Pistachios are a hair healthy food because a 1 cup serving is packed with B6 which helps to reduce hair loss, has 11% of our daily vitamin C which your body uses to produce collagen and prevent oxidative stress that can cause premature graying, 36% of our potassium which has been shown to help with hair growth, and other hair healthy nutrients.
Much like other hair healthy nuts, including almonds, there are plenty of nutrients in 1 cup of pistachios that work with different parts of your body to help keep your hair healthy including:
- Folate - 62.7 µg
- Iron - 4.82 grams
- Protein - 24.8 grams
- Potassium - 1250 milligrams
- Selenium - 8.61 µg
- Vitamin B1 - 1.07 milligrams
- Vitamin B6 - 2.09 milligrams
- Vitamin C - 6.89 milligrams
Folate or Vitamin B9 helps your body produce new cells including the keratin proteins that make up your hair. And folate works with the iron in your body to deliver oxygen to your scalp and hair follicles so they can breathe. The follicles use the oxygen delivered to grow healthy hair, and this study shows that an iron deficiency is related to a decline in keratin synthesis along with cysteine.
Keratin is the protein that makes up your hair. By eating protein rich foods your body can better produce keratin, along with the keratin it produces naturally, so your hair can grow to its full potential. That’s also where potassium comes in, which has been shown to help with hair growth.
Pistachios also contain selenium which supports your thyroid in hair health, and may help control dandruff. But too much may be related to hair loss.
Then there’s the B vitamins including B1, also known as thiamine, and is needed for healthy hair by helping with your blood circulation and has been noted to help with hair growth. B6 works to produce red blood cells so iron can get to work carrying oxygen, and has been shown to reduce hair loss. And finally is Vitamin C which has multiple hair benefits from producing collagen to protecting your hair and scalp from the elements with its antioxidants.
If you’re looking for a hair healthy snack and pistachios are an option, give them a try. And if you enjoyed this post, join our newsletter below for more just like it.
