Are you wondering about some questions like “What kind of ingredients does the hair come from?” if so, scroll down to this post as we will get to know more about What is Hair Made Of!
Hair is made up of a protein called “keratin,” which is also made up of various elements. Therefore, in order to keep hair healthy and prevent thinning hair, it is essential to understand its ingredients.
Therefore, in this article, we will explain in detail the components of hair and the methods of preventing thinning hair based on those components. If you want to help prevent thinning hair, please refer to this article.
Hair is Composed of “Keratin”
90% of hair is made up of a protein called “keratin”. Keratin is a general term for proteins containing sulfur, and if it is deficient, it can cause hair to become thin, lose its elasticity and elasticity, and become difficult to grow.
In addition, the proteins that are the main components of keratin are composed of amino acids such as glutamic acid and aspartic acid, and essential amino acids such as isoleucine and tryptophan.
Essential amino acids are a general term for amino acids that animals need to survive and that must be taken from the diet because they are not synthesized by the body.
By the way, keratin is known not only as a component of hair but also as a component of the stratum corneum of nails and skin and is an essential protein for humans.
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Hair Thinning Prevention from the Main Component of Hair
Understanding the main components of hair and how they work can also help prevent thinning hair. Below, we will explain in detail how to prevent thinning hair from the perspective of “the main component of hair.”
● Be Careful About the Amount and Frequency of Smoking and Drinking
Some of the main components of hair have other roles besides being the source of the hair. Among the amino acids that make up keratin, “cystine” has the highest content. Cystine is made by combining two cysteines, and the reason why hair is harder than skin is that it contains a large amount of cystine, which has the characteristics of being hard and elastic.
Cystine not only has the effect of keeping hair healthy but it can also be expected to have a skin-whitening effect by suppressing the production of melanin, which causes spots and freckles.
It is also said to have the effect of detoxifying harmful substances and protecting the body from aging and illness. It is an amino acid that is also used as a medicine in Japan for the treatment of eruption, urticaria, drug eruption, toxic eruption, and Vulgaris.
Cystine, which has such a role, is consumed by smoking and drinking alcohol. If you have these habits, be careful about the amount and frequency of hair thinning prevention.
● Eat Essential Amino Acids from Your Diet
Cystine is also synthesized from methionine, which is contained in hair and is one of the constituent amino acids of keratin.
Methionine is one of the “essential amino acids” and can only be taken from the diet. In addition to being the source of cystine, it is also said to have the function of reducing cholesterol, an effect of improving liver function, and an effect of enhancing immunity. Insufficiency is said to cause diuretic function deterioration and swelling, as well as arteriosclerosis and hair loss.
Ingredients such as bluefin tuna, chicken breast, lean pork loin, and unadjusted soymilk contain a large amount of methionine. Methionine should be taken consciously from these ingredients to promote hair synthesis and growth.
● Promote Hair Growth with a Nutritionally Balanced Diet
In addition to the amino acids introduced above, zinc and vitamins are other nutrients that promote hair formation.
Zinc is a nutrient required for the synthesis of keratin. If keratin is not synthesized, new hair will not grow and hair loss may increase. It is also said that zinc has a function of suppressing 5α-reductase, which causes hair loss, so be sure to take it.
Ingredients that are high in zinc include:
- Oyster
- Pork liver
- Parmesan cheese
- Beef shoulder loin
- Dried squid
- egg yolk
- Pure cocoa
- Matcha
- roasted sesame
- Grilled seaweed
- almond
- Kiriboshi daikon
Source: Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology | Food Ingredients Database
Also Read: Which Food is Good for Thinning Hair
Among them, oysters are known as a foodstuff that contains a lot of zinc. It is said that eating boiled in water has a higher zinc content (per 100g of ingredients) than raw, so please try it.
However, the more zinc you take, the less hair thinning you can prevent.
The recommended daily intake (recommended amount) is 11 mg for adult men and 8 mg for adult women, and an overdose exceeding this recommended amount may cause side effects such as nausea and nausea.
However, zinc has a low intestinal absorption rate of about 30%, and it is a concern that it is difficult to be absorbed into the body even if it is consciously ingested. Therefore, we recommend taking “vitamins,” which are nutrients that help absorb zinc.
Vitamins work to increase the rate of zinc absorption when taken with zinc. There are various types of vitamins, but among them, vitamin B2 is a nutrient necessary for hair production and can also be expected to have the effect of suppressing the excessive secretion of sebum, which causes thinning hair.
Ingredients that are high in vitamin B2 include:
- lever
- eel
- Dairy products
- egg
- Natto
- Green and yellow vegetables
Source: Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology | Food Ingredients Database
However, as with zinc, an overdose of vitamins is not good for the body, so you need to be careful about your intake.
In this way, each nutrient has its own function, and by ingesting it at the same time as the ones that are compatible with each other, the absorption rate is increased. Therefore, it is important to take each nutrient in a well-balanced manner, rather than eating an unbalanced diet to get either zinc or vitamins. Be aware of a nutritionally balanced diet to grow healthy hair.
Summary of Hair Components and Measures Against Thinning and Hair Loss
90% of the components of hair are proteins called keratin. In more detail, keratin is composed of amino acids and essential amino acids.
Therefore, it is necessary to consciously ingest each amino acid, especially essential amino acids that are not synthesized in the body, so that keratin is not deficient. Also, be careful about the amount and frequency of cystine, which is a type of amino acid, as it is consumed by smoking and drinking alcohol.
In addition to amino acids, nutrients such as zinc and vitamins are also required to promote hair production. Balance each nutrient to keep your hair healthy.
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