Antioxidants are important nutrients for overall health. They contribute to many functions in the body, including removing toxins from your body’s cells. They play a role in the health of hair and skin as well. If you do not get enough antioxidants in your diet, you may not lose hair unless you have a severe deficiency of nutrients, but you may notice differences in the condition and feel of your hair. More so, that is just one outward sign – a lack of antioxidants can mean health risks to your heart, brain, and other organs as well.
What Are Antioxidants?
Antioxidants are a type of naturally occurring chemical that works to fight oxidation in cells. These substances work to stop the oxidation process, which often leads to inflammation. There are many types of antioxidants, and each has its own role in improving overall health and wellbeing. Antioxidants fight free radicals in the body. These are components that can cause damage to the cells and may, in some ways, cause cancer and other illness. They can also help by fighting the underlying causes of aging.
Some examples of antioxidants include beta-carotene, Vitamin E, carotenoids, lycopene, and Vitamin C, among many others. Most of these can come from the foods you eat if you eat a nutrient-heavy diet.
How Do Antioxidants Help with Hair and Skin?
Antioxidants are able to fight oxidative stress and free radicals, which can cause the cells in the scalp to not function as they should. They can also help with increasing blood circulation throughout your body, which improves the amount of oxygen-rich blood that is getting to every area. It helps with increasing cell metabolism as well while working to lower inflammation.
All of these things combined help support natural, healthy hair growth. But, there is more. When it comes to the skin, antioxidants are very good at helping to support damage repair. They can help to ease the inflammation that brings on acne and helps to keep your skin looking more natural and younger looking.
When it comes to your hair, antioxidants help hair follicles to work properly. They also help to encourage the function of the follicles in producing hair that is healthy and strong. In some ways, they can also combat hair loss if it is brought on by inflammation of the scalp or other skin- or hair-related problems.
If you do not get enough nutrients in your diet, your hair is more likely to be brittle and weak. It may even slow down the growth process. Nutrient deficiencies can also increase your risk for illness developing that could impact hair growth.
How to Get More Antioxidants in Your Diet
The best source of antioxidants is natural. Fruits and vegetables, especially organic varieties, contain a high level of antioxidants in them. Adding more to your diet could help you to start to see improvement not just in your hair and skin, but in your overall health.
- Vitamin A: The best source of vitamin A comes from eggs and dairy products.
- Vitamin E: Get this by increasing your consumption of nuts and seeds and green leafy vegetables
- Lutein: Get this from green vegetables, papaya, and oranges
- Vitamin C: Consume more berries, oranges, and peppers
- Beta-Carotene: Carrots, peas, mangos, and spinach are good for these nutrients
It can be a good idea to simply increase the amount of fruits and vegetables you take in, especially those that are a variety of colors. The various colors of these nutrient-rich foods help you get a variety of nutrients in your diet.
You can also take supplements to further increase the among of nutrients you can take in. Keep in mind that supplements of high quality may be the best choice.
Beware of Sugar
While antioxidants work to flush away toxins, sugar-based foods can increase inflammation and worsen health. As a result, it is a good idea to minimize the amount of sugar you take in, including simple carbs and processed foods. The more natural and organic your diet is, the more antioxidants you are likely to take in.
Increasing antioxidants in your diet can significantly help you see improved results in your hair growth and health. Don’t overlook the importance of nutrients in your diet for hair and skin health.
If you are experiencing hair loss or thinning hair, contact the team at Unique Hair Concepts to schedule a complimentary hair and scalp analysis.
