A guide to essential vitamins and minerals that prevent hair loss

In many cases, hair loss is attributed to a physical condition,such as Thyroid disease, or the lack of proper nutrition.Certain medications can also strip your body of vitamins andminerals that are essential for healthy hair production andgrowth. In these cases, the proper vitamin and mineral regimencan significantly reduce hair loss and promote new hair growth. After starting a vitamin and mineral supplement program, it cantake up to 2 to 3 months to see results, but you will seeresults. So, do not become discouraged if your hair loss doesnot totally reverse itself after a few weeks of vitamin andmineral therapy. The following is a guide to some of the more common vitamins andminerals that have been proven to be effective at promotinghealthy hair growth. If you are going to start taking any of thelisted supplements, be sure to consult with your doctor firstand not to exceed the recommended dosage. Doing so can actuallycause hair loss in some cases. Vitamin A is an antioxidant that helps to produce healthy sebum(oil) in the scalp. You get Vitamin A by consuming foods such asfish liver oil, milk, meat, cheese, eggs, cabbage, carrots,spinach, broccoli, apricots and peaches. The daily recommendeddosage of Vitamin A is 5,000 IU. Vitamin C is another antioxidant that helps maintain healthyhair and skin. You get Vitamin C by consuming foods such ascitrus fruits, kiwi, pineapple, tomatoes, green peppers,potatoes and dark green vegetables. The daily recommended doseis 60 mg. Vitamin E increases scalp circulation which is vital for hairgrowth. You get Vitamin E by eating foods such as wheat germoil, soybeans, raw seeds ad nuts, dried beans and leafy greenvegetables. The daily recommended dose is up to 400 IU. Biotin is thought to help produce keratin, the building blockof hair and nails. It is also thought that is vitamin mayprevent graying. You get Biotin from eating foods such as wholegrains, egg yolks, liver, rice and milk. The daily recommendeddose is 150-300 mcg. Vitamin B6 is thought to prevent hair loss and help createmelanin, the pigment which gives hair its color. You get VitaminB6 by eating foods such as liver, whole grain cereals,vegetables, organ meats and egg yolks. The daily recommendeddose is 1.6 mg. Calcium is essential for healthy hair growth. You get Calciumby eating foods such as dairy, fish, nuts, lentils and sesameseeds. The daily recommended dose is up to 1,500 mg. Copper helps prevent hair loss and defects in hair color andstructure. You get copper by eating foods such as shellfish,liver, green vegetables, eggs, chicken and beans. The dailyrecommended dost is up to 3 mg. Iodine helps regulate thyroid hormones. Thyroid disease is thenumber one cause of disease-related hair loss. You get Iodinefrom foods such as fish, seaweed, kelp, iodized salt and garlic.The recommended daily dose is 150 mcg. Manganese prevents hair from growing too slowly. You getManganese from foods such as eggs, whole grain cereals,avocados, beans, nuts, meat and chicken. The daily recommendeddose is 3 to 9 mg. Silica prevents hair loss by strengthening the hair. You getSilica from eating foods such as seafood, soybeans, rice andgreen vegetables. The daily recommended dose is 55 mcg. As was mentioned earlier, taking more than the recommendeddosage of these vitamins and minerals can have devastatingconsequences to your health. In addition, some supplements arenot recommended for people with certain health conditions or forpersons taking certain medications. So, be sure to talk withyour doctor before taking any supplements to prevent hair loss. In addition to these few examples, there are myriads ofvitamins and minerals that can help you promote hair growth andslow down the process of hair loss. To find out which ones meetyour needs, talk to your doctor.