You may be massaging your hair with oil, making natural masks, and washing them regularly – still facing hair fall? While no doubt taking care of hair needs extra miles with the help of natural ingredients, experts believe it all comes down to what you eat and how healthy your diet is.
Doctors say desi or local Indian foods are a powerhouse of proteins, vitamins, minerals, and good fats that not only fuel hair growth but also take care of your scalp health. Home-cooked, desi foods give you access to most macro- and micronutrients that boost blood circulation and prevent breakage and premature greying.
A few Indian staples you must add to your diet for breakage-free and shiny hair include:
Amla
Also known as Indian gooseberry, amla is packed with vitamin C – an important antioxidant that reduces inflammation and promotes blood circulation.
Amla juice nourishes your scalp, controls dandruff due to its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, and adds lots of shine and lustre to your hair. Amla also works as a natural conditioner that helps prevent frizz and maintains overall scalp health. Packed with iron, tannin, phosphorus, and calcium, amla potentially results in healthier locks while minimising dandruff and promoting healthier hair.
Curry leaves
Curry leaves are super aromatic culinary herbs with a citrussy flavour. Apart from elevating the taste of food, they have many other uses, which include hair care.
Native to India and Sri Lanka, curry leaves are packed with carbazole alkaloids, which have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. They are used in holistic medicine – a way to treat a variety of ailments, including digestive problems. Curry leaves are loaded with valuable antioxidants and B vitamins, which have a positive effect on melanin production in the hair follicles, thereby reducing premature greying. They are also helpful in strengthening the roots and promoting new follicle growth. You can chew a few fresh leaves in the morning, mix them into chutneys, or even boil them in coconut oil for a DIY hair potion.
Methi or fenugreek
Methi, also known as fenugreek, is one of the most potent Indian herbs used in beauty routines across generations. There are many benefits of fenugreek for your hair, helping you relieve dandruff and hair loss and restore natural shine.
Eating fenugreek leaves and using methi seeds can be super helpful, as they are loaded with proteins and nutrients that increase blood circulation to the scalp and help strengthen hair follicles. They also prevent hair fall and thinning while reactivating your follicles for hair regrowth.
Fenugreek nourishes your hair, making it stronger and healthier. It is a natural source of lecithin – an emollient that helps deeply moisturise your scalp and hair. Consuming fenugreek or making its paste for hair will make it smooth and frizz-free.
Walnuts
Walnuts, or akhrot, are not just a powerful brain food but also help strengthen your hair. They benefit your hair by providing omega-3 fatty acids for scalp health and follicle nourishment, biotin to strengthen hair, and vitamin E, which works like an antioxidant to protect your hair from damage and improve hair colour.
Walnuts are also a powerhouse of zinc, which regulates scalp oil, and selenium, which supports overall hair strength and growth. Incorporating walnuts into your diet or using walnut oil can make your hair thick, shiny, and strong from the roots.
Spinach
Spinach is synonymous with iron, which not only improves blood circulation and nutrient delivery to follicles but also regulates sebum production and moisturises the scalp naturally. Also, vitamin C in spinach helps in the production of collagen that strengthens your hair and absorbs iron – thereby promoting cell and tissue growth.
This dark, leafy green also contains antioxidants that protect hair from damage and promote overall hair health.
You can either use spinach as a vegetable in salads and soups or even drink a green juice by combining it with green apple and nuts and have it every morning for maximum benefits.