Is it beneficial to take prenatal vitamins for hair growth?

There are many women who believe that it is beneficial to use prenatal vitamins for hair growth. If you suffer from hair loss associated with child birth in the last 8 to 10 months, aging or perhaps it is a side effect of taking certain prescription medications, in order to evaluate the authenticity of this claim, we need to assess the ingredients found in prenatal vitamin supplements and their actions on the body.

What is the Difference in Between Prenatal and Regular Vitamins?

Prenatal vitamins contain slightly less vitamin A and significantly more calcium, folic acid and iron, none of which are relevant to hair growth.

The reason why pregnant women as well as women who are trying to get pregnant are advised to take prenatal vitamins is to ensure that both the mother and the developing baby obtain adequate nutrition. The amount of vitamins and minerals contained in prenatal vitamin supplements are completely different from regular nutritional supplements, since they are specifically designed for the nutritional needs of a pregnant woman and her baby in order to prevent nutritional deficiencies, which can often lead to anemia, bone density loss, developmental abnormalities, such as spina bifida, low birth weight or other pregnancy-related complications.

The Reason Why Pregnant Women Have Healthier Hair

It is well known that during pregnancy, a woman’s estrogen levels will be higher than usual, which will prevent hair loss. Adults typically lose around 80 to 120 hairs every day. However, because during pregnancy hairs tend to stay in the so called “resting phase”, a pregnant woman’s hair will appear much thicker than usual. This natural body change will occur with or without taking prenatal vitamins, since it is only associated with the increased hormone levels and not the nutritional supplements that may be used.

Is it Beneficial to Take Prenatal Vitamins for Hair Growth?

If you suffer from hair loss caused by anemia, taking extra iron would be definitely beneficial and in fact it should correct not only your blood hemoglobin levels, but also your hair loss. On the other hand, taking extra iron when you are not anemic would be harmful for your health, since the excessive consumption of iron could lead to the development of gastrointestinal disorders, or  can even be life threatening.

Since the liver can only convert a small amount of folic acid into folate every day, taking more folic acid than your body needs can potentially lead to liver disease. Folic acid over consumption is also linked to the development of cancer.

Our bodies need calcium to preserve healthy bone density and to regulate muscle and nerve functions. However, the over consumption of calcium can lead to irritability, depression, loss of appetite, fatigue, a metallic taste in the mouth, dry mouth, increased thirst or long lasting headaches.

Additional Considerations

Although hair growth is primarily determined by your hormones and your genes, by eating healthily you can influence your body’s hormone regulation and production, thus you can make a significant impact on the health of your scalp hair follicles, where hair fibers are produced. In fact, regulating your body’s healthy hormone production – naturally and holistically by dieting – will not only improve the quality and beauty of your hair, but it will also cure or prevent a number of hormonally induced medical conditions, such as acne, ovarian cysts and others.

Because losing a lot of hair can affect a person’s self confidence to a great extent, preventing hair loss should be an important part of everyone’s personal health care routine regardless of age. Practicing hair loss prevention, including a good grooming habit and a healthy diet on a daily basis can not only restore your hair to its healthy state, but it can also delay age related hair loss in the future.

Hair Loss Prevention

When you begin to lose a significant amount of hair for no reason, the first step should always be to see a dermatologist. There are several possible underlying health conditions, which could be a reason for you to lose hair. Some of these conditions are mild, such as anemia or stress, while others in rare cases are as severe as cancer. By identifying and treating a potential underlying health issue could be all that you need to restore the health of your hair.

Grooming Habits

Practicing gentle, regular and healthy grooming habits can also help a lot when it comes to hair loss prevention. Gently brush your hair at least once a day and be sure to use a mild, preferably natural hair care products. Avoid over-washing, since this can strip important minerals off of your hair. Try to select products, which incorporate natural plant extracts and do not contain harsh chemicals or artificial fragrance.  If you can, get an organic shampoo and conditioner containing keratin and use them on a regular basis depending on your individual needs.

Even when your hair is short, use a moisturizing conditioner, since dry, brittle hair is more likely to break or fall out compared to well nourished hair.

Use a Hair Mask Weekly

Use a commercially prepared or homemade nourishing hair mask weekly. An effective homemade hair mask can be prepared by mixing 1 pbsp of aloe vera gel, 1 tsp of soybean oil and 5 drops of rosemary oil into a smooth paste. Apply this paste to the hair and scalp, massage it into the scalp for 2 to 3 minutes, leave it on for 20 minutes and wash it off using your usual mild shampoo, followed by conditioning. Let your hair naturally dry and repeat this process the following week.

Gentle Styling

At least until your hair fall stops try to avoid heat styling or the use of hair dyes, relaxers or perms. It is also wise to avoid using damaging hair accessories that can put stress on the hair, such as rubber bands, since they are known to damage and break hair, especially when you tie your hair back tightly using them. If you need to use a hair band, opt for a soft one, which has no metal in it and tie your hair back loosely.

Sun Exposure

During the summer months avoid excessive sun exposure. The skin on your scalp can tan and burn just like the skin on the rest of your body due to UV exposure. Wear a protective sun hat while you are out and do not stay out longer than a couple of hours at a time.

Articles Related to Preventing Hair Loss:

Natural Hair Loss Remedies

Whether your hair loss is caused by the body’s natural aging process, a nutritional deficiency, emotional stress, radiation therapy or perhaps because you have had a baby, using natural hair loss remedies may help you reduce this symptom and promote hair growth. [...read more]

Vitamins for Hair Growth

While hair strands are not alive, hair roots are. Therefore vitamins for hair growth are vitally important. In order for your hair roots to produce beautiful and healthy strands of hair, they need their daily dose of specific vitamins, minerals and amino acids, which can be obtained from a healthy diet or by taking nutritional [...read more]

When you are deficient, it can lead to hair thinning or slow hair growth, which can be corrected in most cases by taking the recommended amounts of nutrients your body needs. On the other hand, if you are wondering about the possibility of increasing the rate of hair growth by taking nutritional supplements, unfortunately there is no sufficient evidence that can support this possibility.

Vitamins for Hair Growth

The antioxidant, Vitamin A protects the hair roots from the harmful effects of free radicals. These molecules can reduce the amount of nutrients getting to the hair shafts by breaking hair follicle cells down, which will consequently lead to hair loss or slower hair growth. In addition, retinoids supplied by vitamin A will stimulate the scalp and hair follicles, promoting hair re-growth and preventing hair fall. Food sources of vitamin A include apricots, broccoli, carrots, cheese or eggs.

Vitamin C is another antioxidant that treats and protects your hair and its deficiency is known to affect your hair, making it dry and brittle. Food sources of vitamin C include citrus fruits, berries, mango, papaya or potato.

Vitamin B complex is especially important for maintaining a healthy head of hair, as vitamins B3, B6 and B12 strengthen the hair shaft, improve blood circulation to the scalp and promote a healthy nervous system, making you more resilient to stress, which is one of the main causes of hair loss. Vitamin B deficiency is known to slow down cell division in hair follicles, making you more susceptible to hair loss. Natural food sources of vitamin B complex include nuts, beans, eggs, fortified bread, pasta and cereals.

Minerals

Zinc promotes healthy hair follicle cell division as well as also protecting your hair and hair follicles from free radicals, since it is another important antioxidant.

Calcium influences cell-mediator molecules that act on the hair follicle. It carries and releases enzymes and hormones which affect nearly every function in the body, and this includes the growth of hair.

Iron deficiency is one of the most prevalent causes of hair thinning. This mineral oxygenates the blood, improves blood circulation to the scalp and influences the body’s hormone production, which can also affect hair growth.

Amino Acids

The amino acids L-cysteine, L-methionine and L-lysine are the building blocks of your body, making up your blood cells, skin, nails, muscles and hair. Amino acids do not only make up proteins, but transport oxygen and vital nutrients to the hair follicles. They build up the fibrous molecules of keratin, which is the most important component of hair. Food sources of these amino acids include soy foods and animal proteins, such as eggs, meats, cheese, yogurt or milk.

Amla is a well known ingredient in traditional hair loss remedies in Asia.

Whether your hair loss is caused by the body’s natural aging process, a nutritional deficiency, emotional stress, radiation therapy or perhaps because you have had a baby, using natural hair loss remedies may help you reduce this symptom and promote healthy hair growth.

Maintaining healthy hair is a huge industry. Whether we have our hair regularly cut, get it colored or just simply blow dried, in a lifetime most people spend thousands of dollars on maintaining their hair. Having a full head of hair represents youth and beauty and as we get older we find ourselves spending even more to hide the way our hair is giving our age away. There are several conventional treatment methods as well as natural hair loss remedies, which can restore your hair. However, before you use any pharmaceutically developed treatment methods, be sure to try the following natural hair loss remedies:

Natural Hair Loss Remedies – Nutritional Therapy

The enzyme 5-alpha-reductase type II plays a role in the transformation of diminishing levels of testosterone into di-hydro-testosterone (DHT), which is the main cause of permanent hair loss in both men and women. In order to keep 5-alpha-reductase type II in check, you need to increase the consumption of foods that contain the amino acids L-arginine and L-lysine. These two amino acids are found in both plants and animal sources, which include the following:

• Seafood
• Wild game
• Poultry
• Beef
• Dairy products
• Nuts
• Oatmeal
• Granola
• Soybeans
• Buck wheat
• Wheat germ

DHT can also be effectively reduced by the regular consumption of green tea.

The regular consumption of protein rich foods as well as foods containing high levels of iron and B vitamins is also vitally important, since these are the most important nutrients that promote hair growth.

Aromatherapy Hair Loss Remedies

The following essential oils are able to reduce hair loss as well as they promote healthy hair growth:

• Thyme
• Carrot seed
• Rosemary
• Calamus root

These essential oils can be added to soybean oil to both reduce DHT in the body, to nourish the scalp and encourage healthy hair growth. To prepare it add 5 drops of any of these essential oils to 10ml of soybean oil, mix them thoroughly and apply it onto the scalp and hair. Leave it on for at least 1 hour (preferably overnight), wash it with a mild, natural anti hair fall shampoo followed by conditioning. Repeat the process twice a week.

Scalp Massage

Having a head massage is a great way to increase blood flow to the scalp. Mix 2 tbsp wheat germ with 2 tbsp soybean oil and massage it for 2 to 3 minutes onto the scalp. Leave it on your head for 20 minutes, then wash it off with a mild, natural anti hair fall shampoo followed by conditioning. Both oatmeal and soybean oil are known to significantly reduce DHT. This natural hair loss remedy can be used daily if you wish.

Saw Palmetto Extract

This natural extract derived from the berries of Serenoa Repens is not only the first recommendation of a herbalist for the treatment of hair loss, but it is also used for several other health conditions, including respiratory congestion, cough, testicular inflammation, UTI, also to enhance and strengthen the thyroid gland and many other conditions. When it comes to using this plant extract as part of your comprehensive treatment strategy using natural hair loss remedies, it definitely works well due to its hormone modulating effects. As we age, the levels of DHEA, progesterone, testosterone (in men), estrogen (in women) and pregnenolone slowly and progressively start to diminish in our bodies, which is associated with hair loss in both men and women. Due to its hormone modulating effects saw palmetto extract is proven to work for many people. It is best taken as a supplement, which is available in pharmacies and health food stores.

Amla Used in Natural Hair Loss Remedies

Amla, the Indian fruit also referred to as Indian gooseberry is a well known ingredient in traditional hair loss remedies in Asia. Amla extract is added to natural hair oils as a nourishing ingredient, which promotes healthy hair growth and to prevent hair fall as well as premature graying.

Amla is available in supplement form, which can be taken orally. However, to prepare an anti hair fall natural potion at home, add a few drops of amla tincture to a tsp of soybean oil, mix the two ingredients together and apply it thoroughly to your scalp. For best results leave it overnight and repeat application once a week.

Natural Ayuvedic Hair Loss Remedies

Fresh lime , mango and aloe vera gel can be used together as a remedy for hair loss. Blend 1 tbsp mango pulp, ½ tbsp lime juice and 1 tbsp aloe vera gel until smooth, apply the mixture to the scalp and leave it for 20 minutes. If you prepare it in a larger batch, the leftover of this remedy can be safely stored in the refrigerator in a plastic container for up to 3 days.

Vitamins for Hair Growth

While hair strands are not alive, hair roots are. Therefore vitamins for hair growth are just as important. In order for your hair roots to produce beautiful and healthy strands of hair, they need their daily dose of vitamins, minerals and amino acids promoting hair growth, which can be obtained from a healthy diet or by taking nutritional supplements.. When you are deficient, it can lead to hair thinning or slow hair growth, which can be corrected in most cases by taking the recommended amounts of nutrients your body needs. [...read more]