Proper Dieting = Better Beard

If you’ve been patiently waiting for your beard to grow out, using the best products on the market and taking great care of your skin, but your beard just isn’t looking as glorious as you had hoped, we understand your frustration.  For those men who can’t seem to get a healthy, happy-looking beard, it may be time to consider certain dietary factors that are interfering with the health and growth of their facial hair.

For so many men, the key to maintaining a healthy beard has to do with the foods that they eat.  Nutrition plays a crucial role in regulating hair growth, hair moisture and the thickness of the facial hair.  Because our facial hair is largely determined by things like hormone and hydration levels, being on a balanced diet is absolutely imperative.

How to Improve Your Diet for a Healthier, Faster-Growing Beard

Achieving that fully-grown beard in a proper and healthy way is key.  Here’s what you need:

Protein

What it Does: The importance of eating a healthy amount of protein can’t be stressed enough.  Protein gets converted into keratin, which is literally what our hair is made of.  Our bodies don’t produce keratin on their own, so we completely rely on dietary protein in order to maintain healthy, constantly-growing facial hair.  

Additionally, protein helps maintain healthy testosterone levels.  Testosterone is a hormone that is converted into DHT in order to facilitate the growth of a man’s beard.  If your beard isn’t growing quickly enough, it could be that you’re low in DHT.

Where to Get it: Protein is abundant in lots of the foods that we normally eat, but if you really want to increase your protein levels, eat lots of fish, red meat, poultry and eggs.  If you’re a vegetarian, consider a diet that’s high in legumes and nuts in order to maintain healthy protein levels.

Vitamin C

What it Does: Vitamin C is very important as it aids in the production of sebum.  Sebum is an oil that is secreted through our pores and hair follicles.  It coats the skin and beard in a layer of moisture that’s known as a moisture barrier.  This moisture keeps the hair and skin properly hydrated while acting as a protective layer that prevents environmental factors from causing damage.

Where to Get it: Vitamin C is abundant in citrus fruits and leafy green vegetables.  When trying to get vitamin C from leafy greens, it’s best to consume them raw.

Omega-3 Fatty Acids

What it Does: Omega-3 fatty acids are known to boost the rate at which your facial hair grows, meaning that they can be the answer to your slow-growing beard.  Additionally, they prevent hair from becoming dry which can lead to split ends, frizz and general damage.

Where to Get it: Walnuts are a great source of omega-3 fatty acids.  This nutrient is also available in fatty fish such as salmon, as well as flaxseed which be easily added to a daily smoothie.

Beta-Carotene

What it Does: Beta-carotene is known for its role in repairing damaged tissue. For many men, a lackluster, poorly-growing beard is the result of damaged skin tissue that’s interfering with the follicles’ ability to do their jobs.  This nutrient increases cell turnover rate so that the skin can repair itself quickly.

Where to Get it: If you’re a carrot lover, you’re in luck.  Carrots have a very high source of beta-carotene.  Other sources include leafy green vegetables, egg yolks and sweet potatoes.

Zinc

What it Does: Like beta-carotene, zinc helps repair damaged skin tissue, meaning that your hair follicles will be able to operate more efficiently.  Zinc can also clear up acne that can cause hair follicles to become over-clogged with sebum.

Where to Get it: Beef is very high in zinc, as are oysters.  Vegetarian sources include lentils, pumpkin seeds and spinach.

Water

What it Does: Okay, technically water isn’t a nutrient, but it’s still so important that we have to include it on this list.  Without the proper level of bodily hydration, every part of your body will suffer, including your beard.

Where to Get it: You can probably figure this one out.

A Well-Maintained Diet Can Take Your Beard Game to a Whole New Level

Maintaining a healthy diet is one of the most overlooked components to achieving an excellent beard that grows at a healthy rate.