Hair nutrition

Question
I have been a vegetarian my whole life, and am for the most part vegan right now, expect for the occasional dairy.  My nails have been awful and not growing at all, and I do as my hairdresser suggests to keep  my hair healthy, but it still does not even grow to my shoulders.  It seems that it breaks off after a certain length as well.  My hair appears very healthy and is not dry or thin, and has very few split ends.  My family all have long hair and strong nails, and I used to too, but for the past few years, my hair has simply continues to break off. I have taken Hair Formula 37 for a nutrient supplement for over a year, but it does not seem to work.  Are there any changes that need to be made to my diet or vitamins I should take? Thank you.

Answer
Hi Joanna,

There could be many reasons for the changes in your nails and hair. I would first recommend that you see your doctor for a physical exam to rule out any medical conditions. Iron deficiency in particular is one thing that should be ruled out.

There are some nutrients that *may* help improve your nails and hair; you may want to try some of the following if no clear medical cause can be determined:

-biotin supplement (1-2 mg/day)

-omega 3 fatty acids (recommended daily intake is 1.1 g/day - try flax oil, flax seeds, walnuts, omega-3 enriched dairy or soy milk, omega-3 enriched whole grain breads)

-Lysine (one of 2 amino acids that is not found in high amounts in plant foods) plays a role in iron and zinc absorption. Legumes are a good plant source of lysine, so make sure you are including them in your diet on a daily basis.

Hope that helps!

Karen
www.getfitwithkaren.com  

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