Biotin: A Natural and Effective Treatment for Hair Loss
We are all looking for lustrous and lusciously thick hair and even though few of us are lucky enough to have an ample mane, hair fall and problems with hair growth are a reality that most people have to contend with in time.
Although there are several products in the market that claim to prevent hair growth, harsh chemicals may be used in them which may do more harm than good.
Biotin, a natural substance from the Vitamin B family has gained a lot of popularity in recent years. A lot has been said and written about this substance and its ability to stop hair loss. Biotin is also known as Vitamin H and a deficiency of this substance leads to premature hair graying and hair loss among other things. Many hair experts, doctors and naturopaths recommend biotin supplements to tackle the problem of hair loss. So, here is some information on how biotin can be used if you are facing hair loss and imminent baldness.
Biotin is an essential nutrient that is used in metabolism and the production of proteins in the body. The vitamin is directly linked with the production of a protein called Keratin which is found in your hair and nails; hair graying is the loss of keratin from the hollow protein tube; that is our hair. This is one of the reasons why biotin can also be used as the first line of defense against premature hair graying.
There are several food items that are a rich source of biotin such as liver, egg yolk, cauliflower, brown rice, brewer's yeast and mushrooms. Biotin is also produced by the bacteria found naturally in the gut.
Even though there are several food items that have biotin in them, the quantity is very miniscule which simply means that you would have to eat a lot of these food items to get enough biotin in case of a deficiency. It is recommended that you eat a healthy well balanced diet to get all the vital nutrients including biotin; however, biotin supplements are found to be more effective when used to control hair loss.
Normally the recommended dosage of biotin is 2 to 3 mg per day but doctors may prescribe as much as 10 mg in case of severe hair loss; however, this only done for a short time.
Topical hair care products that contain biotin are also known to have a role in hair growth and the prevention of hair loss. When used in hair care products, biotin not only promotes hair growth but also adds shine and body to the hair making it look luscious and thick
Ideally, you should consider taking a combination of a B-complex with biotin supplements because studies have proven that biotin and other isolated B vitamins are absorbed better when consumed with other B-vitamins. Since biotin is water soluble you can use the supplement with water, however you should avoid raw eggs, antibiotics, alcohol and fried food when taking biotin supplements.
If you are looking for an easily available yet effective treatment for hair loss, you simply can't go wrong with biotin supplements and hair care products containing biotin. For best results couple the supplements, hair care products with biotin with a healthy diet that includes the biotin rich food items. There are no side effects associated with the consumption of biotin even in case of very high doses.
