Yahoo Lifestyle Getting More of This Antioxidant Could Stop Your Hair From Turning Gray
Wondering how to prevent gray hair naturally? You might want to stock up on more fruit and vegetables.
Not just because they're good for you: They have beauty benefits, too. According to new research from Japan's Nagoya and Chubu Universities, an antioxidant in some of the most common fruits, veggies, and even herbs can help prevent—or at least slow down—the graying of hair.
Published in the medical journal Antioxidants, the study tracked mice over 16 weeks, during which the scientists gave mice luteolin, a naturally occurring flavanoid found in produce, topically and orally: It was applied to some mice's skin and fed to others through their mouths.
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After taking before and after photos of the mice and regularly clipping their hair to ensure they were examining new hair growth, the researchers found that by the end of the 16 weeks, mice treated with luteolin had significantly less gray hair than untreated mice, as well as healthier hair follicle stem cells.
More specifically, the topically treated mice demonstrated a 50% reduction in gray hair—80% of untreated mice's hair turned gray while only 40% of treated mice's did—and a 25 to 30% reduction for the orally treated mice (80% untreated versus 55 to 60% treated).
Related: Eating This Food Daily Could Cut Your Risk of Colon Cancer by 20%
Unfortunately, luteolin is not available in any hair care products—at least not yet. That said, researchers think the flavonoid could be useful in topical treatments someday. (I am inclined to agree.)
In better news, their research indicates that increasing one's nutritional intake of luteolin can have a significant impact on the graying of hair.
Wondering how to prevent gray hair naturally with food? Below, see some of our favorite sources of luteolin.
Vegetables With Luteolin
Celery
Parsley
Peppers (green bell peppers)
Broccoli
Carrots
Cabbage
Spinach
Onions
Related: The 20 Healthiest Vegetables, According to Nutritionists
Fruits With Luteolin
Apples (especially with the skin)
Oranges
Lemons
Berries (blueberries, blackberries, strawberries, cranberries)
Pomegranate (especially the leaves)
Cherries
Pears
Grapes
Related: 14 Best Low-Calorie Fruits, According to Nutritionists
Herbs & Spices With Luteolin
Thyme
Rosemary
Oregano
Chamomile
Related: What Happens To Your Body If You Eat Olive Oil Every Day
Other Sources of Luteolin
Dark chocolate (with over 70% cacao)
Peanuts
Seaweed
Happy snacking!
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Related: These Are the 60 Healthiest Foods in the World
Sources
Anti-Graying Effects of External and Internal Treatments with Luteolin on Hair in Model Mice. Antioxidants.
Flavonoids as anticancer agents: structure-activity relationship study. Current Medicinal Chemistry-Anti-Cancer Agents.
Neuroprotective effects of natural compounds on neurotoxin-induced oxidative stress and cell apoptosis. Nutritional Neuroscience.
Bell Peppers (Capsicum annum L.) Losses and Wastes: Source for Food and Pharmaceutical Applications. Molecules.
Luteolin, a flavonoid with potentials for cancer prevention and therapy. Current Cancer Drug Targets.
Therapeutic Potential of Luteolin on Cancer. Vaccines.
Main components of pomegranate, ellagic acid and luteolin, inhibit metastasis of ovarian cancer by down-regulating MMP2 and MMP9. Cancer Biology & Therapy.
Polyphenols and disease risk in epidemiologic studies. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
Neuroprotective Herbs and Foods from Different Traditional Medicines and Diets. Molecules.
Luteolin. Biochemical Systematics and Ecology.
Biological Activities of Phenolic Compounds Present in Virgin Olive Oil. International Journal of Molecular Sciences.
Cocoa Flavanols: Natural Agents with Attenuating Effects on Metabolic Syndrome Risk Factors. Nutrients.
