Forget expensive products! These 7 Indian foods like amla, methi & curry leaves naturally boost hair growth, prevent hair fall, and add shine.
For those who care about their hair, most people reach for shampoos, serums, and expensive products. But the hard fact to accept is that good hair, strong hair, shiny hair, healthy hair, starts with what you are eating. Ancient Indian wisdom has always taught us that food is medicine; your kitchen is sometimes more effective than any product you can buy.
1. Amla – The Vitamin C Superfood
Amla has been praised in Ayurveda for centuries as a hair tonic; it’s packed with Vitamin C, antioxidants, and minerals that strengthen hair follicles, fight premature greying, and help support faster growth.
Why it works: Vitamin C improves collagen, which is what you need to build strong hair roots. The antioxidants help protect your hair from free radical damage.
How to eat it: Raw amla, fresh amla juice first thing in the morning, or mix amla powder in warm water. You can also eat amla powder with honey.
Pro tip: If you eat amla often, your hair will improve but so will your skin glow and overall immunity.
2. Methi Seeds – Nature’s Protein and Iron Source
If you’ve ever heard your grandmother mention fenugreek, guess what? Methi seeds are made up of protein, nicotinic acid, and iron – 3 things that help strengthen hair shafts and prevent hair loss.
Here is why this works: Proteins are required to create keratin, which is the protein that makes up hair. Iron will improve blood flow throughout the scalp and provide essential nutrients.
How to consume it: Soak fenugreek overnight and consume it in the morning on an empty stomach. You can also add sprouted methi to salad or if you want to make a paste of methi, soak in water, grind, and use as a hair mask.
Bonus – Keeping fenugreek or methi part of your regular diet helps with controlling dandruff, which in turn helps your hair grow healthier.
3. Curry Leaves – The secret to black, shiny hair
Curry leaves are often considered just something to use to add flavoring to South Indian dishes. Curry leaves contain beta carotene, amino acids, and antioxidants that help to repair damaged roots, repair split ends, and increase hair growth.
Here is why this works: Beta-carotene helps to prevent hair loss, and amino acids will strengthen hair fibres.
How to consume it: Use fresh leaves with dals, chutneys, curries, and during cooking. If you want to increase the benefits you can boil curry leaves in coconut oil and massage the warm oil into your scalp.
Did you know? Curry leaves may prevent premature greying to help maintain dark hair naturally.
4. Coconut – The Ultimate Hair Superfood
A coconut is everything a person wanting hair growth could want – it is used for oiling said hair as well as for consuming! Every form of coconut is healthy and nutrient-rich, whether it is coconut oil, tender coconut water, or coconut meat. It has loads of healthy fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals!
Why it works: If you didn’t already know, coconut contains lauric acid, which penetrates the hair shaft and reduces protein loss of hair while strengthening from the inside. The healthy fats also nourish the scalp, keeping it hydrated to prevent dryness and flakiness.
How to consume: Drink the coconut water for hydration; add coconut chutney to your meals; use coconut oil for cooking, or consume it in its purified oil form. For external application, you can continue that tradition of warm coconut oil massages that has been around for centuries.
What does coconut do? It has faster hair growth and gives your hair shine and softness that will not be matched.
5. Spinach – Iron & Biotin Powerhouse
Is your hair falling out? An underlying problem of iron deficiency may be an issue. Spinach is an Indian kitchen staple that is packed with iron, folate, and biotin to help quickly develop strong and thick, full, healthy hair.
Why it work: Iron helps oxygen supply to hair roots, folate helps renew cells, and biotin is the vitamin that connects to faster hair growth and reduction in hair loss.
How to consume: Add palak to dals, parathas, smoothies or soupy things. And when you do so, consume it with a food rich in Vitamin C (e.g. lemon juice) for iron absorption.
Green leafy vegetables like spinach help not only the health of your hair, but keep your energy high and skin glowing too.
6. Nuts and Seeds – Omega 3 Superstars
Almonds, walnuts, flaxseed and chia seeds are high in omega-3 fatty acids, protein and zinc, all important vitamins for healthy and strong hair. The healthy fats provide moisture from within the hair follicle to nourish and support the scalp.
Why it works: Omega 3 fatty acids help with inflammation on the scalp, and when your scalp is inflamed it can stimulate new hair follicles, and stop breakage. Zinc also helps reverse hair loss by strengthening the roots.
How to consume: Snack on a handful of almonds or walnuts a day. Sprinkling flaxseed or chia seeds into poison drinks, oats and salads are great use.
Regular consumption of nuts and seeds can also assist with stress levels, which are a great trigger for hair loss.
Bonus Tip: Drinking water
Combined with adding any of these foods, do not forget the basics! Drink at least 8 glasses of water and maintain a balanced diet too! Hydrating keeps your scalp in good condition and delivers all the nutrients to feed your hair.
Conclusion
You do not need to spend money on excessive chemical treatments or products. You can achieve a good amount of extra hair growth, a reduction in hair fall, and improve your overall hair health by eating any of these **7 Indian Superfoods (amla, methi, curry leaves, coconut, spinach, nuts & seeds, and eggs)** on a daily basis.
FAQs
1. Which Indian foods promote fast hair growth?
When it comes to fast hair growth, amla or Indian gooseberry is one of the best foods. The high Vitamin C content in amla will stimulate collagen production and therefor strengthen hair roots and promote hair growth.
2. How long will it take to notice the effects of these foods?
The main factor will be consistency. If you eat these foods in your daily diet, it may take 2–3 months for you to notice less hair loss and more shine in your hair.
3. Can vegetarian foods take the place of eggs for hair health?
Yes. Foods such as paneer, lentils, soybeans, and nuts are high in protein, which helps with healthy hair growth just like eggs, but in vegetarian form.
4. Do curry leaves really work to prevent grey hair?
Yes. They are loaded with antioxidants and nutrients that prevent greying including beta-carotene, amino acids, and antioxidants that can promote dark, shiny hair.
5. Should I eat these foods all the time to get the best results?
Fish yes! To achieve the best results include these foods in a balanced diet, eating them every day provides hair with the protein, vitamins, and minerals it needs to grow and be strong.
6. Can these foods stop hair fall caused by stress or hormones?
Keep in mind that while diet is very important if emotional or hormonal related hair fall occurs you may need to make lifestyle changes and/or seek medical advice. Even in these instances accentuating these food will improve hair strength and scalp health.
