How Is Hair Growth And Diet Linked?
If your beard grows slowly, the task of creating your ideal bearded look can seem a million miles away. This can be very frustrating, particularly after a shave or trim. Of course, the younger you are, the more difficult it can be to grow a full beard, but in some cases, the slow growth can be due to other factors. As beard growth is largely determined through genetic factors, not everyone can grow the beard they want to have. However, certain lifestyle changes can give you a much better chance of increased hair growth and enable you to achieve a fuller beard, faster.
Hair growth and diet.
Diet can affect a lot of things in your life: your hair, skin and energy levels to name just a few. A balanced diet can be of huge benefit to your facial hair, as well as the hair on your head. A healthy weight and BMI is a good place to start, so if you’ve put on a few pounds over Christmas and New Year, it's time to do something about it.
When you’re at a comfortable weight, you can put more time into planning a long term diet filled with the right kinds of food. In doing so, you’ll be your hair grow thicker, fuller, healthier, and even more quickly.
There are a number of different foods that are perfect for helping hair to grow healthily:
- Foods high in zinc - found in foods such as nuts, whole grains and chickpeas. In addition to zinc, nuts contain a variety of nutrients to promote hair growth. A small handful of almonds can contribute considerably to your recommended daily intake of vitamin E.
- Iron - found in food such as green vegetables, beans and dried fruit. Choosing spinach to accompany your meals is a great choice as it contains essential nutrients for your hair such as folate, iron and vitamins A and C.
- Lean proteins - found in food such as chicken and fish. Salmon and mackerel, for example, contain omega-3 acids and specific nutrients which have been linked to positive hair growth.
- Healthy fats - found in foods such as cheese, avocados, eggs. Eggs in particular are a source of protein and biotin - two nutrients that are suggested to promote hair growth. Hair follicles are mostly made up of protein and a lack of it can cause a loss of hair.
- Vitamins - found in most fruit and vegetables. Sweet peppers, for example, are a good source of vitamin C and a single yellow pepper can provide over five times more vitamin C than an orange.
These foods can have many positive effects on your body. A balanced diet can not only encourage hair growth, but can also improve your skin, alertness and mood.
Other ways to promote beard hair growth.
As well as sticking to a healthy and balanced diet, there are a number of other ways you can encourage hair growth:
Sleep
Getting enough sleep is essential for health and, perhaps surprisingly, for the growth of your beard too. While you sleep, testosterone is released which promotes hair growth. If you don’t get enough sleep, the effects of testosterone can be reduced which results in slower hair growth.
Washing and grooming.
Clean skin and facial hair not only make your beard look and feel better, but can also positively affect beard growth. By washing your face and exfoliating regularly, you’ll open up pores and remove dead skin cells to create a perfect blank canvas. This will encourage hair to grow and nourish the hair that is already there.
Vitamins.
In addition to a healthy diet, there are a variety of vitamins and supplements you can take to promote beard growth. If you’re finding that you can’t get the necessary nutrients you need through diet alone, multivitamins such as iron or zinc can help.
Keep your beard healthy by eating right.
If you plan your meals and get enough sleep, you’ll be well on your way to better hair and beard growth. Browse our range of beard care products to help you groom your beard to perfection.