
REVERSE GREY HAIR naturally
Is it Possible?
Most of us think that turning grey is a natural part of the ageing process or it’s simply because we are the owner of poor genetics. While these factors do play a minor role, when you understand the process of why hair loses its colour, it seems possible to slow this down or even reverse this if you understand the reason behind this. These hacks are especially useful for anyone that finds themselves going gray before their time. You have probably heard of people turning white overnight from the loss of a loved one or a severe illness within their lives. This can happen as hair colour is impacted by emotional and environmental factors.
If you are looking for natural solutions to maintain your hair colour, read on, as nature and science have discovered some incredible drivers towards what causes a loss of hair pigment and therefore, some handy natural solutions to rectify this. Within the hair there exist cells known as melanin or melanocytes. This is what gives hair its natural colour. If something affects the production of melanin, hair will begin to lose its colour. Nutrients responsible for melanin production include tyrosine, folic acid, catalase, Vitamin A, C, D, B12 and copper. Genetic factors can affect melanin production, however with what we know now, a bad gene can be turned into a good gene with the right nutrients.
A 2009 study discovered that going gray can result from a buildup of hydrogen peroxide in the hair follicles, which literally bleaches your hair from the inside out (1). Some of us may remember bleaching our hair ‘bottle blonde’ in our youth, and to do this we virtually burnt our hair with hydrogen peroxide. This is the chemical that makes your hair turn blonde, but it is also the chemical made in the body that has a role in turning your hair gray.
Catalase is a powerful antioxidant that is made in the human body and one of its roles is to help break down hydrogen peroxide into water and oxygen. As most people get older, catalase production slows down resulting in more hydrogen peroxide accumulation not only in the body, but in the hair follicles. Hydrogen peroxide literally bleaches the hair pigment from the inside out resulting in gray or white hair. Therefore, boosting catalase levels in the body could prove a viable solution to maintaining hair color.
The other powerful antioxidant that turns hydrogen peroxide into water enabling its safe removal from the body is glutathione peroxidase. Glutathione levels naturally deplete with age and its vital role is to offer antioxidant protection against free radicals that damage cells, tissues and organs. One of these free radicals is hydrogen peroxide.
What causes a reduction in catalase and glutathione levels?
- Prolonged illness
- Shock and trauma
- A poor diet deficient in wholefoods and antioxidants
- Deficiencies of Vitamin B9 (folate), copper, tyrosine, Vitamin E, C, D and B12 can result in low catalase and glutathione levels
- Genetic factors – homozygous glutathione and catalase genes requiring more nutrition
- Poor Sleep
- A Lack of Exercise
- A high intake of alcohol, recreational drugs and medications
- And more…
Diet to the Rescue
To build up the body’s antioxidant levels of glutathione and catalase it is essential to eat lots of antioxidant rich whole foods rich in sulfur, Vitamin E, C, zinc, and others. The best of these foods include:
- Eat lots of glutathione boosting foods like grass fed, organic red meats, broccoli, cauliflower, brussels sprouts, cabbage, avocado, spinach, eggplant and asparagus
- Add fresh turmeric to your diet – the curcumin can reduce oxidative stress damage
- Rosemary is an incredible herb for boosting blood circulation to the hair follicle while reducing gray hair
- Eat sulfur rich foods like garlic, onions, shallots
- Eat Vitamin C rich foods like papaya, kiwi, citrus, strawberries, bell peppers
- Add selenium rich foods like organic chicken, brazil nuts, organic meats, cottage cheese and brown rice into your diet
- Wheatgrass, barley grass and spirulina are rich in glutathione, superoxide and catalase
- Eat more watermelon, honeydew and rockmelon – this is a great way to boost superoxide dismutase levels
- Liver and organ meats are high in catalase
Vitamins and Minerals to the Rescue
Vitamin C is one of the most important vitamins to build catalase and glutathione levels. I only use liposomal Vitamin C, as most Vitamin C is flushed out via urine. When it is in its liposomal form, absorption is optimal allowing it to get directly into the blood to boost antioxidant status.
Vitamin E helps to boost the production of catalase and glutathione, two important antioxidants that can prevent oxidation to the hair follicle that drives graying. It also helps to boost blood circulation, delivering nutrients and oxygen to the hair follicles.
Vitamin D has immune-modulating effects, that could influence inflammatory conditions to the hair follicles and scalp. It plays a role in the hair follicle cycle and is therefore important for overall hair health.
Vitamin B12 plays a role in melanin production, the pigment that is responsible for hair colour. It also supports the formation of red blood cells encouraging better oxygen and nutrient transport to hair follicles. A deficiency of Vitamin B12 can result in hair changes including early graying of the hair.
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Vitamin B9 (Folate) deficiency can result in skin and hair changes, contributing to thinning hair and a loss in hair health. Hair pigmentation is highly influenced by various B vitamins including B9 and B12.
Zinc is involved in the production of melanin, the pigment that is responsible for hair colour. It is a powerful antioxidant that helps to combat oxidative stress damage, a major driver towards early graying.
Tyrosine, an amino acid, is a precursor to melanin synthesis. Melanin is produced in specialized cells called melanocytes, which are present in hair follicles. Adequate tyrosine levels are necessary for the production of both eumelanin (responsible for brown and black hair) and pheomelanin (responsible for red and yellow hair).
Copper is involved in the synthesis of melanin within melanocytes, specialized cells in hair follicles responsible for producing pigment. Melanin comes in two types: eumelanin (brown and black) and pheomelanin (red and yellow). Adequate copper levels are necessary for the production of both types of melanin. It is also a cofactor for several antioxidant enzymes, such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), which help protect cells from oxidative stress. Oxidative stress can contribute to premature aging, includng changes in hair pigmentation.
Botanicals, Mushrooms and Superfoods to the Rescue
Chlorella is super rich in chlorophyll which may help to maintain melanin in the pigment in the hair
Phytoplankton is a rich source of glutathione and superoxide dismutase – two important ingredients to help remove hydrogen peroxide from the body.
Curcumin, found in Turmeric, is a potent antioxidant with anti-inflammatory effects. Oxidative stress and inflammation are factors that can contribute to premature aging, including changes in hair pigmentation. By reducing oxidative stress and inflammation, curcumin may indirectly support healthy hair pigmentation. It has been shown to promote cellular health and regeneration thereby benefiting hair follicles and healthy hair growth, which could also help to restore normal hair pigmentation.
Chaga mushrooms are rich in antioxidants like polyphenols and melanin, which can help neutralize free radicals that contribute to oxidative stress. Oxidative stress is implicated in the aging process, including changes in hair pigmentation. By reducing oxidative stress, Chaga may support overall hair health, including hair pigmentation. It has been used in Siberia and Asia for centuries for its vitality and longevity properties.
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Reishi mushroom contains powerful antioxidants and compounds that have been studied for their anti-inflammatory effects. These properties may help to reduce oxidative stress and inflammation, factors involved in premature aging, including changes in hair pigmentation. Being a powerful adaptogen, it can help the body to adapt to stress promoting balance and resilience.
Ashwaghanda is a powerful adaptogen that helps the body to adapt to all kinds of stressors – physical, emotional and environmental. Chronic stress negatively impacts health, including hair quality. Ashwagandha indirectly supports healthy hair growth and colour by positively negating any damage from stress hormones. It is a powerful anti-inflammatory that can support healthy scalp and follicle health. It contains compounds that act as antioxidants, helping to neutralize free radicals that contribute to oxidative stress. Oxidative stress can accelerate aging processes, potentially affecting hair pigmentation. This herb influences hormone levels, including cortisol and thyroid hormones.
Fo-Ti, also known as Polygonum multiflorum or He Shou Wu in Chinese, is an herb widely used in traditional Chinese medicine for promoting longevity, hair health, and vitality. It contains compounds with antioxidant properties, like anthraquinones and stilbenes. These antioxidants help to neutralize free radicals that can contribute to oxidative stress, implicated in premature ageing including changes in hair colour.
Lifestyle Techniques
Sleep quality is important for helping to slow down the onset of gray hair. A lack of sleep can lead to increased stress levels, both physical and psychological. Stress is known to contribute to oxidative stress, which can accelerate the aging processes, including changes in hair pigmentation. Oxidative stress damages cells, including those responsible for producing hair pigments. It also depletes glutathione levels, needed to help reduce the risk of early graying.
Regular exercise maintains healthy glutathione levels. A 2014 clinical study from Free Radical Biology and Medicine, showed that glutathione levels were higher among older adults who regularly exercised through their lives. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S089158491400224X?via%3Dihub
According to a study from the Journal of Integrative and Complementary Medicine, Yoga is beneficial for increasing glutathione levels. Healthy young adults who practiced yoga for 90 minutes once a week had higher levels of glutathione compared to a controlled group.
Regular alcohol drinkers can deplete glutathione stores by up to 70% thereby contributing to oxidative stress damage. It can also cause the depletion of valuable B vitamins needed to maintain hair pigmentation.
Ancient Chinese Wisdom
Greying or whitening of hair is a natural progression of age. However, if this occurs prematurely, it can be a reflection of other imbalances. The Chinese believe that premature graying of hair is caused from an excess intake of yang or ‘male’ quality foods within the diet. This means too much animal foods, overcooked vegetables, salt and a low intake of raw vegetables. It is also believed that the liver and the gallbladder needs extra support
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