Minerals For Healthy Hair

Minerals are important nutrients for healthy hair and readily found in common foods.

Just in the way that vitamins are essential to maintain a healthy head of hair, minerals are also necessary, not only for your overall health but to assist in the fight to keep your hair looking at its best. Certain minerals also help reduce the risk of suffering from hair loss, in either the form of balding or of the thinning of hair.

Minerals are inorganic elements which are essential to the functioning of the human body, and just in the way vitamins work, they are obtained from the foods that we eat. Certain minerals work in different ways and are necessary for different parts of the body’s ability to stay healthy. The minerals which are necessary to maintain healthy hair include copper, iodine, iron, selenium, silica and zinc.

The following points may help to understand the function of different types of minerals and where they can be obtained.

• Copper - this is essential for proper enzyme function in all plants and animals, and a deficiency in copper may result in hair loss, anemia, diarrhea, and weakness. Copper can be found in foods such as seafood like oysters, squid, lobster, and in nuts like almonds and pistachios, and in such things as soy beans, lentils and even chocolate.
• Iodine - this mineral helps to keep the thyroid gland functioning properly. A deficiency in iodine can lead to hypothyroidism, which can cause we weight gain, lethargy, a change in hair texture, and hair loss. Iodine can be found in some types of seafood and in plants, and also in iodized salt.
• Iron - this mineral is integrated into an essential component of hemoglobin, which is necessary for the transportation of oxygen throughout the body. A deficiency in this type of mineral may cause anemia, brittle hair, and hair loss. It can be found in red meat, fish, poultry and leafy vegetables.
• Selenium - this is necessary for the healthy function of the thyroid gland, and a deficiency may lead to heart disease and poor hair growth. It is found in nuts, meat, fish, crab, lobster and in eggs.
• Silica - this is used by the body for the formation of keratin sulfate which is a component of the hair shaft. It may also help to increase scalp circulation and stimulate hair growth. A deficiency in silica may cause a weakening of bones, teeth, and a hardening of the arteries. Silica can be found in sand, opal and agate. It is also found in horsetail extract, barley, whole grains, leafy green vegetable and rice.
• Zinc - this is required in DNA replication and RNA production and is necessary to maintain normal hair follicle cell division. A deficiency in zinc is normally associated with people who do not eat meat of any kind. Zinc can be found in oysters, animal proteins, beans, nuts, grains, and various seeds.