In fact 100 grams of Turkey Breast Meat contains hair healthy nutrients including:
- Iron - .71 mg
- Potassium - 249 mg
- Protein - 30.1 g
- Selenium - 30.2 µg
- Vitamin B3 (Niacin) - 11.8 mg
- Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) - .807 mg
- Vitamin B12 - .39 µg
- Zinc - 1.72 mg
There are also traces of folate (9 µg), Vitamin A (3 µg), and other nutrients to help you reach your daily needed amounts. Curious about how these interact with your body to help you grow and maintain healthy hair? We’re happy to share.
The selenium in turkey helps control your thyroid so its levels do not go too low. Low levels can impact your hair follicle health and hurt hair growth. And too much selenium or toxicity can also cause hair loss, but don’t worry, you’re likely already getting the amount you need. And you can ask your doctor if you aren’t sure.
Protein is what your hair is made of, specifically keratin. Your body needs to break the protein you eat down so it can produce new and healthy hair.
Niacin has been used in studies like this one to see if it can help women with pattern baldness. In multiple tests done using niacin, it shows promise but no guarantees, and that’s why you’ll see it listed as an ingredient in hair growth and health products. The belief is that it helps with blood circulation bringing oxygen to the scalp so your follicles can breathe.
And Niacin isn’t the only ingredient, the Iron in turkey helps do the same thing with the oxygen in your bloodstream. Potassium has also been shown to help with hair growth by eliciting hypertrichosis (excessive hair growth) according to the Journal of Investigative Dermatology which was republished here at the NIH.
B6 and B12 helps the overall condition of your hair and assists your body in the production of red blood cells. These red blood cells then work with iron and niacin to deliver oxygen to your follicles.
And last is zinc which helps your body produce new cells including proteins like keratinocytes that make up your hair. And if you love cranberry sauce with your turkey, try switching it out for rose hips or a cranberry and rose hip mix to get a power packed punch of Vitamin C to help reduce scalp inflammation.
Turkey is a hair healthy food, so “gobble” some up at your next meal now that you know the benefits.
