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color include beets, black sesame seeds, liver, blackstrap molasses, mulberries, nutritional yeast, rice polish, wheat germ, wheatgrass and yogurt. Reducing stress is also helpful. Nutritional deficiencies can contribute to premature gray hair.
Teas to drink for healthy hair include alfalfa, burdock root, horsetail, nettles and oatstraw. The Chinese herb Ho Shou Wu translates into English as, "Mr. Wu's hair stays black." In America this herb is known as Foti. It is used in Asia to help keep hair from turning gray. Vegetable juices that promote healthy hair include beet, carrot and spinach with a bit of onion added. Always dilute vegetable juices 50 percent with water as they are very concentrated.
Vitamin A deficiency can lead to a dry flaky scalp as well as hair loss. Vitamin B complex helps us deal with stress, curb hair loss and aids in the regulation of oil gland production. Especially important are PABA and inositol, which help protect the hair follicles. PABA also helps maintain hair color, as do biotin, folic acid and panothenic acid, all part of the B complex. Lack of vitamin C may make hair more likely to break. Vitamin C also helps circulation to the scalp. Vitamin E increases the body's utilization of oxygen and thus improves circulation to the scalp. Include some essential fatty acids in the diet such as flaxseed oil to help balance both dry and oily scalp. Silica helps to nourish hair as well as skin and nails. Hair contains a high concentration of zinc; therefore its supple-mentation can also be helpful. Cysteine is a component of hair that promotes the formation of keratin.
Hair Loss
Hair loss can occur from stress, disease, chemotherapy, drugs (beta-blockers, ulcer medicines, anti-hypertensives, cholesterol-lowering) excessive dryness, thyroid defi-

 
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