Healthy and Green Living

Healthy, shiny 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 your 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 eggs, lean meats and fish, beans and seeds, whole grains, and low-fat dairy or soy products.

• Get your ABCs. Vitamins are vital to the health of your hair and scalp. Good sources of vitamin A include cod liver oil; red, yellow, and orange vegetables and fruits; spirulina; 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 currants. Good sources of vitamin B include lean beef, poultry, egg yolks, liver, milk, brewer’s yeast, whole grains, alfalfa, nuts and seeds, 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 and C.

• Include iodine, sulfur, zinc, and silica in your diet. These four minerals are essential for proper health. Good sources of iodine include all types of fish, spirulina, sunflower seeds, iodized salt, and sea salt. Good sources of sulfur include turnips, dandelion greens, radishes, horseradish, string beans, onions, garlic, cabbage, celery, kale, watercress, fish, lean meats, eggs, and asparagus. Good sources of zinc include spirulina, barley grass, alfalfa, kelp, wheat germ, pumpkin seeds, whole grains, brewer’s yeast, milk eggs, oysters, nuts, and beans. Good sources of silica include horsetail, spirulina, nettles, dandelion root, alflafa, kelp, flaxseeds, oat straw, barley grass, wheat grass, apples, berries, burdock roots, beets, onions, almonds, sunflower seeds and grapes.

Rupunzel’s Herb Tea

Drink this mineral-rich tea to nourish your hair from the inside out. This recipe uses dried herbs and will yield two cups of tea.

1/2 teaspoon horsetail
1/2 teaspoon raspberry leaves
1/2 teaspoon nettles
1/2 teaspoon oat straw
1 teaspoon peppermint
2 cups boiling water
Honey or lemon to taste

Add the herbs to boiling water, then remove from heat. Cover and steep for 5 to 10 minutes. Strain. Add honey or lemon to taste, if desired. Sip slowly and enjoy.