Can Certain Drinks Increase Hair Growth?
While a poor diet can affect the health of your hair, there's no one food or drink that can help it grow faster. However, there is evidence that lysine and vitamin B-6 may be beneficial, so including drinks rich in these nutrients may help hair health and growth. If you're concerned about the health of your hair, talk to your doctor -- changes in your hair might signal an underlying medical disorder that needs treatment.
Chocolate Almond Milk
Women with high rates of hair shedding seem to benefit from the amino acid lysine, according to a 2002 article published in Clinical and Experimental Dermatology. Ready-to-drink chocolate almond milk is a source of this essential amino acid, and including it in your diet may help up your intake for better hair. Regular almond milk, on the other hand, is not a significant source of the amino acid, meeting only 1 percent of the daily value.
Nonfat Cow's Milk
Fluoride & Hair Loss
Learn More
For more lysine, nonfat cow's milk is a good choice, meeting 15 percent of the daily value. Nonfat cow's milk is also a source of vitamin B-6, meeting 5 percent of the daily value. A Polish study published in 2001 in Wiadomości Lekarskie found that vitamin B-6 helped improve hair health, as well as limit hair loss, in a group of women with alopecia. A more recent study published in 2013 in the Archives of Dermatological Research also notes that vitamin B-6 supplementation helped prevent the loss of hair in mice receiving chemotherapy. The mice in the study were also given cysteine, which may have influenced their lack of hair loss.
Soy Protein Drink
A soy-based protein powder that you can make into a drink is also a good source of both lysine and vitamin B-6. One scoop of the powder mixed with water meets more than 100 percent of your needs for lysine and 4 percent of your daily needs for vitamin B-6. You can also mix your protein powder in almond or cow's milk to increase the hair-promoting nutrient content of either drink.
Benefit of Balanced Diet
How to Strengthen Hair Follicles
Learn More
When it comes to nutrition and hair health, you might get more benefit from eating an overall healthy diet. A study published in 2015 in Dermatology Research and Practice notes that hair loss increases with poor intakes of protein, essential fats, vitamins and minerals. Including fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins and healthy fats, in addition to nutrient-rich beverages, may offer the most benefits to your hair and its growth.
Related Articles
References
- Clinical and Experimental Dermatology: Nutritional Factors and Hair Loss
- Wiadomości Lekarskie: Evaluation of Vitamin B-6 and Calcium Pantothenate Effectiveness on Hair Growth from Clinical and Trichographic Aspects for Treatment of Diffuse Alopecia in Women
- Archives of Dermatological Research: Chemoprevention of Doxorubicin-Induced Alopecia in Mice by Dietary Administration of L-Cystine and Vitamin B-6
- HealthAliciousNess.com: Nutrient Ranking Tool: 200 Dairy and Egg Products Highest in Lysine
- HealthAliciousNess.com: Nutrient Ranking Tool: 200 Beverages Highest in Lysine
- HealthAliciousNess.com: Nutrition Facts Comparison Tool: Nonfat Milk, Soy Protein Powder, Almond Milk
- Dermatology Research and Practice: A 3-Month, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study Evaluating the Ability of an Extra-Strength Marine Protein Supplement to Promote Hair Growth and Decrease Shedding in Women With Self-Perceived Thinning Hair
Writer Bio
Jill Corleone is a registered dietitian and health coach who has been writing and lecturing on diet and health for more than 15 years. Her work has been featured on the Huffington Post, Diabetes Self-Management and in the book "Noninvasive Mechanical Ventilation," edited by John R. Bach, M.D. Corleone holds a Bachelor of Science in nutrition.