It sits on top of our head, falls in our eyes, needs to be washed and brushed every day. But hair is one of the first things that gets the shaft when we're under stress or undernourished. Hair is really an extension of the skin. It's normal to lose up to 100 hairs a day, but when you're uptight, that number can increase dramatically. In addition, your hair reflects the state of your health, becoming dull and brittle if you're dieting or not eating right.
Healthy hair requires iron, zinc, calcium, magnesium and boron.
It also needs vitamins A, C and B, along with folic acid, niacin and panthenol. You can get what your hair craves by eating lots of leafy, dark green veggies, whole grains and beans. A good muti-vitamin supplement is critical since most of us get too few nutrients from our diet these days. Hair experts say that as people cut the fat from their diet, the hair suffers. They recommend adding flax seed, borage and black currant oils as an alternative to essential fatty acids.