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Are Carbs Actually Good for You? Your Hair, At Least
by Angela Santoriello
Carbohydrates and hair care? The two go hand-in-hand according to Charlotte’s Book, saying “the reality is that your body—especially your hair cells—need carbohydrates to function.”
“Carbohydrates provide you with energy, and as the second fastest growing cells in your body, your hair cells need a lot of energy to grow (and keep growing),” reports the skincare and wellness website, adding that carbohydrates offer energy and enable proteins to help repair and regrow hair. “Lack of dietary carbs can cause increased hair shedding and hair failing to grow past a certain length—as well as general tiredness.”
With three types of carbohydrates including fiber, starch and sugar, each has its own job. Made up of hydrogen, carbon and oxygen, starch and sugar-rich carbohydrates provide the main source of energy. “Sugars contain just one or two of these units and are ‘simple,’ while starches and fibers have many units of sugar, making them ‘complex,’” explains Fit Day.
When it comes to hair-healthy carbohydrates, complex are the best. Found in potatoes, grains, rice, pasta and cereal, complex carbohydrates not only offer energy needed for healthy hair cells, “but depending on which one you choose also contain fiber, essential B vitamins and other important vitamins and minerals,” reports Charlotte’s Book.
While eating complex carbohydrates is ideal, the health and wellness website suggests Philip Kingsley Stimulating Scalp Mask to “help your hair from the outside as well.” However, according Brian Thompson, principal trichologist and director of product development at Philip Kingsley Trichological Centre in New York and London, too much of a good thing could become bad.
"Hair is a fast-growing tissue and it's likely to make demands on your body," Thompson tells Divine Caroline. "You need a mixture of protein, complex carbohydrates and vitamins and minerals. But if you consume too much of any one thing, particularly certain vitamins and minerals, you can create problems with hair growth."
As aforementioned, Thompson touts brown-short grain rice. “You should have complex carbohydrates, which feed you energy over a longer period of time than refined carbohydrates, with your protein source at meals. Brown short-grain rice is an ideal form. It's also a good source of B vitamins and some fiber,” says Thompson.
Kingsley himself stresses the importance of a daily diet and hair care in The Hair Bible: A Complete Guide to Health and Hair, stressing “that in the morning your energy levels to your hair follicles are at their lowest.” Carbohydrates nutritional counterpart protein is also excellent for the hair, with both Thompson and Kingsley recommending certain foods “along with fresh fruits and vegetables,” for lovely locks. Beef, eggs, cottage cheese, bacon and salmon, all packed with protein, and complex carbohydrates together will result in healthier hair; hence adding carbohydrate rich foods to your shopping list can only be a good thing.
If you or someone you know would like more information about hair loss and how to treat it, please feel free to schedule a consultation or contact one of our representatives today!
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