Gray hair is a direct sign of aging and older people would like to prevent this from happening. But like aging, graying hair is a natural, unstoppable process. Having gray hair is not so bad. You can still have healthy and beautiful hair despite the gray and one way of achieving that is by giving your gray hair vitamins.
Graying of hair is a natural process. Hair turns gradually grey (gray) due to a reduction in the production of melanin pigment in the hair bulb as the age increases. You will observe the first grey hairs usually near the temples, then to the crown and then at the back of your head. Premature graying is due to a rapid decline in melanin.
How does hair become gray?
Each hair follicle contains pigment cells that produce the chemical called melanin that gives the hair its natural color. The hair's light or dark color depends on the amount of melanin each hair contains. As we get older, the pigment cells in the hair follicles die gradually. Because of this, the production of melanin becomes weak, making its color to fade to silver, gray, or white.
Causes for Premature Graying:-
The premature graying may be due to following reasons:
(1) Premature graying of the hair is basically hereditary. So if your father's or grandfather's hair started early to turn Grey there is a chance that your will also have premature graying of hair.
(2) Excessive prolonged stress, anxiety and tension.
(3) Sever illness like typhoid too can start graying of hair.
(4) Excessive intake of tea, coffee and alcohol.
(5) Excessive intake of fried and oily foods.
(6) Excessive intake of spices.
(7) Excessive intake of sour and acidic foods.
(8) Deficiency of nutritionist especially copper can reduce the production of melanin.
Remedy for Premature Graying (Gray) of Hair:-
(1) Eat protein rich foods. Proteins - Sources: sprouted whole grains, cereals, meat and soy in your diet.
(2) Eat foods rich in iron, minerals and vitamin A and B.
Vitamin A - Sources: dark green vegetables & yellow fruits.
Vitamin B - Sources: fresh green leafy vegetables, bananas, tomatoes, cauliflower, cereals, liver kidney, yogurt, yeast and wheat germ.
Minerals like zinc, iron and copper - Sources: zinc - red meat, chicken & green vegetables
iron - beef, dried apricots, red meat, parsley, eggs, wheat & sunflower seeds (Iron Rich Foods)
copper - sunflower seeds, cashews, almonds, crabs and oysters, egg yolk & whole grains.
(3) Eat foods rich in iodine such as banana, carrots and fish.
(4) Drink butter milk with 2 teaspoons each of yeast and wheat germ will prevent and cure premature graying of hair.
(5) Rub Indian gooseberry (Amla) mixed in coconut oil into the scalp regularly. It can show wonderful results, your gray hair will turn black. Boil some dried Amla pieces in coconut oil till it turns black. Apply this oil to prevent hair graying.
(6) Grate some fresh ginger. Mix with honey and place it in a jar. Eat 1 tea spoon every day.
(7) Massage your hairs with coconut oil and lemon juice every day.
(8) Boil some dried ribbed gourd in coconut oil till it turns black. Massage this oil in scalp and hair roots should be massaged into the scalp.
(9) Mix 1 tablespoon of table salt to a cup of strong black tea without milk. Massage this water on the scalp. Wash your hair after an hour.
(10) Boil some curry leaves in coconut oil and apply in scalp and hair roots.
(11) Make a paste of 2 tspn henna powder, 1 tspn yogurt, 1 tsp fenugreek (methi seed powder, 3 tspn coffees, 2 tspn basil juices and 3 tspn mint juice and apply to the hair. Wash hair with shampoo after 3 hours.
(12) Massage your scalp and hair with butter made from cow milk twice a week.