Foods to boost vital glands

Diet is one of the important areas that I have always emphasised when discussing hair and scalp care. The state of your hair often reflects the quality of your diet.

If you practise self-care, you will practise eating the right types of food in the right portions, since too much of one thing is not good. If you do not fall into this category, then let me give you a few categories of foods that you can add to your meals, to improve the health of your hair and body.

To recap, the glands that are working together to give you the most healthy and luscious hair are your pituitary, adrenal and thyroid glands. As a healthy hair and scalp doctor, I am sharing with you a few categories of foods that can assist in strengthening these glands.

Protein-rich foods: The hormones secreted by pituitary, thyroid and adrenal glands are mostly amino-based in nature.

Amino acids are the building blocks of protein. In order for these glands to secrete good types of hormones, it is important that you include the right amount of protein in your diet.

Sources of protein are lean beef, poultry, fish, nuts, soy and eggs.

Manganese-rich food: For these glands to function, they need manganese as their booster.

Think of this mineral as their main food. The best sources of manganese are organ meats and legumes. This is because they contain heam iron. Heam iron facilitates proper and faster absorption of manganese. Green leafy vegetables and whole grains are also good sources iron. However, the non-heam type of iron present in these foods can affect the absorption of manganese.

Vitamin- rich food: Vitamins are known for its immune boosting effect on the body, including the minute members of your body, such as the pituitary, thyroid and adrenal glands. Vitamins E and D are the best for these glands. Vitamin E protects them from harmful free radicals that you easily get from the UV rays and air pollution. Vitamin D, on the other hand, maintains the integrity of these glands and promotes their ability to secrete hormones. Almonds and plant oils are the best sources for Vitamin E, while Vitamin D can be obtained through eating fatty fish like tuna and salmon as well as dairy products.

In spite of what is said above, please be reminded that a good diet is not the only solution to your hair problems. Expert advice, from trichologist, is still the best option.

Trichologists are holistic care practitioners who examine your hair and scalp in order to identify the underlying cause of the problem that you are experiencing.

When the issue is related to hormonal imbalances, you will be referred to the right specialist in order to obtain proper medical management.

As a healthy hair doctor, I understand that having severe hair loss is difficult to deal with especially for first timers. Yes, we address those problems through medications and therapies but we also make sure your self-esteem is intact.

You have the choice of what to do with your body and you always have to be responsible with your choices. Think right, do right and eat right.

Germaine Williams Beckles is a doctor of trichology (DT, TECT) and a nutrition consultant (NC), http://germainewilliamsbeckles.

com http://www.geesexclusive.

com, or 627-4659. Email us your questions to info@drgees.com