It’s normal for your hair to change as you get older. While many of us aim to age gracefully and accept the changes that come, premature developments can dampen our spirit.
Although white hair is characteristic of aging, colorless hair strands can appear at any age even while you’re still in high school or college.
There could be ways to restore pigmentation, but it depends on the cause. Here are common causes of prematurely white hair:
- Genetics
- Stress
- Autoimmune disease
- Thyroid disorder
- Vitamin B-12 deficiency
- Smoking
Here Are four vitamins and minerals that can help prevent premature greying of hair:
1) Folic acid
Folic acid is the synthetic form of vitamin B9, while folate is the naturally-occurring form.
Dark leafy veggies: Spinach, fenugreek leaves, mustard greens etc.
Legumes: Beans, chickpeas, lentils, and peas.
Nuts and seeds: Peanuts, almonds, sunflower seeds, and pumpkin seeds.
Fruits: Oranges, grapefruit, lemons, etc.
2) Vitamin B12
Vitamin B12 is involved in the production of RBCs (red blood cells) as well as that of melanin – the pigment responsible for your hair colour.
Egg yolks, dairy products, and shiitake mushrooms are good sources of this vitamin.
3) Copper
Copper is also important for the production of melanin. It can be found in sesame seeds, cashew nuts, almonds, whole grains, and other food items. Non-vegetarians can opt for lean red meats, shellfish and freshwater fish to keep up their copper intake.
4) Zinc
Zinc is a mineral that helps hair follicles protect themselves from damage. It also plays a role in the production of new hair cells.
Consuming seeds like pumpkin, sunflower, watermelon, black sesame, etc., can help you ensure your zinc intake.
Apart from this, you must also include pistachios, almonds, and black gram in your diet.
