Top 5 Natural Foods to Prevent Hair Fall and Boost Hair Health

If you are suffering from hair fall and hair thinning, there are 5 foods that you must include in your diet. Not only are these foods easily available, but more importantly, they are backed by Ayurveda and proven by modern science. In this article, we will discuss how and when to consume them so that you can get maximum benefit from these natural hair saviors.

There is no doubt that our body gives low priority to hair. This is why when our body doesn’t get adequate nutrition, it ignores hair and focuses on other organs. But still, good hair not only adds an aesthetic appeal to your body but also boosts your confidence. 

Considering the high stress of today, bad food, and cosmetic choices, hair fall has become common even among teenagers. So understanding that hair do add value to our life, let us talk about the 5 amazing foods that prevent hair fall.

#5 Carrots

Studies have shown a strong connection between vitamin A (i.e., beta carotene) deficiency and hair breakage. Well, there isn’t a better food for Vitamin A than carrot. Just 100 grams of carrots have a copious 16,000 International units of vitamin A, which is even more than the daily requirement.

Apart from vitamin A, carrots have significant amounts of Biotin which is well known for accelerating keratin production. Keratin is the protein of which hair is made. 

You will be surprised to know that carrots are a natural DHT blocker food as well. Science confirms that DHT is one of the main causes of hair fall, especially in men.

The hair supplementation industry runs on two things: biotin and DHT blocking pills. Both of these are present in carrots. No wonder today carrot oil is also making the rounds in this space. 

In fact, in a study, when a group applied carrot oil on the scalp, within a few days, it was seen that more hair follicles got active as compared to 1% Minoxidil solution.

Carrots also contain vital hair nutrients like Vitamin E, C, and K along with strong antioxidants that prevent aging of hair. So if you are suffering from hair fall or your hair are thinning down, you should include carrots in the form of sabzi, soups, or vegetable pulao. Although, the best would be to have carrot salad.

How to consume carrots for hair health:

• Every day before lunch or dinner, have a plate of raw carrots.
• Spice it up with black salt, black pepper, and lemon for enhanced flavor and benefits.

#4 Curry Leaves

Ayurvedic scriptures and modern studies suggest that if one starts consuming curry leaves on a regular basis, not only will hair breakage reduce, but hair health will also improve significantly. 

That’s because curry leaves are an amazing source of B vitamins and antioxidants, which contribute to cellular regeneration and promote healthy circulation to the blood vessels in the scalp, making it among the top foods to prevent hair fall and hair thinning.

The amino acid content that strengthens hair fiber is also very high in curry leaves. Surveys have shown that people in the southern part of India have significantly lesser hair problems. One concrete reason is that they use curry leaves to temper their dals and vegetables.

Ways to include curry leaves in your diet:

• Use curry leaves to temper dals, vegetables, or rice preparations like curry leaf pulao.
• Include curry leaves in dishes such as curd rice, poha, dalia, and raita.
• Consume them raw by plucking 4-5 curry leaves and chewing them well until they turn into liquid in your mouth. This will take hardly 2 minutes and within a few weeks, you will notice visible improvement in your hair.
• Use curry leaf powder as a regular masala in your curries for an easy way to benefit from them.

For the next 2 months, include curry leaves in your diet in whichever way is convenient to you and get ready to bring back your good hair days.

#3 Buttermilk

Buttermilk, or well-churned yogurt mixed with double the amount of water and spiced appropriately, is a hair elixir. You might wonder how this helps? 

Consider a plant whose leaves are falling. The problem lies not with the leaves but with the roots. Similarly, according to Ayurveda, the root cause of hair fall lies in the stomach.

In fact, when an 86-year-old Chinese man suffering from alopecia went through a fecal transplant, he saw sudden hair regrowth on the bald patches. 

So, if you are facing indigestion, your body won’t be able to absorb vital hair nutrients from the food, and as a result, hair gets weaker and eventually falls.

That’s where buttermilk helps. Rich in probiotics and lactic acid, when buttermilk is consumed post-lunch, it strengthens the root, i.e., the digestive system, which then easily absorbs vital hair nutrients from the consumed food. It also reduces body heat, another major cause of falling hair.

Buttermilk is also an excellent natural shampoo and conditioner—two in one.

Also Read: Permanent Solution to Bloating, Dark Circles and Muscle Cramps

#2 Amla (Indian Gooseberry)

Amla is a time-tested traditional medicine not only in India but also in other countries to promote hair and scalp health. Not surprisingly, today every hair product out there, be it shampoo, conditioner, or hair oil, boasts of amla in it.

Talking about amla hair oil, a study done on rabbits and rats showed that patches containing amla oil caused “significant” and rapid fur growth and made fur healthier over 15 days. 

Since amla is extremely rich in antioxidants, clinical studies show that when consumed as food, amla acts as a powerful hair regenerator, stimulating hair follicles and strengthening roots.

A study proved that amla is among the top DHT blocking foods. Amla is filled with all good things but the problem is that it is too sour to consume. But don’t worry. There are some real good ways in which you can easily consume amla:

1. Buy amla juice of any reputed brand, dilute it with equal amounts of water, and have it 30 minutes before breakfast.
2. Amla candy with honey and amla murabba with honey are two healthy snack options you can keep handy.
3. Amalaki Rasayana is a powerful Ayurvedic amla supplement; half a teaspoon mixed with honey can be consumed anytime of the day.
4. Raw amla when boiled with rice or curry becomes easy to eat and can be consumed as pickle.
5. Amla tablets are also available these days for convenient consumption.

In a nutshell, if you are not consuming amla when facing hair problems, you are making things harder than they are.

#1 Almonds

It’s amazing to know how much almonds have to offer to hair. Almonds are probably the best food source of Biotin, making them an excellent natural alternative to artificial biotin supplements.

Scientific studies showed that application of almond oil to the scalp increased hair growth as compared to mice treated with a placebo. 

In another study, when rats were divided into six groups including one given almond extract and five others given various supplements including minoxidil, the almond extract group outperformed others in opening up new hair follicles after 30 days.

Almonds contain special fatty acids like oleic acid and linoleic acid, which are proven DHT blockers. Vitamin E is another proven anti-hair fall nutrient for which almonds are a dependable source.

Three practical ways to consume almonds for hair health:

• Soak 4 almonds in water, peel the skin off, and chew them until they become liquid in your mouth.
• Start having 1 tablespoon of unsweetened almond butter as a snack.
• Have a teaspoon of sweet almond oil in a glass of milk before going to sleep at night.

It is also useful to know that our local Gurbandi almonds, which are smaller in size, are actually bigger in nutritional profile than the California almonds. So choose wisely.

Sample Full-Day Routine to Include These 5 Hair Foods

Here is a simple blueprint incorporating these 5 hair-healthy foods into your daily diet:

• Morning: After freshening up, have 4 teaspoons of amla juice mixed with equal amounts of water.
• Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner: Add curry leaves as an ingredient in your rice, roti, sabzi, or dal preparations.
• Post-Lunch: End your meal with a glass of spiced buttermilk.
• Evening Snack: Almonds or almond butter make excellent snack options.
• Night: Add crushed almonds to milk or better yet, add sweet almond oil to milk before sleeping.
• Anytime: Keep amla honey candy as an on-the-go snack option.

This routine is flexible and can be adjusted according to your convenience. The key is to consistently include these five foods in your diet to help stop hair fall and promote hair revival.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: Why does the body prioritize other organs over hair?

A: When the body doesn’t get adequate nutrition, it prioritizes vital organs for survival, often neglecting hair, which leads to hair fall and thinning.

Q: How does DHT affect hair fall?

A: Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) is a hormone linked to hair follicle shrinkage, especially in men, causing hair to thin and fall out.

Q: Can consuming raw curry leaves really improve hair health?

A: Yes, chewing raw curry leaves releases nutrients directly in your mouth, which over time can strengthen hair and reduce breakage.

Q: Why is buttermilk recommended for hair health?

A: Buttermilk improves digestion and gut health, which helps absorb vital nutrients necessary for strong hair roots and reduces body heat, a cause of hair fall.

Q: How do almonds support hair growth?

A: Almonds provide biotin, vitamin E, and fatty acids that block DHT and stimulate new hair follicle growth, promoting thicker hair.