Your diet may be causing your bad hair day

by Bethany Sanders (Subscribe to Bethany Sanders's posts)
Jan 15th 2008 8:15AM

Categories: Healthy Habits, Diet & Weight Loss, Alternative & Green Health, Nutrition & Supplements

The dry, cold air of winter can be hard on your hair. But what if your bad hair day has more to do with your diet than the weather? Dietician Keri Glassman shared her thoughts about hair and a healthy diet on The Early Show recently, and I found myself really surprised by what she had to say.

For instance, did you know that by eating foods rich in protein and B12, you can make your hair stronger? Or that eating foods that contain vitamins B5 and B6 may help you hold onto your color and prevent graying? In general, though, the habits that grow a healthy head of hair are the same habits that promote health in the rest of your body. Eat whole, unprocessed, nutritious foods. Get enough sleep, reduce stress, and drink plenty of water.

The DOs and DON'Ts of Healthy Hair:

Source

Comments (191)

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 10)

Bob 3-28-2008 @ 3:30PM

I TRIED THAT BOBSKINSOAP ALSO AND IT IS THE BEST I HAVE EVER USED.

Dorothy Dinnell 2-19-2008 @ 11:49AM

message for Diane Drake
I read that book called SPIRIT'S HOLLOW and all you have to do it just go to your search bar and type the name in. any search bar will bring you the web sight.
IT was a super GOOD BOOK a 5 star and no put downer. SUPER DUPPER BOOK CALLED SPIRIT'S HOLLOW and well worth the money. IT HAS ALL HEALTHY HINTS

Emi 4-02-2008 @ 12:07PM

lol. gray hair is deff genetics. no doubt. but you can keep your hair healthy and thick and soft by just using conditioner and showering every day. don't use shampoo every day cause that can wear down the hair....i'm 14. i admit have a few gray hairs. lol. my mom had raven black hair and was fully gray by 20. (she dyes it) but anyways. i think its genetics, but like your body, hair stays healthy with healthy habits. gray hair is SO not unhealthy!:)

monty 1-17-2008 @ 6:18AM

I am not gray at all at the age of 52 and both my parents were gray in theor 40s. I eat very well, exercise and take strong supplements that keep me in tip top shape from http://www.betterhealthcollection.com

Linda 1-17-2008 @ 9:36AM

I'll soon be 65 and I am just starting to show a little gray at the temples. I have been taking good, healthy doses of vitamins for 35 years. My siblings are all a lot younger and are completely gray. They thought I was wasting my money.

DH 1-17-2008 @ 9:34PM

eat what you want ! I color my hair , it looks blue black... sweet !

Matttllz5772 2-12-2008 @ 10:17PM

Thnx I love when someone has examples of what I read, it helps alot :-)

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Renee 1-17-2008 @ 7:24AM

This is ridiculous. Graying is ususally a result of genetics and ethniticity. White americans of Anglo-Saxon descent often turn gray or white at a much younger age than African-Americans or Asians. My nearly black hair was a beautiful silvery white by age 50. I eat nearly double the amount of fruits and vegetables recommended, very little sugar, mostly poultry, and only eat red meat about once a week. Sure some health issues and medicines can turn hair gray early, but otherwise it is just plain genetics. My mother is a healthy 77 and was also white at 50.

mtnprincess 1-17-2008 @ 10:38AM

i totally agree with u genetics and ethninticity r more a factor than ur diet...my paternal grandmother was in her 70's when she started greying and her husband in his early 80's...my dad is silver at 74 and my mom's mom was silver in her 70's. my mom is salt and pepper mostly pepper at 73 and i am almost 51 with very very few greys and a very youthful appearance as with my parents

beth 1-17-2008 @ 12:23PM

I totally agree with Renee. Genes have a lot to do with it.
My whole family is Norwegian and German, all blondes and blue eyed.

All of us started getting wrinkles and gray or silver hair MUCH faster then our Asian, or African American Friends.

It took me to age 50 to realize one day, not being a person who looked in the mirror a lot, that this was happening to me, just as my Mother and Grandmother and Aunts.

I have lead a very healthy life, don't drink, eat right, don't take drugs, and don't go out in the sun much, and it still happened. So to me, it has to be genetic.

My younger sister took lots of vitamins, is also very trim and fit, and the same thing is happening to her.

BERT 1-18-2008 @ 1:40AM

I'M A SUGAR ADDICT, OVERWEIGHT, & 68. I HAVE ALMOST NO GRAY HAIR. I DO TAKE SUPPLEMENTS THOUGH.

Ellen 4-29-2008 @ 9:47AM

I AM 61 AND MY HAIR IS STILL BROWN. BLACKSTRAP MOLASSES ON MY CERIAL AND OATMEAL IS WHAT I WAS TOLD HAS KEPT MY HAIR COLOR. I ALSO FOUND BOBSKINSOAP ONLINE AND IT SOLVED ALL MY DANDRUFF AND DRY HAIR AND SKIN PROBLEMS.

AnAhita 1-17-2008 @ 11:03AM

Dear Ellen ,I totally agree with you, I see Moroccans Old no white hair eating only natural foods , No sugars Molasses is high in Vitamins B Complex and Red Bloodcell formation for Anemiaalso they have no worry and no cares lead a simple life..

Margo 1-17-2008 @ 12:05PM

I am 42 and have no grey, yet both my mother (75) and sister (49) have been grey for years. They are both heavy smokers and I have read many columns that suggest smokers grey prematurely opposed to non-smokers.

KEITH 1-17-2008 @ 7:51AM

I KEEP TRYING TO ADD THIS COMMENT BUT IT KEEP BLOCKING IT OUT. MY WIFE AND I ARE BOTH GRAY AND SHE EATS REAL HEALTHY. NO RED MEATS IN THE PAST 35 YEARS FOR HER ONLY FISH AND FOWL.
I READ A GOOD BOOK CALLED SPIRIT'S HOLLOW ABOUT AN OLD 93 YEAR OLD WHO EATS HEALTHY. GET THE BOOK ON AMAZON.COM/BOOKS YOU HAVE TO TYPE IN THE NAME IN THEIR SEARCH BAR OR THEY WONT SHOW IT

Diana Drake 1-17-2008 @ 12:45PM

Keith:

Looked for the book you recommended on the blog ("Spirit's Hollow) @ amazon.com/books (I typed in the name of the book), but nothing like what you described came up. Do you have the name of the author?

Diana

Pat 1-19-2008 @ 10:54AM

Diana, the book Spirits Hollow is by Dot Frey.

AnAhita 1-17-2008 @ 8:14AM

I seen a Woman with long White Natural Hair she looked like a Angel, I was mersemerized and had to ask her if it was natural, she replied yes since she was about 18 ,,I think grey is beautiful,,I am the total opposite Raven Black, I surely would love to trade places..

janet 1-17-2008 @ 10:25PM

I am an italian american; father roman and mother french and sicilian; at one time I was raven black haired; by the age of 30 I had that "ethnic" white strip of hair on the left side of my head; it ran down to the end however, long or short haired. I never went back! The hair is now white; I don't know my family; I'm adopted. Had a lot of stress and medical problems; so I think that it's a blend of everything. Stress, diet, sickness; ethnicity! Everyone comments on my hair; everyone, either they love the white or hate it and actually tell me to dye it black; or I get questions like, what color was it before? Oh well, I cannot bother.......