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One of the best things about the change in seasons is all of the new foods that you’re able to eat—foods that aren’t quite as good as they are during their own particular harvest time. When you choose to wait until foods are in season, they have optimal amounts of nutrients, plus, as a bonus, they are typically a lot more affordable as well.
Before you head out to your local grocery store—or even better, your local farmers market—take out a moment to check out some of the best that the fall season has to offer. Foods that are good for your health and, even better, great for your hair.
1. Sweet Potatoes
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Aside from pumpkins (which I will get to before this article is over), sweet potatoes are probably the most popular food associated with the fall season. Not only are they delicious, they are considered to be “a perfect food” too. That’s thanks to all of its beta-carotene (a plant pigment that changes into Vitamin A), how its magnesium is able to reduce stress levels, the choline in them that reduces inflammation in your system, its antimicrobial properties, and its high amounts of vitamins C and E too.
As far as your hair goes, the Vitamin C in sweet potatoes helps to increase the levels of collagen in your system—the more of it you have, the stronger and more elastic your hair will become. As far as Vitamin E goes, its antioxidants will keep free radicals from damaging your hair follicles as it provides nutrients to your hair and scalp in the process.
Get all of the goodness that this veggie has to offer by trying DONNA’S RECIPE Sweet Potato Pie Extra Creamy Leave-In Conditioner.
2. Pears
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When a perfect is perfectly ripe, there aren’t too many things that are much better than it. In fact, pears are so delicious that it’s kind of amazin’ that they’re also really good for our health. Pears are high in fiber, a great source of antioxidants, loaded with potassium, and even contain electrolytes (if you’re looking for a snack that will replenish you after working out). Due to all of the fiber in pears, they are able to keep your cholesterol low and even help to keep you from being diagnosed with diabetes too.
Since pears have antioxidants, your hair is able to benefit from them because the antioxidants help to reduce dryness by conditioning your hair strands. Pears are also able to moisturize the cells that make up your hair so that breakage is less of an issue.
Check out how prickly pear can bring new life into your tresses with The Mane Choice prickly pear paradise overnight mask.
3. Fennel
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If you’re wondering what exactly fennel is, it’s a veggie that is similar to celery and has a licorice-like taste to it. Every bulb contains 73 calories, is high in fiber, vitamins A, B6, C, K, folate, copper, zinc, calcium, and selenium. Add fennel to your diet in order to lower your blood pressure, improve your eye health, and relieve menopause-related symptoms as it helps to keep your skin fresh and youthful-looking as well.
Use fennel for your hair so that the zinc in it will help to keep the oil glands in your hair follicles working properly. As a bonus, zinc will also keep the tissue on your scalp healthy while significantly reducing your chances of experiencing hair loss.
Improve the quality of your scalp by using this fennel-sweet essential oil.
4. Cranberries
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Cranberries are a low-calorie food that is made up of 87 percent water and contains a good amount of fiber. Other things that cranberries have in them are vitamins C, E, and K, along with manganese and copper. Some health benefits of cranberries include the antioxidants and polyphenols in them that fight the bacteria that cause urinary tract infections (UTIs) and bodily inflammation. They also have the ability to keep your heart strong. Plus, their anti-microbial properties can fight gum disease and strengthen your immune system too.
Cranberries are great for your hair because the copper that’s in these little berries can help to slow down premature greying. Cranberries also contain antioxidants and antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties that will reduce any irritation that could result in you having an itchy scalp.
You can improve your scalp hydration and decrease frizz with this Bumble and Bumble Invisible Oil Ultra Rich Shampoo.
5. Parsnips
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Parsnips are a root vegetable that has fiber, protein, folate, magnesium, niacin, phosphorus, vitamins B6, C, E, and K, calcium, iron, and zinc. They reduce oxidative stress due to their high amount of antioxidants. They also support weight loss due to their fiber content. Some of the parsnips’ other health benefits include the fact that their folic acid reduces birth defects in growing babies, their manganese improves enzyme production and, their potassium increases brain health as well. Some other perks of parsnips are their iron can keep anemia at bay, their Vitamin K can keep your sex hormones balanced and, the Vitamin C in them will help to prevent loose and wrinkly skin from occurring.
Thanks to the phosphorus in parsnips, blood circulation in your scalp will increase. Thanks to the niacin in parsnips, your hair follicles will get stronger over time too.
Take care of your hair from the inside out by snacking on some baked parsnip fries. You can learn how to make them below:
6. Spaghetti Squash
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Spaghetti squash is a nutrient-dense food. What that basically means is that it’s low in calories while being loaded with vitamins and minerals in the process. Spaghetti squash contains fiber, protein, vitamins B6 and C, manganese, potassium, niacin, and more. It’s packed with antioxidants too. If you’re looking for a food that is great for your digestive health, supports weight loss, and contains enough calcium to keep your teeth and bones in great shape, those are other reasons to eat more of it this fall.
Since manganese promotes tissue health and, also has omega-3 and omega-6 fats to keep your skin and hair moisturized from the inside out, I’m pretty sure you can see why I just had to add spaghetti squash to this list.
Another way to treat your hair from the inside out is by learning more about making spaghetti squash noodles which you can view below:
7. Pumpkin
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There is absolutely no way that I could write an article on foods that are in season this fall and leave pumpkin off of the list! After all, I’m pretty sure you’ll be having a slice of pumpkin pie, or pumpkin bread or you’ll be sipping a pumpkin spice latte before the autumn season is over. As you’re consuming these things, you’ll be happy to know that pumpkins are high in vitamins A, B2, C, and E, along with potassium, copper, manganese, and fiber. You also might be surprised to know that it’s quite the aphrodisiac (men love the smell of pumpkin essential when it’s mixed with lavender essential oil). Not only that but the antioxidants in pumpkins are able to fight off chronic diseases, the Vitamin A can give your immune system a boost, and some of its other compounds are great for your skin.
Pumpkin is great for your hair because its potassium is able to trigger hair regrowth, its zinc will keep your hair cells healthy and strong and, all of its nutrients combined make pumpkin a wonderful conditioner for super dry hair. Just one more reason to pick up at least a couple of pumpkins before wintertime comes.
Oh, I didn’t forget. You can use the Girl + Hair strengthening oil which contains pumpkin seed oil for thicker and stronger hair.
Enjoy all of the goodness of fall, y’all!
