Zinc consumption is vital in human body because it helps build healthy cells, regulate hormones and absorb other nutrients. It also plays a key role for healthy hair, skin and nails.
Hair loss can be caused by various reasons such as hormones, genetics, poor diet, age, radiation or chemotherapy treatment, stress, infections, chemicals, rapid weight loss, or other diseases. But the most common cause of hair loss is poor nutrition.
Zinc is believed to play a crucial role in DNA and RNA production. This is required for the normal division of hair follicle cells, leading to healthier hair growth. Zinc also helps keep hormone levels balanced, which could be one of the reasons why it is effective in preventing hair loss.
Experts believe that Zinc deficiency can actually lead to deterioration of the protein structure that makes up the hair follicle. This weakening of follicles can in turn cause hair shedding and hair loss. There are even a few outlying studies in which people’s greyed, aged hair returned to its original colour when nourished with zinc-rich diets or hair growth supplements. As a bonus, zinc for hair growth may help eliminate dandruff on the scalp as well.
Food items like Oysters, Chickpeas, Nuts, Eggs, Sweet Potatoes and Spinach are rich in Zinc & other nutrients which promote secretion of sebum by hair follicles to protect hair from drying out. Topical zinc can be applied directly to the scalp to counteract the effects of DHT (dihydrotestosterone), a hormone that interferes with the nutrition of the hair follicles, causing them to shrink.
