Facts About Hair and Nails
Along with the skin, the hair and nails are part of the integumentary system. This is the biggest organ in the body and is able to continue to grow throughout the entire life. This organ requires a large amount of nutrients in order to continue to create new cells. The integumentary system can get these nutrients from the foods we eat, but sometimes that is not enough.
The body breaks down viable nutrients and supplies it to the organs that need them the most. Most of the time the integumentary system has to make do with the little vitamins left over after this process. This causes it not to function as effectively as it should. When enough vitamins aren't supplied, the hair and nails become dry and brittle, which leads to hair breakage and chipped nails.
The integumentary system has three different phases: anagen, catagen and telogen. The is the growing phase; it can last for five years. The categen phase is the transition phase where old cells start to die off. The telogen phase is the resting phase, where the integumentary systems rests before starting up another long growing phase. Vitamins can either prolong the anagen phase (when plenty of vitamins are supplied) or the telogen phase (where not enough vitamins are supplied to start the growth phase).
Vitamins for Healthy Hair
There are several vitamins that help the growth and health of hair and nails. Vitamins that help blood circulation and carry oxygen to the hair roots are B2 and B3. Biotin (B7) thickens the hair and nails so that they are strong and don't break. Vitamins that promote the growth of new hair and nails are vitamins A, B1, B5 and B12. The anagen phase can be prolonged with the cell renewal power of folic acid, while choline bartrate retains the moisture in hair and nails. Vitamin E helps with blood circulation by aiding in the elimination of toxins from the body.
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