• The best foods for stopping hair loss

    Think you need pricey pills, supplements or lotions to prevent thinning hair or baldness? Think again! Research shows that the 20 foods on this list can all help to stop hair loss, and even reverse it, owing to the abundance of one or more of these four follicle-boosting nutrients: iron, zinc, lysine and dietary antioxidants.

  • Slide 2 of 21: As well as being the world’s most common nutritional deficiency, a lack of iron is a well-known cause of hair loss. What may be less well-known is the fact that canned clams are among the richest food sources of iron.

    Canned clams

    As well as being the world’s most common nutritional deficiency, a lack of iron is a well-known cause of hair loss. What may be less well-known is the fact that canned clams are among the richest food sources of iron.

  • Slide 3 of 21: Seafood goes two for two at the top of the iron-rich list, with oysters containing 7.8 mg of the nutrient per 85-gram (three-ounce) serving. Oysters have the added benefit of being packed with zinc—up to 71 mg per 85-gram (three-ounce) serving—which has been shown to promote hair growth.

    Oysters

    Seafood goes two for two at the top of the iron-rich list, with oysters containing 7.8 mg of the nutrient per 85-gram (three-ounce) serving. Oysters have the added benefit of being packed with zinc—up to 71 mg per 85-gram (three-ounce) serving—which has been shown to promote hair growth.

  • Slide 4 of 21: Vegetarians and vegans looking to get more hair-saving iron and zinc into their diets can snack on pumpkin seeds, which contain around 4.2 mg of iron and 2.9 mg of zinc per 28-gram (one-ounce) serving.

    Pumpkin seeds

    Vegetarians and vegans looking to get more hair-saving iron and zinc into their diets can snack on pumpkin seeds, which contain around 4.2 mg of iron and 2.9 mg of zinc per 28-gram (one-ounce) serving.

  • Slide 5 of 21: An 85-gram (three-ounce) serving of cow-derived protein provides a trifecta of hair-growth stimulants: 5.2 mg of iron (in beef liver); up to 8.6 mg of zinc (in various cuts of cooked beef); and approximately 3 g of lysine, an essential amino acid that has been shown to support hair regrowth.

    Beef

    An 85-gram (three-ounce) serving of cow-derived protein provides a trifecta of hair-growth stimulants: 5.2 mg of iron (in beef liver); up to 8.6 mg of zinc (in various cuts of cooked beef); and approximately 3 g of lysine, an essential amino acid that has been shown to support hair regrowth.

  • Slide 6 of 21: Dried and salted cod leads the way when it comes to lysine content, with 85 g (three ounces) of it containing about 5 g of the hair-helping nutrient. It also contains a solid dose of iron and zinc.

    Dried and salted cod

    Dried and salted cod leads the way when it comes to lysine content, with 85 g (three ounces) of it containing about 5 g of the hair-helping nutrient. It also contains a solid dose of iron and zinc.

  • Slide 7 of 21: This exotic edible is absolutely jammed with antioxidants: 261.5 millimoles per 100-gram (3.5-ounce) serving when dried. Oxidative stress has been linked to hair loss, and because antioxidants prevent this type of stress these compounds are likewise seen as helping to keep your hair on your head.

    Indian gooseberries

    This exotic edible is absolutely jammed with antioxidants: 261.5 millimoles per 100-gram (3.5-ounce) serving when dried. Oxidative stress has been linked to hair loss, and because antioxidants prevent this type of stress these compounds are likewise seen as helping to keep your hair on your head.

  • Slide 8 of 21: One regular bagel contains up to 3.75 mg of iron. Spread some cream cheese on there, and you get a solid jolt of zinc, too.

    Bagels

    One regular bagel contains up to 3.75 mg of iron. Spread some cream cheese on there, and you get a solid jolt of zinc, too.

  • Slide 9 of 21: Another all-round hair-booster, walnuts are a solid source of iron and zinc, and are near the top of the antioxidant chart with 21.9 mmol per 100-gram (3.5-ounce) serving.

    Walnuts

    Another all-round hair-booster, walnuts are a solid source of iron and zinc, and are near the top of the antioxidant chart with 21.9 mmol per 100-gram (3.5-ounce) serving.

  • Slide 10 of 21: The health benefits of alcohol consumption may be widely debated, but there’s no getting around the fact that red wine is rich in antioxidants. A medium-sized pour yields 5 mmol, which is more than pomegranate juice and about the same as drip coffee. On that note…

    Red wine

    The health benefits of alcohol consumption may be widely debated, but there’s no getting around the fact that red wine is rich in antioxidants. A medium-sized pour yields 5 mmol, which is more than pomegranate juice and about the same as drip coffee. On that note…

  • Slide 11 of 21: A 100-millilitre (three-ounce) shot of espresso does more than perk you up. It also contains 14.2 mmol of antioxidants, among the highest content of any prepared beverage.

    Espresso

    A 100-millilitre (three-ounce) shot of espresso does more than perk you up. It also contains 14.2 mmol of antioxidants, among the highest content of any prepared beverage.

  • Slide 12 of 21: Fish and red meat lead the way when it comes to iron content, but poultry is rich in the nutrient as well. Chicken liver is notable here, with 10.8 mg per 85-gram (three-ounce) serving. It also contains a healthy dose of lysine and zinc.

    Chicken liver

    Fish and red meat lead the way when it comes to iron content, but poultry is rich in the nutrient as well. Chicken liver is notable here, with 10.8 mg per 85-gram (three-ounce) serving. It also contains a healthy dose of lysine and zinc.

  • Slide 13 of 21: Just about any kind of meat is packed with iron and zinc. This includes lamb, which contains 3 mg of iron per 85-gram (three-ounce) serving and as much as 7.8 mg of zinc.

    Lamb

    Just about any kind of meat is packed with iron and zinc. This includes lamb, which contains 3 mg of iron per 85-gram (three-ounce) serving and as much as 7.8 mg of zinc.

  • Slide 14 of 21: Baked beans may be good for your heart, as the rhyme says, but they’re also good for preventing hair loss thanks to nearly 4 mg of iron and 2.2 mg of zinc per 85-gram (three-ounce) serving.

    Baked beans

    Baked beans may be good for your heart, as the rhyme says, but they’re also good for preventing hair loss thanks to nearly 4 mg of iron and 2.2 mg of zinc per 85-gram (three-ounce) serving.

  • Slide 15 of 21: Another vegetarian and vegan option for boosting iron intake, cooked spinach contains about 3 mg of the nutrient per 85-gram (three-ounce) serving.

    Cooked spinach

    Another vegetarian and vegan option for boosting iron intake, cooked spinach contains about 3 mg of the nutrient per 85-gram (three-ounce) serving.

  • Slide 16 of 21: You can get festive and supercharge the antioxidant power of red wine at the same time by adding cloves, as many recipes for mulled wine require. After all, 100 mg of cloves contain a whopping 277.3 mmol of antioxidants.

    Mulled wine

    You can get festive and supercharge the antioxidant power of red wine at the same time by adding cloves, as many recipes for mulled wine require. After all, 100 mg of cloves contain a whopping 277.3 mmol of antioxidants.

  • Slide 17 of 21: Another iron standby for vegetarians, lentils contain about 6 mg per 85-gram (three-ounce) serving, as well as notable amounts of zinc, lysine and antioxidants.

    Lentils

    Another iron standby for vegetarians, lentils contain about 6 mg per 85-gram (three-ounce) serving, as well as notable amounts of zinc, lysine and antioxidants.

  • Slide 18 of 21: Since mint is rich in antioxidants—116.4 mmol per 100-gram (3.5-ounce) serving—muddling the herb together with some white rum, soda water, fresh lime juice and sugar can actually be a recipe for hair regrowth.

    Mojitos

    Since mint is rich in antioxidants—116.4 mmol per 100-gram (3.5-ounce) serving—muddling the herb together with some white rum, soda water, fresh lime juice and sugar can actually be a recipe for hair regrowth.

  • Slide 19 of 21: Containing as it does 78.1 mmol of antioxidants per 100-gram (3.5-ounce) serving, wild dried dog rose, the main ingredient in rose hip tea, is also a potent hair-growth booster.

    Rose hip tea

    Containing as it does 78.1 mmol of antioxidants per 100-gram (3.5-ounce) serving, wild dried dog rose, the main ingredient in rose hip tea, is also a potent hair-growth booster.

  • Slide 20 of 21: With 1.4 g of lysine per 100-gram (3.5-ounce) serving, ricotta cheese is among the best options for vegetarians looking to boost their intake of the amino acid.

    Ricotta cheese

    With 1.4 g of lysine per 100-gram (3.5-ounce) serving, ricotta cheese is among the best options for vegetarians looking to boost their intake of the amino acid.

  • Slide 21 of 21: Vegans, meanwhile, can turn to soybeans for a lysine boost, as they contain 0.8 grams per 85-gram (three-ounce) serving—the highest amount among non-meat options. Iron and zinc are also abundant in soybean-based foods like tofu.

    Soybeans

    Vegans, meanwhile, can turn to soybeans for a lysine boost, as they contain 0.8 grams per 85-gram (three-ounce) serving—the highest amount among non-meat options. Iron and zinc are also abundant in soybean-based foods like tofu.