10 Best Foods For Hair

The old adage "you are what you eat" couldn't be any truer, and for strong and healthy locks, it's paramount to learn the 10 best foods for hair. You may have stockpiled fancy shampoos and conditioners, invested in hair growth pills and creams, but nothing beats a well-balanced diet for growing hair. Granted, if you're genetically predisposed to fine hair, you'll never have thick tresses like, say, Catherine Zeta-Jones, but if you eat these ten foods, your hair will thank you. 

1. Poultry. Hair is made up of protein, so indulge in high-quality proteins like chicken and turkey. One 3.5-ounce serving of unprocessed chicken has 25 grams. Plus, poultry is better for your general health than red meat.
2. Eggs. One of the best foods for hair is the humble egg. With nine amino acids and proteins, one egg a day will help your hair become more strong and healthy.
3. Avocados.  Avocados are an excellent food for hair. Rich in vitamin E, they help protect against free radicals to keep skin and hair young-looking . They also have folate, a nutrient necessary for healthy cell and tissue development. Olive oil is another excellent source of vitamin E.
4. Seafood. For fabulously healthy hair, the best seafood is salmon. Not only is it a high-quality protein, it is loaded with Omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin B-12, and iron—major nutrients necessary for healthy hair and keeps your scalp from drying out.
5. Dark, Leafy Greens. Ok, so Popeye isn't exactly the poster child for healthy hair, but iron-rich dark greens have the necessary iron to promote growth.  Spinach, broccoli, and Swiss chard have vitamins A and C. Vitamin C is essential to produce sebum, an oil your follicles secretes to condition and moisturize your hair.
6. Nuts. Brazil nuts contain selenium, an excellent source for scalp health. Walnuts have alpha-linolenic acid, an omega-3 fatty acid that helps condition your hair. Walnuts also have zinc, and other good sources of this nutrient are pecans, almonds and cashews. If you're not eating enough zinc, your hair may end up shedding.
7. Whole Grains. Ditch the over-refined white bread and even the corn syrup-infused wheat bread and pick up a load of the natural whole-grain bread. Whole grains contain iron, zinc, and B-vitamins, making them some of the best foods for healthy hair.
8. Berries. Blueberries are packed with anti-oxidant vitamins such as E and C. They also contain anthocyanins and phenolics that can also act as antioxidants. Strawberries have vitamin C and folate, both necessary for good hair growth.
9. Dairy Products. Milk, cheese, yogurt and cottage cheese are great foods for hair. Not only do dairy products contain protein, they also contain calcium, a mineral necessary for keeping your hair in good condition.
10. Onions and Garlic. Throughout the world, sulphur is known as a beautifying mineral. It keeps hair and skin from becoming flaky and dry. Onions and garlic are two of the best sources of sulphur, so eat up, keep those breath mints handy.