found here!
Stay tuned for a future post on the best foods for healthy skin!
Thanks for reading!
-Brittney
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Crystal Escobar
What a great blog you have.
Exploring Healthy Foods
Thank you! :)