In this article we will be discussing a very common question: what is in prenatal vitamins that help hair growth. It’s quite a sensitive & complex subject, as such we will do our best at providing a clear and concise article to clear any doubts you may have.
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The Word On The Street Is That Prenatals Can Give You Glossy, Vibrant, And Strong Hair, But Do Prenatal Vitamins Even Have Anything To Do With Hair Health?
Don’t fret; we’re here to break down the science behind these claims. Who can benefit from taking prenatal vitamins
While prenatal vitamins are typically reserved for pregnant women or those trying to conceive, other people may be able to benefit from taking prenatal vitamins as well. More specifically, anyone in need of larger doses of vitamins due to various deficiencies.
Can Prenatal Vitamins Support Hair Health?
That being said, hair health—including hair thickness, color, and strength is somewhat impacted by diet and nutrition overall. When you consistently provide your body with the appropriate nutrients, it keeps many different processes working efficiently, resulting in healthier organs, and in return, healthy skin and hair. Most multivitamins contain both water-soluble and fat-soluble vitamins, which means the rate of absorption can vary.
Excess amounts of vitamins can in fact be damaging to the body, so we recommend sticking to a regular multivitamin which may actually help with hair health.
What Are Prenatal Vitamins?
The vitamin aisle at your local pharmacy contains a huge assortment of vitamins for different genders and ages. Prenatal vitamins are specifically geared toward women thinking about becoming pregnant or who are pregnant.
A baby especially needs certain nutrients to develop. Expectant moms don’t always take in enough nutrients in their daily diets. It’s important to remember that prenatal vitamins are a supplement to a healthy diet for expectant moms.
How Are Prenatal Vitamins Different From Traditional Multivitamins?
While there’s not a specific formulation for all prenatal vitamins, you’ll likely find that prenatal vitamins contain at least these key nutrients: Calcium. According to the Mayo Clinic, pregnant and adult women need 1,000 milligrams (mg) of calcium daily. Calcium is important for all women because it keeps their bones strong.
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends that pregnant women (and those trying to get pregnant) take in 600 micrograms (mcg) of folic acid every day from all sources. Foods that have folic acid (also known as folate) include beans, leafy green vegetables, asparagus, and broccoli. This mineral is necessary to create new red blood cells in the body.
Because a woman increases her blood volume during pregnancy, iron is a must-have. This is 8 mg more than women who aren’t pregnant. Prenatal vitamins often contain other vitamins and minerals.
These could include: omega-3 fatty acids
copper
zinc
vitamin E
vitamin A
vitamin C.
When Should I Take Prenatal Vitamins?
If you’re trying to conceive or are pregnant, your doctor will likely recommend that you take them. Women who are carrying multiples, pregnant teenagers, and pregnant women with a history of substance abuse have a higher risk of vitamin and mineral deficiencies.
Doctors often recommend that women who are breastfeeding also continue taking prenatal vitamins after delivery. That’s because half of the pregnancies in the United States aren’t planned. Women of childbearing age could also eat more folate-rich foods as an alternative to taking a supplement.
But they aren’t really intended for women (or men) who aren’t expecting or lactating. Getting too much iron is associated with health problems like constipation, nausea, and diarrhea. Excess amounts of nutrients like vitamin A taken from synthetic vitamins could be toxic to a person’s liver.
For these reasons, most women should skip prenatal vitamins unless their doctors tell them otherwise. Misconceptions about prenatal vitamins Many women claim that prenatal vitamins affect hair and nail growth. They could also have adverse side effects.