HOW HAIR GROWS
There are three phases of hair growth. The first stage is the anagen phase, this is the phase of your "new growth". Hair cells are produced faster than any other cell in the human body at this time. 90% of the hair on your scalp is actively in this state which typically lasts three to five years. Once this phase is completed the catagen phase takes place.
The catagen phase is a brief period where the hair follicle matures. This phase lasts only about one to two weeks.
The final phase is the the telogen phase, this is your hairs resting phase. Only about 10% of your hair is at this phase at a time. In this phase your hair remains in place until the next anagen phase or it falls out. The telogen phase lasts about three to six months. The entire hair cycle repeats itself every four to five years.
INTENTIONAL EATING GUIDE
Now that we have a brief understanding on how our hair grows let's get into how to aid growth on a cellular level. We often hear the term "You are what you eat." and this is a literal term. The function of food is to fuel our body and keep us at optimal health. The body needs proteins, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, minerals, and water. The way we intake these nutrients in our body is by eating.
We may not all follow the same diet, and for this reason I will include food options that cater to all our taste buds. I encourage those who don't like fresh food such as fruits and vegetables to give it a try and add it to your diet.
The first nutrient we will start with is CARBOHYDRATES. Carbohydrates are converted into glucose which gives the body energy. We can choose a variety of foods that contain carbohydrates. Foods that are high in carbohydrates are oats, bananas, beets, sweet potatoes, mangoes, dates, lentils, kidney beans, and garbanzo beans.
The second nutrient is PROTEIN. Proteins are the building blocks of all cells in the body. Hair cells included. Our bodies create amino acids necessary for growth, body maintenance, and health with the help of what we consume. Foods that are high in proteins are avocados, chia seeds, walnuts, almonds, lentils, black beans, non GMO poultry, grass fed beef, wild caught salmon, jackfruit, guava, apricot, kiwi, kale, and mushrooms.
The third nutrient is FAT. Fats support the body's ability to absorb vitamins and minerals. Also it aids in blood clotting, muscle movement and is needed for cell development. The best fats to consume are unsaturated fats such as, olives, salmon, pecans, pistachios, avocados, tuna, mackerel, herring, olive oil, safflower oil, pumpkin seeds, and dark chocolate.
The fourth nutrient is VITAMINS. Vitamins are needed to fight off diseases and maintain the body's health. The known 13 vitamins are Vitamin A, Vitamin B1, Vitamin B2, Vitamin B3, Vitamin B5, Vitamin B7, Vitamin B9, Vitamin B12, Vitamin C, Vitamin D, Vitamin E, and Vitamin K. You can get these vitamins in foods we eat such as, flax seeds, apples, oranges, grapefruits, lime, broccoli, nuts, bell peppers, papayas, mangos, blueberries, blackberries, carrots, asparagus, cantalope, and leafy greens.
The fifth nutrient is MINERALS. Minerals aid in the production of strong bones and teeth, regulate your metabolism, nerve signal transmission, maintaining blood pressure, and boost immune health. Some known minerals are calcium, sodium, potassium, chloride, sulfur, magnesium, iron, zinc, copper, iodine, zinc, and selenium.These minerals can be found in a lot of the foods listed in the other nutrients but we will highlight to consume sea moss which contains 92 of the 102 minerals our bodies need.
When you know why you do something it makes the process much smoother. Oftentimes we want results but we don't know the steps to take to reach these goals. If you want overall health including hair health you will need to know what to consume and that is why this intentional food guide was created. Junk foods are out there and they may taste good but remember your goals and the goal is HEALTH. If the foods listed are new to you i suggest looking up different recipes or restaurants that have these options on the menu. We only get one body, treat it with LOVE and RESPECT.
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