A Dietitian's View

Hair naturally produces its rich hue from the melanin producing cells found at the base of the hair follicle called melanocytes. As biological and environment stressors damage these color creating cells, melanin production decreases and the hair follicle becomes more and more transparent until it eventually becomes white. The ‘stressors’ are also known as free-radicals, unstable molecules seeking out healthy cells to stabilize them, while injure the other. In example, let us return to the melanocyte striving to maintain that beautiful brunette shade… Once a free-radical attaches to that molecule, it is unable to carry out its role therefore producing fewer color cells and fading your hair. The negative effect of free-radicals is also referred to as oxidation, a process which also causes rusting on your car.

One way to fight off damaging free-radicals and prevent rusting in, or on, your body, is to consume a diet rich in whole foods. Mother Nature has provided us with an army of oxidation fighters in the form of fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Whole foods are rich in antioxidants, in fact in many cases the more colorful your food the more antioxidants it contains! There have not been many studies suggesting that a single supplement or antioxidant pill will have the same beneficial effect of real food and in some cases a pill may cause more harm than good! A typical vegetable contains over 10,000 phytonutrients, many of which have yet to be identified or understood. While we are truly making amazing strides in science, until we understand which pills will or will not increase the risk of cancer or heart disease, the best alternative may simply be to base your diet on all food in its natural form.

Do yourself (and your hair color) a favor by eating foods rich in free-radical-fighting antioxidants such as pomegranates, tomatoes, blueberries, leafy greens and broccoli – while perhaps cutting back on some of those free-radical inducing habits.