Dark green vegetables are one of the most important foods for maintaining healthy hair and radiant skin.

These veggies even contain some of the vital nutrients for overall health. So here are the key nutrients that dark green leafy vegetables provide:

Iron
Green vegetables are very rich in iron. Iron is one of the most important nutrients for the hair as it carries oxygen to the hair follicles. While salmon is a good source of Iron, other iron sources include: liver, eggs, dates, raisins, and whole grain cereals.

Vitamin A
Your body needs Vitamin A to produce sebum, which is the oily substance secreted by your hair follicles that keeps your hair and scalp moist. This important vitamin also aids in the prevention of hair loss—this is because it improves your body's ability to handle stress. Vitamin A also strengthens the skin’s protective tissue and helps to flush out toxins.

Vitamin C
Vitamin C in dark green leafy vegetables is an antioxidant vitamin, which means it helps to protect your hair from free radicals. Why is this important? Well free radicals can cause your hair to become brittle and prone to hair disorders.

Finally, your body needs adequate amounts of these three key nutrients in order to maintain healthy hair (and skin). So starting today, try to incorporate as much leafy green vegetables into your diet as possible.


Visit www.FruitsandVeggiesMatter.gov/ to calculate the amount of vegetables needed, based on your daily caloric needs.