New India_Assurance_ISSUE_July-2018

20 wellness
focus
Brush Up On Your
Supplements
Vitamins help you maintain
shiny, healthy hair and provide
the nutrients your hair needs.
They don’t replace food so be sure
to maintain a balanced diet and
top them with these vitamins to
promote healthy hair.
Vitamin A: Vitamin A
and its derivatives (retinoids)
are critically important in the
development and maintenance of
skin and hair. Vitamin A also helps
skin glands make sebum. Sebum
moisturises the scalp and helps
keep hair healthy. According to
the ‘American Journal of Clinical
Nutrition’, diets deficient in vitamin
A may lead to several problems,
including hair loss. Studies have
also shown that an overdose of
vitamin A can also contribute to
hair loss.
Vitamin B-Complex
(Biotin & B5)
B-vitamins help carry oxygen
and nutrients to your scalp, which
aids in hair growth. Vitamin B3,
also known as niacin, helps the
body to use proteins and fats,
and it keep the skin, hair, and
nervous system healthy. Biotin
and pantothenic acid (vitamin
B5) have been used as alternative
treatments for hair loss. Biotin
benefits your hair by rebuilding
hair that has been damaged due
to over-shampooing, exposure to
the sun, blow-drying and ironing.
Vitamin B5 supports the adrenal
glands, which helps stimulate hair
growth.
Vitamin C: It is responsible
for creating and maintaining
collagen which makes up about
one-third of our body, including
skin, ligaments and hair. Vitamin
C is water-soluble with antioxidant
properties, helping us to protect
against the damage that free
radicals can cause to body tissues.
Free radicals can damage hair,
making it brittle and weak. Vitamin
C deficiency may lead to dry and
splitting hair, hair loss or excessive
hair shedding. Vitamin C plays a
necessary role in absorbing iron,
which keeps our locks strong and
healthy.
Vitamin D: Vitamin D
keeps the bones and skin healthy
and, in recent years, it’s also been
linked to hair growth. A 2012
study suggests that the vitamin
can help create new follicles.
Salmon, mushroom and grains
are great alternative sources of
vitamin D.
Iron: Iron deficiency has been
related to hair loss. Iron carries
oxygen to hair and promotes
growth. If ferritin, a protein in the
body that binds to iron, is lower
than normal, it indicates that you
have iron deficiency. Research
has shown that ferritin level is
significantly lower in patients with
hair loss. Women with an iron
deficiency are at a higher risk of
hair loss. Talk to your doctor about
how much iron (or any mineral)
you should take every day.
Zinc: It is a vital mineral
for healthy hair, skin and nails.
Zinc deficiency leads to hair
loss. Research has found that the
deficiency leads to changes in the
protein structure of hair follicles,
leading to weakening of their
structural integrity. This means
new hairs will fall off quicker
than they should. A good
zinc supplement for hair
loss will supply a good
amount of the mineral,
as well as other key
hair nutrients such
as biotin, vitamin C
and iron. It is very
important to make
sure that you are
getting the right
amount of zinc,
and not to have
too much or too
little.
yourwellness.com • Volume VII • Issue II • July 2018