Short, long, spikes, or maybe a bob; we all love having healthy hair in various textures. Unfortunately, we spend a lot of money maintaining them as well. What most people don’t realise is that the quality of our hair largely depends on what we consume. The healthier our diet is the healthier our hair is. And when it comes to healthy habits, the first name that rolls off of our tongues is green tea. For ages, green tea has secretly maintained the lustrous shine of its drinkers’ hair. Known as a packaged miracle, green tea has enough antioxidants to benefit not just our hair but our entire bodies as well.
Here’s an insight on how good is green tea for hair:
Rich in Antioxidants and Essential Compounds
Green tea is rich in antioxidants like catechins and polyphenols. Not only do these antioxidants help build a better immunity of the body but also the hair. Catechins present in green tea aid in repressing DHT or Dihydrotestosterone. DHT is the hormone responsible for hair thinning and hair fall from the roots. It blocks 5-alpha-reductase, an enzyme that converts testosterone to DHT. Thus, it stops the shrinkage of the hair follicles and strengthens the hair roots. The Epigallocatechin gallate or EGCG polyphenol, present in green tea promotes hair growth on a cellular level. It strengthens the roots and activates the hair follicles. This encourages hair re-growth. Green tea also contains natural compounds like carotenoids, zinc, chromium, ascorbic acid, selenium, and manganese. Except chromium and manganese, all the other compounds help to prevent hair loss and stimulate hair re-growth.
Fights Stress and Depression
Stress is a major reason for deformity of hair structure and hair fall. Excessive stress can change the texture of your hair. Hair may develop a bulb at the tips, or even split ends. It may also start looking unnecessarily dry or lifeless. Stress tends to increase the production of adrenaline in our bodies, which in turn promotes excessive growth of testosterone. Testosterone is a male hormone that has huge implications on hair growth, frequently causing hair loss and/or hair thinning. Depression and hair loss are linked and can affect the quality of our hair, making them dry and brittle. Green tea is rich in the amino acid L-Theanine, which has a calming effect on people who drink it. Theanine stimulates production of brain waves known as alpha waves which alter the levels of neurotransmitters in the brain such as serotonin and dopamine. Also known as ‘happy hormones’, these can affect the moods of a person, acting as supplements for anxiety and stress. This beverage not only soothes the mind of the drinker but also helps them get a good night sleep.
Regulates Blood Flow to the Scalp
Our blood vessels are lined with deposits of plaque. Plaque is a combination of cholesterol, calcium, fat and other substances found in our blood. Plaque hardens over time and narrows our arteries which can cause a problem in smooth blood flow. Green tea breaks down plaque in blood vessels, therefore promoting blood flow in all organs of the body, including the scalp. The high levels of anti-oxidants filter out free radicals from the blood, reducing the toxicity of it. Due to this, our hair is less damaged and dry. The good regulation of blood to the scalp gives the hair a rich base for growth. Hair builds out healthier and thicker.
Anti-inflammatory in nature
Dry scalp and dandruff can cause inflammation. Dandruff also causes hair breakage and acts as a barrier that blocks new hair follicles from growing properly. Plus, a flaky, itchy scalp is never a great sight. Green tea not only helps soothe dry scalp from the inside, but also from the outside. Our hair is prone to another danger known as parasites. Parasites are not easily diagnosed and tend to weaken hair at the roots. A warm green tea rinse can destroy bacterial and fungal parasites. Regularly used, it can make the hair shinier and stronger from within.
Rich in vitamin B and C
Split ends are a recurring problem. They make our hair dry, thin and fuzzy looking. They generally happen due to mistreatment of hair with chemicals, and our lousy dietary habits. Hair can split at the ends due to insufficient Vitamin B consumption. Green tea is a wonderful source of vitamin B (pathothenic acid). It increases the hair’s moisture retention capacity, which in turn helps get rid of split ends and brittleness in hair. The Vitamin C counters dullness and makes the hair softer.
The pros of green tea for hair are many. Which is why, green tea helps in getting rid of dullness and damage of hair, all the while promoting hair regrowth. Green tea for hair is a wonderful solution, which not only weighs right for our body but also our pockets.
