Melanocytes are cells naturally produced by your body. These cells emit melanin to provide your hair with its natural color. As you age, melanin production slows, and you may suffer from gray hair. In fact, according to Women's Fitness Magazine, 50 percent of women have at least half a head-full of gray hair by the time they are 50. Due to genetic makeup, gray hair may tend to be drier and more fragile as your age continues to progress. Increasing your melanin production will help restore natural hair color and vitality.
Consume plenty of protein in your daily diet. Prolonged protein deficiency actually causes hair pigmentation to fade, according to Keratin.com. This is due to inadequate nutritional requirements for melanin production.
Eat seafood when you possess no known allergies to this food. Seafood is rich in iodine and copper. Decreased iodine and copper intake will inhibit melanin production in your hair. Crabs, fish and oysters are ideal sources of iodine and copper, with the added benefit of iron as well.
Practice yoga or deep breathing to reduce stress in your life. Stress and gray hair go hand in hand, according to Scientific American. A small study conducted by Tyler Cymet, head of family medicine at Sinai Hospital, concluded that individuals who lead stressful lives report premature graying more often than those who have lower stress levels.
Place several pieces of dried ribbed gourd in an airtight container, adding one to two cups of coconut oil. Allow to stand for three to four days at room temperature and then boil the gourd and coconut oil on medium-high heat until the gourd has liquefied. Apply to your hair once it has cooled for a melanin-enhancing deep conditioning treatment, suggests Women's Fitness Magazine.
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Writer Bio
Sharin Griffin has been a freelance writer since 2009, specializing in health-related articles. She has worked in the health-care industry as a certified nursing assistant and medical technician. Griffin's medical expertise encompasses bariatrics and geriatric care, with an emphasis on general medicine. She is completing an associate degree in health-care administration from Axia University.