About Silica & Hair Health: Is Silica Good For Hair?
There are numerous reasons that lead to hair loss including age and poor nutrition.
As a person ages, the rate with which the hormones are produced also changes. This changes the way the hair grows and falls out.
Any kind of diet modification can also thin out the hair especially in those who follow a crash or fad diet to lose weight. In such a case, the body becomes deficient of certain nutrients that are essential for hair health.
Silica is a trace mineral that the body needs in small amounts and is essential for the skin and hair health. This mineral helps in strengthening the blood vessels and improving circulation. This stimulates the blood flow to the scalp and encourages hair growth.
Silica is used to boost the protein or collagen synthesis in various types of cells.(1) Hair is made up of keratin, a protein. Hence silica improves hair health.
Benefits of Silica for Hair Growth
Silica is a key in balancing calcium, vitamin D, and magnesium levels in the body. If these minerals are balanced in the body the hormones are balanced as well. You can also find silica in all the calcium supplements.
Silica helps in delivering essential nutrients to all the external parts of the body including hair follicles.
Silica also boosts the immune system as it has an ability to alkalize. Due to poor diet choices, the body get acidic and tend to fall sick. Silica helps create antibodies and fights off the disease and maintains the pH level.
Silica is good for hair as it is good for the development of every part of the body. It is seen that people with younger age groups have shiner, beautiful, and healthier hair than those of older age. As age advances, the amount of silica in the body decreases. This becomes a reason for hair loss.
A study done to look at the effects of orthosilicic acid (a bioavailable form of silica) on skin, nails, and hair found that women taking 10mg/day of silica had less skin roughness, stronger nails and stronger hair.(2)
Foods High In Silica
There are numerous foods that can be taken to increase the level of silica in the body:
Dairy and animal foods are low in silica. If someone is not able to get enough silica diet, then supplements can be taken. Horsetail extract is used in most of the silica supplements as it is a fantastic essential oil that is known for its silica content.(3)
The risk of side effects is less. The side effects include:
- Increased urination
- Risk of kidney stones
- Reduction in the absorption of other nutrients that a person consumes via food
Conclusion
Silica is essential for hair growth and you need to be sure that you are getting a sufficient amount in the diet.
For those suffering from hair loss, brittle nails, poor skin condition, giving silica a try is worth it.
It is always safe to consult a healthcare professional before making any changes in the diet or taking any supplements. A doctor can guide you with the best way you can include silica in the diet.
Also Read:
