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Hippocrates, often regarded as the father of medicine, once said, "Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food." In other words, a healthy diet can be the remedy to many of our ailments. This includes hair loss. Thinning hair affects both men and women and for a variety of reasons such as stress, genetics, aging, and of course, poor diet. "There is a very strong link between what you eat and the health of your hair," says Dr. Josh Axe, a certified doctor of natural medicine and clinical nutritionist. "You’ll definitely want to increase your intake of nutrient-dense whole foods if your hair is thinning."
Here are four of the healthiest and protein-packed foods you can start incorporating into your diet to help your thinning hair.
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Salmon
Wild cold water fish like Salmon are rich in protein and omega-3, an essential fatty acids that promotes hair growth. Omega-3s work to reduce inflammation, leaving your scalp nourished and your hair strong.
Spinach
Popeye had the right idea when eating spinach to boost his strength. That's because the low-calorie, leafy green is chock-full of nutrients including iron. According to StyleCraze, iron promotes hair growth as it "helps the red blood cells carry oxygen to hair follicles which is essential for healthy hair growth and strong strands." In fact, iron-defiency is a common cause for hair loss.
Sweet Potato
Sweet potatoes are rich in vitamin A, a powerful antioxidant that has anti-aging properties. "Vitamin A helps make the sebum that conditions your scalp," Dr. Josh Axe says. Oh, and did we mention sweet potatoes are practically fat-free?
Grass-Fed Beef
Aside from being packed with iron, grass-fed beef is also great for thining hair because its high zinc content. "Zinc is yet another nutrient that’s key to overall hair health and a deficiency is linked with hair loss," Dr. Josh Axe says. "Zinc is involved in tissue growth and repair including hair." Consider these benefits the next time you grab a burger for lunch!
