Folic acid is great for growing hair, it helps to prevent hair loss as well stimulate longer hair growth. There are a few reasons that hair loss happens some of these reasons are due to aging, genetics, poor diet, hormonal imbalance, medical conditions such as Alopecia, thyroid, vitamin and nutrient deficiencies etc. Your diet is very important when it comes to growing long hair so if the kinds of foods you eat lack in minerals and vitamins, the side effects can be excessive shedding as well as thinning of hair.

What kinds of vitamins and minerals do you need for healthy hair growth?

Biotin:

The types of vitamins you need for a healthy head of hair are the B vitamins such as biotin, vitamin B5, vitamins B3 and B12. Other vitamins and minerals include vitamin C, folic acid, zinc, calcium and magnesium. Your daily diet is likely not going to be sufficient enough to get all the adequate levels of vitamins that you need so you may need to use supplements to meet your daily required levels.

Biotin is another vitamin that needs to be a regular part of your daily diet if you want to acheive healthy, longer hair. This particular vitamin is also known as B6 and is great for your skin as well. Its safe for males to take as well because it helps to also prevent hair loss there as well. Foods rich in biotin include: peas, lentils, brown rice, sunflower seeds, soybeans, walnuts and brewer's yeast.

Folic Acid

This particular vitamin is water-soluble and also happens to work well for hair growth because of its ability to assist the red blood cells formation. Folic acid will assist with hair growth because it helps to stimulate the development of certain tissues, organs as well as cells in the body, this includes your hair. You can find folic acid in the following foods: rice, liver, green leafy vegetables, wheat, oranges, soybeans etc.

Some Vitamins you can take for Hair Growth

Vitamin E: This particular vitamin can assist with growing hair because it actually helps to increase your body's oxygen intake, thus improving blood circulation which helps to stimulate hair to grow.

Vitamin C: Taking vitamin c will also help with blood circulation to your body as well as your scalp, this is very important in preventing hair loss and encouraging growth. You can find vitamin C in guavas, lemons, oranges, raspberry, strawberries, grapefruit, cauliflower, cabbage, tomatoes and broccoli.

Magnesium and zinc: both of these minerals help to improve immunity as well as encourage hair growth. You can find magnesium and zinc in the following foods: green veggies such as spinach, nuts, beans, peas, wheat bran, shellfish, brewer's yeast, oysters and pine nuts.

Recommended Intake levels of Folic Acid for Hair Growth

In order to acheive longer hair growth its important to eat the right foods as well as to use the right hair care products that better moisturize and condition your hair. You can also take supplements to speed up the process a bit, but please be sure to check with your doctor if its okay to do so before taking just any supplement especially in the case that you're expecting, taking medication, or happen to have a medical condition.

Folic acid ( vitamin B9) is very effective when it comes to hair growth. Just how much folic acid do you need to notice a difference in your hair growth ? The ideal dosage is really only determined after you consult with your doctor or dermatologist. For men, the normal dosage is 400 mcg and for women the recommended daily intake is 200 mcg. It very important that you first check with a medical professional before taking supplements; - especially more so for B vitamins because taking too much can result in toxic side effects.

Keep in mind that supplements aren't the only way to grow long hair, you can also use topical hair care products that have biotin and folic acid added in products such as hair conditioners and shampoos. You'll be set for your healthy hair journey.