Beautiful hair starts from the inside out. Many things contribute to a full head of hair, among them a low stress level, not taking too many prescription medications, taking care not to use the blow dryer too often and using high-quality products on your hair. But even more important than these things is your diet. Getting enough vitamins and minerals is essential to a healthy, fast-growing head of hair. One of the most important of these components is sulfur.
Facts
Sulfur is the third most common mineral in the body. The body cannot make sulfur, so it must be ingested to keep it at optimal levels. Most of the sulfur in our diet comes from ingesting proteins such as egg yolks, which contain a high level of sulfur. Garlic contains the most sulfur of any food we eat. Other foods rich in sulfur include onions, red meats, chocolate, nuts, broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts and kale.
Significance
Sulfur, in particular methylsulfonylmethane (MSM), is important for growth. It is integral for healthy collagen and keratin, the main substances in human hair. MSM can be found in the foods listed above, or taken as a supplement. It is non-toxic, but also very fragile. MSM can be lost in processing, cooking, drying, smoking or storing.
Function
Hair is always in one of three stages: anagen, catagen, telogen. Of the approximately 100,000 follicles of hair on your head, each follicle is randomly in one of these three stages. In the anagen stage, hair grows. It will stay at this stage between three and seven years before falling out, to be replaced by new hair growth. Genetics plays a part in how long hair is in the growth stage, but more and more, we are realizing that nutrition plays an important role in good hair growth.
Background
People with anemia or a zinc deficiency and people who suffer from alcoholism have weak hair or hair that does not grow well or falls out early. This has led scientists to begin to study the role that nutrition plays in hair growth and health. Hormones play a part in hair growth, and the balance of male hormone, or testosterone, with female hormones estrogen and progesterone makes a difference in how much hair one has and how well it grows. But minerals, such as sulfur, magnesium and zinc, also play an important role in healthy hair.
Bathing in Sulfur
Sulfur is also an ingredient in Epsom salts. Epsom salts, so named for the town in England where they are found, contain magnesium sulfate. This combination of minerals is important for its many health benefits, including healthy hair. Soaking in Epsom salts can help you get the sulfur you need. Epsom salts, according to the Epsom Salt Council, can promote restful sleep and relax tired muscles and reduce stress. These added benefits are also good for hair health.
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