We all know how important protein is for healthy body growth. Protein is required to help build muscles, and strong hair. People who experience hair loss often increase their intake of proteins, protein supplements, and amino acid supplements to help arrest the condition. For hair to grow healthy, proteins are an essential food to the hair shafts and hair follicles. A serum blood test will tell you the amount of proteins per liter in your blood and if it is between 60 to 80 grams then you don’t require additional proteins. But anything lower than these figures indicate that you do require extra proteins as supplements to grow healthy hair.
An intake of soy bean protein is excellent for healthy hair growth but too much of protein will backfire and have a negative effect. You can increase protein intake or apply protein rich foods like egg yolks on your head to nourish hair growth.
Why is Protein Important for Hair Growth?
Protein is an important component of our diet as it is used extensively in our body by all cells to fulfill various functions. Protein is required for the buildup of enzymes, as carriers, in hormones and membranes. During the digestion of food, protein is broken down into amino acids which are required for healthy growth of hair. There are more than twenty amino acids that are got from the breakup of dietary proteins. There are amino acids which the body cannot synthesize and these have to be taken as supplements. The amino acid supplements that are good for hair growth are Valine, Phenylalanine, Threonine, Tryptophan, Methionine, Isoleucine, Arginine, Leucine, Lysine and Histidine. These are the essential amino acids so vital for healthy growth of hair on our scalp.
Our hair follicles constantly require a continuous supply of amino acids through the blood for good hair growth. The fastest growing cells are found in the hair follicles and these cells require energy to multiply, and grow, and this requires their consumption of minerals, amino acids and vitamins. If some of essential amino acids are absent, then the activity of the hair follicles is hindered and the cells are not able to produce more hair follicles or fibers.
What are the Benefits of Amino Acids?
The body on its own can make 11 amino acids, while the other nine amino acids need to be consumed in the form of supplements for proper function of bodily organs and growth of hair. A good healthy diet will ensure your body gets the 11 amino acid components as it synthesizes the proteins you consume. Protein supplements for the body can be taken in the form of fish, eggs, cheese, milk, yogurt, lean meat, and poultry, which will supply all the nine essential amino acids for good growth of hair.
The proteins from plant based foods like grains, seeds, nuts, vegetables and legumes lack in one or two of the essential amino acids. While people on a vegetarian diet may be eating lots of protein foods, they make not be consuming all the essential amino acids that are important for healthy hair.
Which Amino Acid Play an Important Role in Hair Growth?
Of all the twenty amino acids so essential for healthy hair growth, it is Cysteine which is very important. Cysteine ensures hair growth takes place without any interruptions and there’s always hair on your head. It becomes very important because it contains sulfur molecules which are very important for helping build the keratin protein chain.
The sulfur molecules in Cysteine bind with one another to produce disulfide bonds through cross links. It’s these disulfide bonds that make the hair strong. Cysteine is taken in the form of supplements. If you suffer from hair loss or your hairline starts receding then you know that your body is lacking Cysteine and you have to take immediate recourse. You can consult your doctor and ask him/her to prescribe the particular amino acid supplement and take it as prescribed daily. This will ensure your hair follicles get the required amino acids for healthy growth.
It is important that your daily diet is loaded with proteins so your hair shafts get the required nine essential amino acids for their thick, strong hair. Protein rich shampoos that contain this important amino acid help hair growth.
