Expert-recommended juices and shakes to boost hair growth

While modern-day marketing tactics lead you to believe that you need to slather tons of hair products for growth, it is not the case. The foundation of sustainable hair growth has a lot to do with what’s on your plate. Dermatologists believe that one of the major causes of hair loss or hair fall is nutritional deficiency.

According to celebrity dermatologist Dr Apratim Goel, a well-balanced meal with the intake of nutritional supplements is key to healthy hair growth.

If you are still wondering about some natural ways for hair growth, we have you covered. Dr Goel has shared with us a list of oral juices for hair growth that you can add to your diet.

Juices for hair growth

The good news is that you can promote hair growth by including some of the best nutrients packed into juices. Supplementation of iron will improve hair growth. If your iron levels are low, please contact your doctor to check if you need medication too. Meanwhile, here are some of the best nutrients and juices you can add to your diet if you want luscious, beautiful hair.

1. Iron-rich juices

Dr Goel avers that one of the main reasons women in India experience hair loss is iron deficiency or anaemia. Here are some of the vegetables and fruits rich in iron that you can consume in the form of juices.

Spinach
High in iron, Spinach can be added to your hair care diet. “Spinach also contains other nutrients like potassium, magnesium, vitamin C, carotenoids, and copper that can help. Blend some spinach leaves into a juice and get iron-rich nutrition. If the taste of spinach alone is not to your liking, you can blend the spinach with a fruit of your choice,” recommends the dermatologist.

Prunes
For the unversed, prunes are plums that have been dried naturally. They are tasty and packed with tons of nutrients. As per the expert, a glass of prune juice contains about 3mg of iron. It also contains magnesium, vitamin B6 and vitamin C.

Beetroot
Another great addition to your diet would be beetroot that “can pump the iron levels and stop hair loss,” says Dr Goel.

2. Antioxidant-rich juices

Studies have found that antioxidants help reduce free radical damage and protect the cells of your body. Here are some juices rich in antioxidants that you can consume:

Amla juice
One of the best antioxidants to add to your diet is vitamin C. “Amla juice is loaded with vitamin C, which is an antioxidant that fights free radicals. It will reduce cell damage, thus promoting new hair growth and effectively control hair loss,” explains Dr Goel.

Cucumber juice
“Cucumber juice is also antioxidant rich and provides nourishment to the hair follicles.,” she says. Basically, it makes your hair feel good from the surface. All you have to do is blend some pieces of cucumber with water, mint leaves and lemon juice to get an antioxidant-rich juice for hair growth.

3. Vitamin A-rich juices

Did you know vitamin A is important for your cells to grow, which helps with hair growth? Add this juice rich in vitamin A to your diet:

Carrot juice
This crunch, full of nutrients and sweet snack is perfect for promoting hair health. As per the expert, “Carrot juice contains vitamin A and vitamin E. These vitamins help provide nutrition to the follicle and stimulate hair growth.”

4. Vitamin B12 and B9 rich juices

Both of these vitamins are pretty vital for hair growth. Dr Goel says that B12 are more commonly found in animal sources than vegetable sources. However, B9 (folate) is present in many vegetables, which will help the body process the B12. Folate can be found in many green leafy vegetables, but these juices can also help.

Orange juice
Rich in vitamin C and folate (B9), orange juice is filled with many incredible nutrients that can help with hair growth.

Strawberry juice
Another great source of folate is strawberries. Not only is it rich in vitamin B9, but it is also rich in vitamin C, manganese, biotin, omega-3s and potassium.

5. Protein

Lastly, protein is another essential nutrient for your hair. Dr Goel explains, “Hair follicles are mostly made up of protein. An adequate protein intake not only improves hair growth but also hair texture and quality. Homemade protein shakes are an interesting add-on for protein.” Here are some ideas for tasty protein shake:

Greek yoghurt
Greek yoghurt is rich in protein and can be the base for your protein shake, add protein-rich foods like raspberry, cashews, bananas etc., to make your protein shake.

Banana shake
Combine 3/4 cup almond milk, 1/4 cup raw cashews, 1 medium banana, 2 tablespoons whole oats, 1 tablespoon flax seed, 1 chopped dried date then process until smooth.

Word from the expert

Hair loss causes are multifactorial. Nutrition deficiency is one of the causes of hair loss. Consult with your dermatologist to rule out other possible causes like medical conditions like thyroid problems, hormonal imbalance, etc.