Protein And Amino Acids For Hair Growth
Protein And Amino Acids For Hair Growth
Many people
ask me what proteins are most appropriate for hair growth. People with hair
loss often turn to protein and amino acid supplements as part of their
treatment regime. Although it is rare for a lack of protein to be a primary
cause of hair loss, there is no harm in taking extra protein or amino acid
supplements if you wish for your hair growth. If you take a blood test your
serum total protein should be between 60–80 grams per liter. Less than this
suggests a problem with protein intake. And you may take some of the protein
supplements now available either as powder protein supplements or liquid
protein supplements. Soya bean protein is considered good for hair growth but
takes care not to take it in excess otherwise it can have some negative effect.
Amino acids and proteins
Much
importance has been given to proteins for hair growth. Protein serves as the
major structural component of all cells in the body, and functions as enzymes,
in membranes, as transport carriers, and as some hormones. During digestion and
absorption dietary proteins are broken down to amino acids which serve as the
building blocks for the formation of structural proteins and functional
compounds of protein such as enzymes and precursors of hormones etc. There are
20 amino acids in all which are required for the synthesis of proteins.
Proteins for hair growth
But out of
which some of the amino acids cannot be synthesized by the body and are
therefore are required to be taken as dietary amino acid supplements if you
wish to take them to stimulate your hair growth. The amino acids:
Phenylalanine, Valine, Tryptophan, Threonine, Isoleucine, Methionine, Histidine
Arginine, Lysine Leucine are considered to be essential amino acids. But the
distinction between essential and non-essential amino acids is not very clear,
as some amino acids can be produced from others. For example, the
sulfur-containing amino acids, methionine, and homocysteine can be converted
into each other but neither can be synthesized de novo in humans. Likewise,
cysteine can be synthesized from homocysteine, but not otherwise. So, for
convenience, sulfur-containing amino acids are sometimes considered a single
pool of nutritionally-equivalent amino acids.
Hair
follicles require a constant supply of amino acids via the bloodstream to
maintain hair growth. Hair follicles contain some of the fastest-growing and
dividing cells in the body so their energy, vitamin, mineral, and amino acid
consumption is high. If amino acids are lacking, particularly the essential amino
acids listed above, the hair follicles may be less able to produce hair fiber.
Benefits of amino acids
A lack of
amino acids in a first-world country diet is very unusual and for the most
part, supplements are not required. However, everyone should ensure they have a
healthy, balanced diet that provides all the amino acids required. There are
many amino acids, but the nine amino acids which are known as essential amino
acids must be provided in the diet and are indispensable amino acids that are required
for both hair and other functions of the body. The body can make the other 11
amino acids needed to synthesize specific structures from the nine essential
amino acids and carbohydrate precursors.
Protein supplements
Proteins from
animal sources, such as meat, poultry, fish, eggs, milk, cheese, and yogurt,
provide all nine indispensable amino acids in adequate amounts and for this
reason, are considered "complete proteins". Proteins from plants,
legumes, grains, nuts, seeds, and vegetables tend to be deficient in one or
more of the indispensable amino acids and are called 'incomplete proteins'.
Vegetarian and vegan diets may contain enough protein, but people following
these diets may not be receiving all the essential amino acids if they do not pay
attention to the type of protein they eat. Vegan diets adequate in total
protein content can be "complete" by combining sources of incomplete
proteins that lack different indispensable amino acids.
Amino acid function for hair
In terms of
hair fiber production, the most important amino acid is cysteine. Cysteine is
the most common amino acid in hair. It is particularly important because it
contains sulfur molecules. As part of a keratin protein chain, these sulfur
molecules cross-link with each other to produce disulfide bonds. These chemical
bonds are what gives hair its strength. For this reason, the most popular amino
acid supplement taken for hair is cysteine.
Besides the
proteins, nutritional diet vitamin supplements and safe herbal supplements are
the best diet supplements for hair growth.
Shared By: Hair Byte
Author:
Samantha Lancaster
https://hairbyte.com/
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