View Full Version : Can we talk about Vitamins>
khrystyne572
September 8th, 2011, 01:21 PM
Been lurking for a year or so now, and I really wanted to post. :)
The only vitamins I've read about on here is biotin, but I'd like to know what other vitamins you all take for healthy hair. My diet isn't the best and I don't care for red meat, so I'm thinking I need something with B vitamins and maybe protein. Can you take protein in a vitamin, or is that weird?
I was thinking, and I could be so wring here, but instead of putting vitamin rich, protein infused products "on" my hair, it might work better for my hair if it came from within. Of course this would only work on new growth correct?
Ha, I can picture it, as my hair grows, the top half would be healthy and vitamin rich, and the bottom half dry and frail. Anyway, wqhat sorts of vitamins do you suggest? Prenatal? Multi-vitamin or something else?
Meme Bella
September 8th, 2011, 01:25 PM
In my experience, it's always good to take a multivitamin as a bare minimum. I used to take soya protein tablets for hair growth and I think they actually worked really well - I even noticed my baby hairs all started to grow! I'm sure the other ladies here will have plenty more suggestions...
PinkyCat
September 8th, 2011, 01:27 PM
Country Life Maxi Hair vitamins. Great stuff.
Here:
http://www.swansonvitamins.com/CRL261/ItemDetail
spidergoat
September 8th, 2011, 01:34 PM
http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/showthread.php?t=83
This is what I've based my vitamin regimen on, but I just started it yesterday, so I'm not sure how well it will work for me.
nellreno
September 8th, 2011, 01:56 PM
I just take a multivitamin. Because I am on a limited budget and I have weird eating problems I know there are certain vitamins/minerals that I don't get enough of just from diet.
I also take fenugreek because I have noticed that it helps my digestive issues.
I used to take biotin but stopped because I noticed it really wasn't doing anything for my hair (my nails grew like crazy though). What really made a difference in my hair and growth rate was eating a lot more protein. There was a time period when I was eating a lot of meat and cottage cheese and nuts, so I was getting a lot of protein and fat and my hair grew a surprising amount during that time.
Panth
September 8th, 2011, 02:31 PM
Well, in general you are better taking a multivitamin / improving your diet than applying topical stuff to the hair. Vitamins won't do anything for the hair if applied topically.
I wouldn't take a multivitamin and a hair and nails vitamin. If you look on the back and see what's in them, you'll see that the hair and nails one is basically a multivitamin with a couple of things added / at higher doses. If you take both the multivitamin and the hair and nails, you risk overdose (which can happen with both water-soluble and fat-soluble vitamins, though is easier to do in general with the fat-soluble ones). A particular one you need to watch out for is vitamin A.
Also, if you're considering biotin, I'd urge you to read this first: http://igorsbelltower.blogspot.com/2011/01/biotin.html
khrystyne572
September 8th, 2011, 02:53 PM
ahh, thanks for the link. Biotin sounds scary. I don't need any more skin problems thankyouverymuch.
BlazingHeart
September 8th, 2011, 03:55 PM
I subscribe to the all things in moderation theory, which basically amounts to a basic multivitamin is good for general health which means good for hair-skin-nails health, but more than that is probably not good. A varied diet is better.
You can definitely take protein supplements. The most common are soy and whey protein. Personally, soy protein has a very negative effect on my digestion, so I avoid it like the plague. It's one of the more common allergies and studies have suggested that massive exposures to soy may not be as healthy as we think.
The dangers of megadosing get brought up occasionally, and I'm one of the people who does it. Megadosing can cause permanent kidney and liver damage. While the RDA is all estimates, which other people point out, the dangers of megadosing are known possibilities and personally I have no intentions of risking them.
~Blaze
celebriangel
September 8th, 2011, 04:30 PM
I'd echo what others have said. To me, special skin/hair/nails vitamins are a waste of money - they are basically the same as a good, all-round multi but often much more expensive.
Taking protein supplements is an excellent idea if you feel you do not eat enough protein. Soy is, however, estrogenic so I personally wouldn't take it every day - I'd go for another protein supplement instead (extra estrogen screws me up big time).
swearnsue
September 8th, 2011, 04:34 PM
Your age makes a difference in what vitamins and minerals you need. For example, I'm post menopausal so I only take iron supplements once a week or so. I highly recommend probiotics! They make a difference in your health/comfort right away. I think fish oil is good for everyone. I have two different B vitamin supplements and I alternate taking them. They are so different and I want both so I take one today, the other tomorrow. I would do the same with multiple vitamins and hair vitamins. If you want to take both, take on different days. For me eating eggs has been a big help too. I can get a lot of high quality protein without having to eat too much, if that makes sense. Eggs are so easy to cook and eat and you don't have to deal with meat and e-coli etc. Good luck with your hair and health quest! Don't forget to have fun, snack on almonds, drink tea, dance and sing and use common sense.
Foxy_Booker
September 8th, 2011, 06:01 PM
I take biotin, a B complex, a skin and hair one, msm, and fish oil. I also try and drink a lot of milk for protein and nutrients. I have been taking the biotin, b complex and skin and hair one for a few months and my nails grow super fast and must stronger. I usually have peeling on short nails and now its all gone and stronger so I assume it is helping my hair the same way. I don't know whether the msm is working but Im sure its not hurting.
Panth
September 9th, 2011, 02:48 AM
For protein, if you don't like red meat you could consider eggs, pulses and nuts, all of which contain a fair amount of protein (eggs especially).
Another thing to consider is that if you eat a vegetarian (or near-vegetarian) diet, particularly a not-very-amazing one, you are liable to become deficient in B12 vitamin. This is the most common vitamin deficiency in vegetarians, since the most readily available sources of B12 are red meat and eggs. However, if you eat smart, it is entirely possible to get all the B12 you need from a vegetarian diet.
You can test for B12 deficiency (a simple blood test at the doctors) and can rectify it either by purposely eating B12-rich foods reasonably often, or by taking a multivitamin that contains B12.
Hope that helps!
In2wishin
September 9th, 2011, 06:16 AM
Been lurking for a year or so now, and I really wanted to post. :)
The only vitamins I've read about on here is biotin, but I'd like to know what other vitamins you all take for healthy hair. My diet isn't the best and I don't care for red meat, so I'm thinking I need something with B vitamins and maybe protein. Can you take protein in a vitamin, or is that weird?
I was thinking, and I could be so wring here, but instead of putting vitamin rich, protein infused products "on" my hair, it might work better for my hair if it came from within. Of course this would only work on new growth correct?
Ha, I can picture it, as my hair grows, the top half would be healthy and vitamin rich, and the bottom half dry and frail. Anyway, wqhat sorts of vitamins do you suggest? Prenatal? Multi-vitamin or something else?
I take my supplements for overall health rather than specifically for hair.
I take:
a multi
Vitamin D (for depression as much as normal reasons)
Calcium (post menopausal and need more than I get from food)
a B complex
flax seed oil
evening primrose oil
MSM (for my knee joints but hey, if it is good for hair too ;) )
For additional protein I take a protein powder ( http://www.gnc.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3043967 . This is wheat protein so it is vegan but if you are sensitive to wheat you may want to look elsewhere. I used to take a soy protein but I was getting benign cysts in my breasts so I stopped. You can also find protein powders that are from whey and eggs or a combination of several sources.
racrane
September 9th, 2011, 08:46 AM
Everyone is different but it's good to have a multivitamin. I also need to take an iron pill because of heavy periods. But everyone is different. I'd recommend talking to your doctor. But honestly, your diet is so important. I've cut out a lot of sugars in my diet and my skin cleared up amazingly and my hair's more shiny. I would definitely change your diet and protein is important, whether you're a vegetarian or not. (I am.)
Panth
September 10th, 2011, 02:24 AM
Everyone is different but it's good to have a multivitamin. I also need to take an iron pill because of heavy periods. But everyone is different. I'd recommend talking to your doctor. But honestly, your diet is so important. I've cut out a lot of sugars in my diet and my skin cleared up amazingly and my hair's more shiny. I would definitely change your diet and protein is important, whether you're a vegetarian or not. (I am.)
This 100x over.
If you have a poor diet, taking a multivitamin (or even lots of vitamins/supplements) is not going to magically make it all better. The best thing you can/should do is to improve your diet.
alyanna
September 10th, 2011, 02:42 AM
I wouldn't take a multivitamin and a hair and nails vitamin. If you look on the back and see what's in them, you'll see that the hair and nails one is basically a multivitamin with a couple of things added / at higher doses. If you take both the multivitamin and the hair and nails, you risk overdose (which can happen with both water-soluble and fat-soluble vitamins, though is easier to do in general with the fat-soluble ones). A particular one you need to watch out for is vitamin A.
I've always taken multi-vitamins, for as long as I can remember. I was especially diligent about taking them when my hair started thinning about 10-12 years ago. Honestly, mulitvitamins did not seem to do much to improve my situation.
In the past year or so, I've been back to a couple of dermatologists about my hair and they recommended sticking to hair and nail vitamins and skipping the multi. This is what I've been doing. I've also added Iron (with folic acid and B vitamins added) and this was based on recommendations by my gyno for my anemia and because i use the IUD which makes for long, heavy periods.
I just want to share that i've had much more success with the combination of hair and nail vitamin and Iron. My hair feels healthier and I'm finally having some regrowth (little hairs sticking up everywhere at the top of my head).
So that's what I recommend: a good quality hair and nail vitamin.
alyanna
September 10th, 2011, 02:44 AM
This 100x over.
If you have a poor diet, taking a multivitamin (or even lots of vitamins/supplements) is not going to magically make it all better. The best thing you can/should do is to improve your diet.
This too is soooo important.
Another thing I've been doing since joining LHC is being really conscientious about what i eat. I have a tendency to be very nonchalant about food which results in excessive weight loss and other health problems.
I'm really careful about getting enough protein and veggies at every meal.
In2wishin
September 10th, 2011, 06:55 AM
This 100x over.
If you have a poor diet, taking a multivitamin (or even lots of vitamins/supplements) is not going to magically make it all better. The best thing you can/should do is to improve your diet.
I pretty much agree with this. Supplements are just that: a supplement to your diet to fill in any gaps. One thing I did was find a website that allows you to complete a food diary and it will analyze it for nutritional value and compare it to targets set for your age, activity level, and weight. The targets are close to the RDA in most nutrients and it gives a maximum allowable for most.
When I did my diary for a week, I found that I was good in many of the nutrients but low in protein, calcium, omega 3 and omega 6. Many others were a little low but my multi brings me up to, or a little over, the target.
The website I used was http://cronometer.com/ but there are many others.
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