- To prevent grey hair, or stop it getting worse, take extra B vitamins. Grey hair has several causes, but lack of folic acid and vitamin B12 are prime amongst them.
- For long term hair health, take a high quality multi, like the Poliquin Multi Intense which will ensure we get other important vitamins and minerals such as copper, manganese, iodine and iron (iron should only be taken by menstruating females).
- If the hair starts falling out, take a good quality zinc supplement and scrupulously avoid phytates. Phytates are anti-nutrients found in the bran of grains, for example oats, whole wheat, rye, brown rice. They are also in nuts. To remove phytates from these foods, they should be soaked for about 8 hours before cooking. Click on the links for ideas. Phytates bind to some minerals, such as zinc, iron and magnesium in the intestines and removes them from the body. Shortage of Zinc has many side effects, hair loss or weak nails being among them.
- To return hair back from grey, take the Chinese herb Fo-Ti, also known as He Shou Wu. Fo-Ti is also a tonic and is best taken in its processed form. If processed, it contains molecules called lectins that in this plant bind to cholesterol and remove it from the body, so it is a blood, liver and kidney tonic as well. Unprocessed Fo-Ti is a laxative.
- Rinse the hair well after washing. Build up of soaps and conditioners cause scalp irritation.
- If stress is a problem, take a head massage to relax the muscles over the scalp since excess tension in them makes life tough for our hair follicles.
- A bonus tip: hair dyes contain some nasty chemicals. For our overall health, try to use the least worst hair dyes. Those based on henna will be safer.