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Is it possible to reverse gray hair to its original hair color?
There are cases reports of people turning gray hair, returning to their original hair color.
For example, neurologists report that Mucuna pruriens helped a woman reverse gray hair to original black hair.
People use Mucuna pruriens, also known as Bengal velvet beans, as an alternative treatment for Parkinson’s disease.
Mucuna puriens beans contain L-dopa. This L-dopa works as a nerve tonic, a precursor to dopamine.
People who are suffering from Parkinson’s disease lack this L-dopa substance.
L-dopa is also a precursor to melanin pigment. So sometimes, some anti-Parkinson supplements and drugs can turn hair into gray.
Even in some cancer patients treated with immunotherapy, Doctors noticed changes in gray hair. They claimed that their gray hair turned into the original black color again.
There are many reports of cases of people regaining their hair color after taking certain drugs.
These are anti-inflammatory drugs (many of these medications have side effects. So experts do not recommend you to start taking these medications to improve your hair color.
So the question is still there, is it possible to reverse gray hair?
Unless you are willing to dye your hair, you cannot restore your gray hair to its original condition.
However, you can save all your color and delay the inevitable moment by making a few lifestyle changes.
Your overall success will depend on your genetic makeup.
Most people start developing gray or silver hair before the age of 50. What usually starts as a few strands may gradually grow over time to cover large areas of hair.
Eating the right nutrients and taking other active methods can help maintain existing pigmentation, completely delaying the release of gray matter.
People who begin to experience graying “prematurely,” meaning graying before the age of 30, maybe more inclined to try these preventative actions.
Want to know? Read on to find out what to add to your diet, whether supplements can help, and more.
Make sure you get enough nutrients; although genetics play a role, premature graying also plays a role in the diet.
Certain vitamins and minerals help your hair produce melanin (the black pigment) needed to maintain its natural color.
Think about whether you get enough of these nutrients in your diet. It is important to stop gray hair.
Here below are the best 15 tips to reverse gray hair:
1. Calcium Role to reverse gray hair
Calcium is not just important for your bones. It also promotes sensory, cardiovascular, and muscular health.
Dairy products, such as milk and yogurt, are the main sources of this mineral.
You can also get calcium from dark leafy vegetables, fortified cereals, and fish.
Schedule at least three servings a day.
2. Role of Copper to reverse gray hair
Lack of copper can disrupt energy production throughout your body, affecting your blood cells and connective tissue.
This mineral also helps your body absorb iron and build new blood cells.
Copper even can help produce melanin (the black hair pigment). A proper diet can ensure the body’s copper requirement.
You can find it in peanuts, almonds, dill, beef liver, crab, and white mushrooms.
3. Role of Iron to reverse gray hair
It is not uncommon for you to have low levels of iron if you have premature hair.
Iron is an important mineral that helps create hemoglobin in your blood cells. Hemoglobin, on the other hand, is responsible for carrying oxygen throughout your body.
You can ensure that you get enough iron from your diet by eating meat, lentils, and dark leafy vegetables.
If you are a vegetarian or vegan person, make sure you eat foods rich in vitamin C simultaneously, as this helps your body absorb more iron.
4. Protein (keratin) to reverse gray hair
You may have heard of keratin treatment for hair straightening and smoothing, but internal keratin can also affect your overall hair health.
Keratin is a type of protein present in extra cells. When keratin proteins fall into the scalp, this can lead to hair loss and pigmentation, among other factors.
You can’t eat keratin for one hour, but making sure you get enough protein in your diet can allow your body to release amino acids and convert them into keratin.
5. Vitamin B-5 (Pantothenic acid) to reverse gray hair
Vitamin B-5 is an important nutrient that helps your body produce energy from the food you eat. It is also very helpful in making red blood cells (RBC).
The Research studies on mice have shown that vitamin B-5 can convert gray hair, But there is no such clinical evidence to prove or claim that such effects can occur in humans.
However, getting enough vitamin B-5 can ensure that your body properly converts food into energy.
Yogurt, fish, and Beef liver are foods rich in vitamin B-5.
6. Vitamin B-6 to reverse gray hair
Vitamin B-6 is important for your body and your immune system.
If you do not get enough vitamin B-6, you may have symptoms such as dry hair, cracked lips, and fatigue.
The advantage is that you can easily get this vitamin B-6 from various foods, e.g., potatoes, fish, chicken, and even non-citrus fruits.
7. Vitamin B-9 (folic acid) to reverse gray hair
Vitamin B-9 (folate or folic acid) helps your body add amino acids. It is also important for metabolic and DNA functions.
When you do not get enough vitamin B-9 in your diet, you may experience hair, skin, and nails changes.
Examples of folate-rich foods include beans, asparagus, leafy vegetables, and citrus fruits.
8. Vitamin B-12 to reverse gray hair
The most common cause of premature graying is the deficiency of vitamin B-12.
Researchers have found vitamin B-12 deficiency is often linked with folic acid and biotin in people with gray hair.
Vitamin B-12 is one of the body’s most important components in your body’s metabolism, DNA production, and overall energy levels.
9. Vitamin D Role to reverse gray hair
You can make sure you get enough vitamin B-12 by eating foods such as meat and dairy products.
Studies have found that people with prematurely gray hair are also more likely to be deficient in vitamin D.
These findings suggest that the nutrient also affects the production of melanin in hair follicles.
You can get vitamin D from moderate sunburn and foods that include eggs, fatty fish, and fortified products.
10. Role of Zinc to reverse gray hair
The mineral zinc is responsible for protecting your DNA and cells from invaders, and for this reason, people prefer to refer to zinc as a cold remedy.
It also helps your body to make protein. Zinc deficiency can affect the health of your hair.
Minerals are widely found in beans, whole grains, red meat, and oysters.
11. Consider taking a vitamin or dietary supplement.
If you do not find the above nutrients in your diet, taking one or more supplements can help.
Certain nutrients can ensure that your hair produces pigmentation as it should, especially in the case of premature graying.
Talk to your doctor or other health care provider before taking any of the following supplements.
These specialists can help determine if you are deficient in these nutrients and advise you on any following steps.
These nutrients supplements can help delay or reverse gray hair.
- Vitamin B-6
Vitamin B-6 deficiency is often most pronounced in vegetarians.
Certain conditions in the body and kidneys can also change how your body absorbs vitamin B-6.
The daily dose for adults is 1.3 milligrams (mg), but older adults and pregnant or breastfeeding people need more.
Vitamin B-6 is available as an independent supplement. Alternatively, many multivitamins contain this ingredient.
- Folate (Folic Acid) – Vitamin B-9
Depending on the health of the hair, vitamin B-9 can ensure the right color calculation. If you do not eat enough nutritious food, you may want to consider supplementation.
The daily recommended dose of Vitamin B-9 for adults is approximately 400 micrograms (mcg).
Not all multivitamins contain vitamin B-9, so it is important to read the product labels carefully. Your doctor may even recommend a different folic acid supplement.
- Vitamin B-12
Studies have shown that many young people with gray hair may also be deficient in vitamin B-12.
Grower and vegetable growers are more prone to B-12 deficiency because the ingredient is mainly derived from animal products.
The daily recommended vitamin B-12 supplement for most adults is 2.4 mcg.
If you do not have enough vitamin B-12, your doctor may recommend supplements, injections, or multivitamins.
- Fish oil or copper
Fish oil supplements can be another option if your doctor recommends taking them.
One study found that participants with prematurely gray hair had higher cholesterol levels. Taking fish oil supplements can be one way to deal with this.
Copper can also be found in seafood. The daily recommended dose for adults is approximately 900 mcg.
Your doctor may recommend copper supplements if a deficient deficiency affects your blood cells and energy production. These effects can lead to gray hair and other visible symptoms.
- Biotin
Many people believe that biotin supplements can make hair healthier and stronger.
Researchers and experts also suggest that biotin deficiency may cause premature graying.
The daily recommended dose of biotin is approximately 30 mcg for adults.
12. Role of Catalase enzyme to reverse gray hair
Catalase enzymes are responsible for reducing hydrogen peroxide in water and oxygen.
Acatalasemia is the condition, which causes low levels of these enzymes.
Over time, these low levels can cause toxins to form in the body.
Catalase supplements only help when your body is low in these enzymes.
Your doctor can help you in making this diagnosis.
13. Remedies can help, but use them with caution
Some people prefer to try herbal remedies to improve their overall hair health.
For example, people have used a Chinese drug called Polygonum multiflora to diagnose alopecia (hair loss), liver disease, diabetes, and heart disease.
However, research shows that this popular remedy may do more harm than good for your liver.
Therefore, use remedies to treat gray hair and other health concerns with caution. If in doubt, consult your physician or another health care provider.
Remedies can be as potent as conventional medicine and may interact with any drugs or supplements you are already taking.
14. Stop smoking to reverse gray hair
Smoking is one of the big culprits in graying hair, and it is even is bad for your health.
It can also affect premature digestion, especially before the age of 30.
When you are ready to quit, talk to your doctor or other health care provider.
They can advise you on how to do this better and link you to useful resources.
Joining a smoking cessation group can provide additional support, which can also help.
15. Practice better stress management
The combination of high pressure and sudden hair whitening is questionable.
There is also the issue of whether there is a link between chronic stress and premature graying.
If stress is contributing to your gray hair, better stress management can help. Also, a less stressful lifestyle is not harmful!
You can better manage your stress and improve your whole life by applying the following tips:
- Prioritize your commitment so as not to waste time on your home life.
- Work saying “no” to extra tasks when you already have a full plate.
- Set aside time each week for your favorite pastime.
- Practice meditation or deep breathing exercises every day, even if only for five minutes at a time.
- Daily exercise helps reduce stress and increases serotonin levels in the brain.
The Takeaway
While a healthy diet and overall health can help reduce gray hair, there is only so much you can do to control the natural loss of melanin in your hair follicles.
There is also an important genetic component to gray hair. If your parents are experiencing premature graying, chances are you will too.
However, this does not mean that you cannot try to slow down the gray process.
Just remember proper food, diet, and supplements with exercises can help, and you need to stay away from bad habits that can gray hair. So a healthy and proper lifestyle is just a perfect way to keep your hair healthy, and you can delay or reverse gray hair.
