There are a lot of hair products on the market claiming to help fix dry hair. But there’s another approach you can use to make your hair shiny. You can shift your diet toward food that makes your hair healthier.
Hair Nutrition
Omega-3s are an essential fatty acid. Foods that contain Omega-3 can make your hair look healthy. It’s not just your hair that Omega-3s help, but your nails and skin, too.
The first thing they do is help open the hair follicle. If you have dry hair, you probably lose some when it breaks off. If the follicle is healthy, you’ll lose less hair. Omega-3s also help moisturize your scalp.
Omega-3s also prevent inflammation in the hair follicle itself and provide the protein hair needs to grow. Improved circulation in the scalp might promote hair growth.
There isn’t strong evidence that direct application of fish oil, which contains Omega-3s, works to improve hair health, though. There is a long list of health benefits of Omega-3 fatty acids besides great looking hair. They may help with depression, improve eyesight, and decrease asthma and anxiety.
Good Sources of Omega-3s
So how do you get Omega-3s in your diet? And does your body produce them naturally?
Ready for some science? There are several different types of Omega-3s. EPA, ALA, and DHA. Your body can’t make ALA at all, but it can convert ALA to EPA and then EPA to DHA. Enough facts and acronyms, though — the point is you need to get Omega-3s from food sources or supplements.
Fish oil is the most popular supplement for Omega-3s you’ve probably heard of, but krill oil is also becoming popular. Krill oil might be easier to absorb but costs a lot more than fish oil.
For vegetarians, there is also algal oil, a source from algae.
Fatty fish is one of the best sources. Mackerel and Salmon are common choices, too. Most mackerel is a very sustainable fish, so it’s a good choice for you and the environment.
For vegetarians, try flaxseeds and flaxseed oil. Canola oil is also very high in Omega-3s. Almonds and walnuts are good vegetarian options, and many foods also fortify with Omega-3s like yogurt and soy beverages.
Omega-3s look like they have promise for helping with dry hair and have many other health benefits.
