Prevent gray hair by consuming these 3 super foods

Glossy black hair is the dream of many people. However, continuing to have black hair is a huge challenge for people who are over 30 years old. Yes, with age, hair will turn gray and eventually turn white. In fact, this condition can happen sooner than you think. How to prevent gray hair? Let's take a look at the following list of types of superfoods to help you keep your hair shiny black.

Various types of foods that can prevent gray hair

Most gray hair is considered a sign of aging. But it can also appear more quickly due to heredity, having an autoimmune disease that damages hair dye cells, or also because the body lacks certain vitamins. Like skin, hair also has a coloring agent called melanin.

Now, to restore lost or damaged melanin, you can eat various types of foods such as the following.

1. Foods rich in vitamin B12

Vitamin B12 helps maintain normal functioning of the nervous system, plays a role in the formation of genetic information (RNA and DNA), and produces red blood cells along with folic acid or vitamin B9. When the body is deficient in large amounts of this vitamin, pernicious anemia can occur.

Every day, teenagers and adults need about 2.4 micrograms of vitamin B12. Meanwhile, pregnant women will need an additional 0.2 micrograms per month.

As people age, the body's ability to absorb vitamin B12 from food decreases, so the risk of deficiency in this vitamin increases. Especially if you are 50 years old.

In addition to forming blood cells, foods that contain vitamin B12 also have the potential to maintain healthy hair, namely preventing gray hair. You can easily get this vitamin from eggs, the internal organs of chickens and cows (liver or kidneys), or shellfish.

2. Foods high in vitamin B9

Vitamin B9 helps vitamin B12 to produce DNA and RNA needed to form red blood cells. In addition, this vitamin is also important for the production of methionine, which is a fatty acid that is important for maintaining hair color.

Lack of this vitamin can cause premature graying. So, you can prevent gray hair by eating foods that contain vitamin B9, such as spinach, green beans, various types of beans, asparagus, white rice, cereals, and pasta.

3. Foods high in copper and iron

A study published in the journal Biological Trace Element Research in 2012 showed that people who experience premature graying have low amounts of iron and copper (copper) in their bodies.

Copper (Copper) is needed by the body to help the performance of various enzymes in the body. Meanwhile iron plays an important role in the formation of red blood cells. If you are deficient in these two essential minerals, you will be more likely to experience gray hair.

You can find copper in chicken or beef liver, oysters, clams, cashews, hazelnuts, almonds, and lentils. While iron is mostly found in beef, spinach, and lentils.

What you need to pay attention to to prevent gray hair

Apart from consuming the recommended foods, you can also get the benefits of supplements with the same content. However, consult your doctor first before you use it.

You need to limit foods that are preservative and contain added sweeteners. These foods can cause premature aging so that your hair turns gray quickly. Then, you should also stop smoking and stay away from the smoke.