9 Foods to eat to help you avoid early grey hair

Lim Han

25 May 2017

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Oysters
Don’t you just love their silky buttery texture and creamy flavours that taste of the ocean? Oysters aren't just low in calories and fat, they are also an excellent source of vitamin B12 and zinc. As zinc is a key ingredient in tissue growth and repair, this fuels hair growth and brings your hair one step closer to healthy lustrous locks.
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Beef liver
Yes, we hear some of you gagging. Beef liver isn’t as appetising as juicy wagyu steaks, but this organ definitely contains more hair-loving goodness. Packed with copious amounts of copper and zinc, beef liver helps to shoo away any possibilities of copper deficiency, which could lead to premature greying. Not just that, it is a fantastic source of vitamin B9, aka folic acid, thus leading to youthful-looking hair.
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Salmon
Whether it’s served sashimi-style or cooked, salmon is always a crowd favourite. And, what do you know? Your hair adores it as well! Chockfull of proteins and a fatty acid, omega-3, salmon will lavish your scalp and hair with essential goodness, guaranteed to boost scalp health and hair growth. With salmon sashimi having its roots in Japan, is it any wonder why the Japanese age so gracefully?
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Mushrooms
Who knew these cute buttons were power elixirs for the hair? Mushrooms are stuffed with high quantities of zinc and copper, which promote scalp health and stimulate melanin production. Expect a darker, healthier mane if you embark on a mushroom-abundant diet! Of course, don’t use this as an excuse to indulge in truffle fries.
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Lentils
Lentils aren’t as trendy as avocado and acai but we’re definitely seeing a steady stream of them into the bowls of many health freaks. And, there’s good reason for that. Lentils are packed with vitamin B9, which fuels the production of DNA and RNA. With higher levels of these components, there will be an increase in collagen 17A1 in hair follicles, thus contributing to a healthier mane.
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Chicken
As if we needed any more reason to love this ubiquitous meat. Give us fried or stuffed chicken any day. Chicken and eggs are enriched with high levels of vitamin B9, which make them an absolute dream for our hair. Studies have shown that large doses of certain types of vitamin B can even reverse the greying process.
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Leafy vegetables
You mother wasn’t lying when she emphasised the importance of eating your greens. Leafy vegetables, such as spinach and kale, are exceptional hair foods with their high vitamin C and E content. These antioxidants encourage blood circulation to your scalp, thus improving scalp health.
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Nuts
From almonds to cashews, we’re absolutely nuts about this stuff. Nuts stash away high levels of copper which boost melanin production and result in greater pigmentation for your locks. Nuts like walnuts and almonds are said to contain particularly high amounts of copper. So, be sure to stock up on them! Plus, they make for great healthy snacks.
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Black sesame seeds
Want to have a hair colour as black as sesame seeds? Then, eat them! Backed by TCM, black sesame seeds are believed to be potent elixirs for grey hair. They are enriched with antioxidants that neutralise the aging effect of free radicals on our hair. In addition, these seeds stimulate the production of melanin, thus giving your hair greater pigment.

Ditch the hair treatments and vitamins. All you have to do to conquer this problem is eat!

With a throng of celebrities like Kylie Jenner and Lady Gaga who have rocked the grey hair trend, the phenomenon of hair greying doesn’t seem so devastating anymore. But, of course, that doesn’t make the appearance of naturally greying hair any more attractive, with the inconsistent streaks and patches. I’m sure we’d all take our black tresses any day.

Greying hair, caused by old age and stress, is basically unavoidable. As we grow older, the activity of pigment cells slows down, leading to a drop in melanin in our hair. With less pigment being received by our hair, the cuticles then start to deteriorate and turn grey. Unless you have a certain ‘grey hair’ gene that runs in the family, you should not be seeing white in your hair till you’ve crossed the 40-year mark.

But, what if you do? Now, there’s no need to panic. Premature hair greying happens more often than you think and thankfully, it can be reversed. By consuming certain types of hair-loving foods that are high in vitamins, minerals and more, you will be on your way to dark lustrous locks! Head over to our gallery to find out the 9 foods you should be adding into your diet to chase away the grey!

Lim Han

Photos: Getty Images

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