By Lucy Miller, PT and Health Writer

Can you eat your way to beautiful hair? You sure can. 

Here’s what nutritionists advise us to dine on to improve shine, volume and growth. 

A question we’re often asked is, ‘Will taking Correxiko help my hair as well as my skin?’ It sure will. 

Simply put, hair is primarily made up of the protein keratin - and your body uses several amino acids to build keratin, some of which can be found in collagen. Collagen plays a significant role in regenerating, supporting and maintaining follicle function and therefore helps to create healthy hair roots, which contribute to the strength and elasticity of your dermis and fends off hair thinning whilst improving hair growth. 

Here are our recommended foods to eat to help get lovely locks.

Eggs

The three main nutrients that make eggs amazing for building healthy hair are; Protein, L-lysine and biotin. 

“Hair is basically made of protein,” explains Registered nutritionist Jo Lewin, “so ensuring you have enough protein in your diet is crucial for making hair strong and healthy. If you’re not consuming enough protein in your diet, your hair is likely to become dry, brittle and weak - and extremely low protein diets can even worse result in restricted hair growth and even hair loss.”

The L-lysine in eggs also helps the body to absorb iron and zinc - two minerals that play a crucial role in hair health, whilst the biotin is a key contributor to healthy hair growth and can guard against dryness, making the hair less prone to breakage.

How to eat them?

You can have your eggs boiled, scrambled, poached or even made into tasty muffins mixed with spinach, cheese and any other ingredients you may fancy.

Collagen

Keeping your collagen levels topped up can help you create thicker, stronger and healthier-looking locks. Just like collagen can’t be absorbed through the skin, it can’t be absorbed through your hair, so a supplement is a great way to get all the goodness.

Researchers from McMaster University found that collagen works to improve the quality of hair by boosting levels of keratin. This is because collagen is made up of three amino acids; glycine, proline and hydroxyproline, which are used by hair follicle cells to create keratin – a fibrous protein that is the main structural component of hair.

By stimulating the production of keratin, collagen helps to put this key protein back into your hair to prevent hair loss and thinning whilst promoting stronger, more luscious locks and boosting hair growth. It can also increase elasticity to withstand damage. 

How to eat it?

The modern diet simply doesn’t supply the collagen we need to counter these effects and keep our levels topped up, which is why a collagen supplement is a convenient and reliable way to top up your body’s natural production of collagen. Simply take 4 Correxiko collagen capsules in the morning, followed by 2 rounded tablespoons of Correxiko collagen powder in food or drink throughout the day.

Chia Seeds 

Chia seeds are a nutritional powerhouse. They are a vegan source of omega-3s and are packed with fibre and antioxidants. Chia seeds are also considered a complete protein, which as we know will keep your scalp healthy and promote beautiful, luscious hair. 

“Chia seeds also contain zinc and copper, two key minerals for overall hair health,” says dietician Jaclyn London And the author of Dressing on the Side (and Other Diet Myths Debunked).

“Zinc is considered an enzyme activator which stimulates protein transformation, vital for hair growth whilst copper plays a significant role in regenerating new hair growth and can leave your hair feeling thick and voluminous by increasing the follicle size.”

How to eat them?

These tiny yet powerful seeds can be added to cereal, smoothies, puddings and even as a heart-healthy boost in baked goods. Some vegan or gluten-free recipes also incorporate chia seeds in place of eggs or flour to yield a similar consistency.

Green Tea

Suffering from a dry scalp? A cup of green tea may be just what you need. 

According to researchers from Seoul National University, Green tea contains vitamin A, which can help stimulate sebum production (your body’s natural oils), and therefore soothe a dry scalp and hydrate your hair. The study also found that its B vitamin (panthenol), Vitamin C, and Vitamin E content was helpful in stimulating hair growth, controlling split ends and softening your hair, whilst its antioxidant “EGCG” (or epigallocatechin gallate) content can stimulate hair growth.

How to drink it? Pour yourself a nice mug throughout the day and add a nice rounded tablespoon of Correxiko collagen powder. Aim for a least two cups a day. 

Walnuts

Walnuts are an excellent source of essential fatty acids, which are vital for maintaining a healthy scalp and hair follicles and essential for hair growth.

Additionally, walnuts contain zinc, which is beneficial for stimulating hair follicles and Vitamin E, an antioxidant that helps nourish both the hair and scalp and are natural emollients for the skin and hair follicles according to dermatologist and author of ‘Seven Days to Sexy’ Anna D Guanche, M.D., helps moisturize the hair shaft, leaving it glossy.” 

How to eat them? 

To promote healthy hair growth, it’s recommended you consume about one ounce (about 14 halves) of walnuts per day. 

Why not crush and sprinkle them on your cereal - or simply save them for your afternoon snack and eat alongside a juicy vitamin-rich apple?

Other things to do to improve your hair health are to; 

* Limit washing it to just three times a week.

* Massage your scalp whilst shampooing to stimulate blood circulation. 

* And try to limit stress as much as possible.