Whether you love them or hate them, brussels sprouts are a healthy hair superfood because these little morsels contain Iron which helps deliver oxygen throughout your body including the hair follicles which are critical for growth. Brussels sprouts also contain other nutrients like vitamin C, Zinc, folates, and protein to help grow strong, healthy hair.
Fun fact: Brussel sprouts were first discovered around the 5th century and not in Brussels Belgium. It wasn’t until the 1300’s that Belgium began cultivating them and they got their name.
According to the Food and Drug Administration, one cup of raw brussels sprouts yields these important healthy hair nutrients:
- Iron - helps deliver oxygen to the scalp.
- Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) - for healthy hair and hair condition.
- Vitamin C - is an important player in the development of keratin.
- Zinc - for hair growth and regrowth in some patients with alopecia.
- Folate - which improves cell function at the follicular level.
- Protein - one of the key components that help make keratin which is a majority of what your hair is made of.
Vitamin C assists with Iron intestinal absorption to provide increased oxygen and nutrients to the hair. Vitamin C also strengthens blood vessel walls and increases blood circulation which helps feed hair follicles, and it can help in the production of collagen which can lead to hair growth. Because it is an antioxidant, it works to keep your scalp safe from external factors like ozone gas.
Zinc is a critical element in rapid cell turnover which can help lead to sustained hair growth. And folate controls tissue growth and cell function to help your body produce healthy hair. A deficiency in folate can lead to hair loss or gray hair.
Fun fact: Folate, or B9, taken as a supplement (folic acid) is better absorbed than from food.
Keratine is a protein and essential to hair strength because the hair shaft is composed almost entirely of keratin. Your body uses keratin for producing both your hair and your nails. And having enough keratin can lead to stronger and fuller locks, although your hair texture (thickness) is defined by your genetics, proteins like keratin help it reach its full potential.
Brussels sprouts are also packed with fiber which is great for hair because this necessary nutrient lowers inflammation, and that’s important when it comes to female and male pattern baldness. There are 3.34 g of fiber in one cup of raw brussels sprouts!
If the strong taste of brussels sprouts has been off-putting to you in the past, try adding 1 cup of raw, shaved Brussels sprouts to any salad, soup, or stew. Your salad can be enhanced in flavor by adding other healthy foods like spinach, walnuts, and fruits like mango.
It’s easy to roast or fry brussels sprouts as a way to bring out the natural sugars in the vegetable, but the method you use to cook your brussel sprouts will change their nutritional value. Here’s how boiling and drying them impacts the counts from the USDA. If you do lose some of the nutritional value, have a dipping sauce or coating that is rich in the lost nutrients.
The next time you’re in the produce section of the store or at the farmer’s market, don’t pass by the small but mighty brussels sprouts. You may find that you love them, and your hair will love them too. If you found this guide helpful, subscribe to the TELETIMES blog below for more just like it.
