Foods That Cause Grey Hair: Getting grey hair is normal for old people but abnormal for young people. It is very annoying when grey hair appears when you are not old. Some people start to grey in their 20s and 30s. Due to eating patterns and lifestyle changes, it has become normal for young people to get grey hair.
Another reason attributes to the greying of hair is stress. Although age and generics are the main causes of grey hair, it is important to note that poor diet plays a very significant role in greying of hair. Proper nutrition is very important to our body and our hair.
Good nutrition helps to maintain hair color and to retain healthy hair. It is therefore important for us to eat healthy food to prevent grey hair and promote healthy hair growth. Cigarette smokers are four times more likely to have gray hair than nonsmokers. Cigarette smoking has also been overwhelmingly linked to accelerated hair loss.
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Hair can turn grey due to a decrease in the production of melanin found in hair roots. Melanin gives the hair its color. Some foods are found to help in melanin production while others prevent the production of melanin. Some of the foods that help in melanin production include:
Fresh greens and vegetables that are a good source of vitamin B6 and B12, Chocolates that are rich in copper(copper is known to produce melanin), Berries such as strawberries and raspberries, salmon known to fight grey hair, and Almonds that are good for skin and hair, Sunflower seeds that have a high amount of minerals known to maintain and retain melanin, Curry leaves that are beneficial in preventing premature greying of hair, and Dairy products that are rich in vitamin B and B12 that are vital for the production of melanin.
It is important to prevent gray hair because there is no scientific evidence that any food, diet, herb, supplement, or natural product can reverse gray hair. It is better to prevent grey hair than to start searching for ways to get rid of grey hair.
Below are some foods that cause grey hair and if not checked can cause serious issues in the long run.
Table of Contents
1. Sugar
Most people do not know that sugar can make our hair turn grey. Foods that contain sugar can make hair turn grey prematurely because of its aging effects. There are a lot of foods that contain sugar that you should avoid. Sugar can also lower the amount of vitamin E in the blood. And as we all know vitamin E is important for healthy hair growth. Another disadvantage of sugar is that it causes tissue elasticity. The more sugar you take the more elasticity your tissue loses. And remember our hair is the fastest growing tissue in the body.
Another reason why one should avoid eating sugar is that it interferes with the absorption of protein in the body. Protein is very essential for teeth, bone structure, and hair. Sugar also interferes with the relationship between minerals and the blood in our bodies. The minerals are very important to hair and sugar uses a lot of them when being digested. This can cause grey hair.
However, this does not mean there should be no sugar whatever in your diet. There are natural sources of sugar found in fruits and vegetables such as beets and carrots.
2. High Animal Protein
Some animal meat has very high protein and may not be good for your body and hair. Since our body cannot digest the extra animal protein, the excess animal will produce uric acid. The uric acid is not good for the hair and can cause grey hair.
3. Soft Drinks
Did you know that one can of soda contains ten teaspoons of sugar? Apart from sugar, soft drinks contain artificial sweeteners and colors. We all know that if we consume soft drinks for a long time, they will make us fat and also cause teeth decay. Soft drinks are also the main causes of grey hair.
4. Artificial Color and Sweeteners
Other foods and drinks that you should avoid are artificial colors and sweeteners. They are all man-made and unnatural; this means there is nothing healthy about them.
Artificial sweeteners and colors cause allergies, deafness, and migraines and also cause grey hair. Therefore, avoid foods and drinks that have artificial colors and sweeteners.
5. Salt (Sodium)
Some people have cravings for salt. According to experts, it is unhealthy to take more than 2300mg of sodium a day. If you have diabetes, high blood pressure, chronic kidney disease or your age is above 51 years, your daily intake should be less than 1500mg. Sodium is important to ensure you have the right balance of fluid in the body.
This means it is a substance that cannot be avoided. However, it should be consumed in moderation. If consumed more, it can cause grey hair among other serious conditions.
6. Enriched Bleached White Flour
Many good things that were found in many wheat flours have been stripped and replaced with metallic iron. Metallic iron should not be used by our bodies and was never be consumed by humans. Enriched bleached flour is absorbed by the body as starch, and not as wheat or grain. It has no fiber or any nutritional value. Even though your hair needs iron, vitamins, and minerals to grow and remain healthy. Too much iron found in enriched bleached white is not healthy and causes grey hair.
7. Monosodium Glutamate
Monosodium Glutamate is found in many processed foods. It is known to cause several health problems including grey hair. It is mainly found in sausages, chips, and soups. If you want to maintain your normal black hair, please avoid processed food manufactured with Monosodium Glutamate. If you want to avoid premature grey hair, then you should start eating healthy foods. Search for food natural foods that are rich in nutrients.
Eggs and meat liver are good for grey hair treatment. Keep in mind that anemia is the leading cause of grey hair. And therefore, you should take eggs and meat liver to keep your levels healthy.
