Nourish Your Hair - Part 1

Hello everyone! Sorry for my absence, but I've been away on the first leg of my book tour for my latest book, "Raw Energy". Look up my website, www.stephanietourles.com to see the cover shot and read more about it. It is now available in bookstores everywhere! In the next few weeks, I'll be introducing you to the wonders of raw foods and how they can benefit your health, beauty, and overall energy level. The study of raw foodism is fascinating and if you want to learn more . . . stay tuned.

Today, though, after many, many requests, I'm going to give you some advice on how to ensure that you have a fabulous head of gorgeous hair. If I'm having a bad hair day (and I know this may sound shallow) then my self-confidence is down. Sound familiar? Here's some dietary advice to follow so that your crowning glory stays in tip-top shape.

Healthy, shiny, bouncy hair is a reflection of proper nourishment and a healthy lifestyle. Even if you use the highest-quality natural shampoos, conditioners, and styling aids, the condition of your hair will still suffer if your diet is lacking in necessary nutrients. If you hair seems lackluster, try modifying your diet.

HOW TO HAVE HEALTHY HAIR

Eat more protein if your locks are limp, lifeless, and slow growing. Good sources of protein include organic eggs, organic lean meats and wild-caught fish, beans and seeds, whole grains, fermented soy such as tempeh, and organic raw dairy products or homemade raw almond or walnut milk. Please avoid pasteurized dairy products and especially non-organic sources of dairy as they contain large amounts of chemicals and hormones that "don't do a body good".

Get your ABC's. These vitamins are vital to the health of your hair and scalp. Good sources of vitamin A include minimally heated (preferably raw) cod liver oil; red, yellow, and orange vegetables and fruits; spirulina; organic egg yolks, and deep green leafy vegetables. Good sources of vitamin C include citrus fruits, deep green leafy vegetables, rose hips, tomatoes, berries, pineapple, apples, persimmons, cherries, bell and hot peppers, papayas, and grapes. Good sources of vitamin B include organic lean beef, poultry, egg yolks, liver, raw milk, brewer's yeast, whole grains, alfalfa, nuts and seeds, fermented soy products, deep green leafy vegetables, spirulina, wheat germ, molasses, peas, and beans.

Cut back on caffeine, alcohol, refined sugar and flour, and junky snacks. These empty-calorie foods deplete your body's stores of vitamins B & C.

Include iodine, sulfur, zinc, and silica in your diet. These four minerals are essential for proper hair health (and nice nails). Good sources of iodine include all types of wild-caught fish, spirulina, sunflower seeds, and sea salt. Good sources of sulfur include turnips, dandelion greens, radishes, horseradish, string beans, onions, garlic, cabbage, celery, kale, watercress, wild-caught fish, organic lean meats, eggs, and asparagus. Good sources of zinc include spirulina, barley grass, alfalfa, kelp, wheat germ, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, almonds, whole grains, brewer's yeast, raw milk, organic eggs, oysters, nuts, and beans. Good sources of silica include horsetail herb, spirulina, nettles, dandelion root, alfalfa, kelp, flaxseeds, oatstraw, barley grass, wheat grass, apples, berries, burdock roots, beets, onions, almonds, sunflower seeds, and grapes.

In next week's blog, I'll share with you one of my favorite mineral-rich herb tea recipes which will nourish your hair from the inside-out!

NOTE: The information in this article is true and complete to the best of author Stephanie Tourles' knowledge. All recommendations are made without guarantee on the part of the author and she disclaims any liability in connection with the use of this information. It is for educational purposes only. For more organic hair care information, please see Stephanie's book, "Organic Body Care Recipes", Storey Publishing, 2007.