Sardines, Aunt Marie & Your Hair

Do you ever wonder what your stylist is talking about in the back room with the other stylists? Is it juicy gossip? Titillating tales of what happened last weekend? The meaning of life? Nope, most likely we're talking about food: what we cooked last night, what we're going to have today for lunch, and what amazing, creative thing we're going to do with those pesky leftovers tomorrow.

So why do I bring this up? Because there's a connection, of course, between your hair and what you eat. When I was a little girl, Aunt Marie told me that if I ate all the crust on my bread, my hair would grow curly. Curly hair from bread crusts?! Holy cats! What did I want more than that?? (Possibly Wonder Woman Underoos, but that's another story for another day.) But back to the point. While Aunt Marie wasn't being entirely truthful with me, it is a fact there there are certain nutrients that your hair needs to be strong, shiny and beautiful, such as these.

1. Omega Fatty Acids. Found in salmon, sardines, flax seeds and walnuts. Good for: brittle hair and nails, as well as dry itchy scalp and skin.
2. Iron, calcium, Vitamin C. You'll get these from green veggies, like broccoli and spinach. These nutrients will help fight dry hair by assisting in the production of sebum, an oily material found in the follicles.
3. Vitamin A. Carrots are rich in Vitamin A which is necessary for a healthy scalp. A healthy scalp, in turn, will grow silky, shiny hair.
4. Protein, B-12 & Biotin. You'll get them all when you eat your eggs! Prevent dry scalp, brittle hair and dullness with this powerhouse combo.

So there you have it; a few pointers for better nutrition for your hair, skin, nails and Underoos. Okay, just kidding about the Underoos. So until next time, bon appetit, and shine on!