2015                                                                        Today

I used to have much thicker hair and then it started breaking off and thinning so noticeably that I was getting concerned that something was wrong with me. I tried thickening shampoos, Nioxin shampoo, biotin, hair vitamins, using the gentlest highlighter at the salon, using 90’s clips instead of ponytail holders, anything I could to make it look like I had more than 5 pieces of hair. This picture probably wasn’t even the worst it got because I think that’s right after I had it done at the salon and that’s with a blowout! Nothing was working and I was beyond frustrated so I just wore my hair up because I was sick of hearing “Oh wow, your hair really is thin!”

Ever since we went vegan about 6 months ago, my hair has been growing in and gaining thickness and everytime I feel it I’m amazed at the difference. My stylist even noticed all of my baby hairs growing in after a few months of going vegan! I finally found something that works and I was reading that your hair is the biggest indicators of your overall health, which also is a relief because it’s a confirmation that I really am eating the best foods for my body and it’s paying off. I then realized that my hair was thicker and then I went on Nutrisystem and after that my hair was super thin, maybe that’s the correlation? Maybe I wasn’t actually getting adequate nutrition and it showed. I mean I lost a lot of weight eating that astronaut food, but also lost all my hair. Granted, I’m not losing weight and my hair isn’t holding on to color like it used it (PH change or something?) but I’m so grateful that it’s looking thicker and it’s one of the biggest visible signs of our lifestyle change. You might not be able to tell a big difference in the pictures, but when I run my hands through my hair it’s a big change for me.

If you’re having trouble with your hair, here are some of the most important foods that help your hair stay healthy and strong. We eat a lot of these now and it’s making sense that my hair would show a change.

Protein– chickpeas, lentils, quinoa, beans, tofu, tempeh, nuts

Vitamin C– citrus, guava, strawberries (most berries actually)

Iron– whole grains(also have biotin), pasta, lentils, soybeans, dark leafy greens, chia seeds, tahini

Beta Carotene– mango, cantaloupe, sweet potatoes, and carrots

Omega- 3– nuts and flaxseed, acai

Vitamin E– avocados, fortified almond milk

Biotin-chard, romaine, tomatoes, carrots, avocado, cucumber, cauliflower, onions, raspberries, strawberries, oats

B12 supplement

Lots of water!

Now go eat your way to healthy hair!