Amino acids - the smallest building blocks for hair
Hair as well as nails are made of microscopic "amino acid bricks" - forming a very keratin-resistant keratin protein. The body builds up the right building material for the hair from protein. More specifically, amino acids that make up the smallest protein components.
How are amino acids formed in our body?
Amino acids - elementary hair building bricks (as well as the whole body) - are formed as a result of digestion of protein foods. In the human digestive system, the food protein breaks down into individual amino acids from which it previously consisted. This process occurs mainly in the stomach and intestines.
Digestive and digestive problems
Hair owe its length and elasticity to sulfur?
The basic building block of hair - is a complex structure of amino acids forming the so-called keratin protein. This protein has a unique bending strength. It owes this to sulfur content, which has the property that, like the bridge rivets, it bonds the adjacent elements of the protein structure into long, elastic hair. More precisely - the bonding strength of adjacent elements of the keratin structure of this protein have specific chemical bonds - so-called "Disulphide bridges".
Sulfur bonds that bond the hair are very strong
Sulfur bonds combine keratin into a durable chain that is so strong that it provides a resilient and unbreakable hair structure. Thanks to these bonds, which are different in each of us - the structure of keratin is not only strong, but also unique. An individual layout of "disulfide bridges" decides about the original appearance of the hair, eg about whether they are straight or twisted, whether thin or thick.
What biological substances provide the hair with "disulfide bonds"?
Sulfur is supplied mainly in the form of digestible proteins. The most valuable are proteins, containing in its composition two essential sulfuric amino acids - cystine and methionine. The basis of the hair structure is cystine - usually 17% of the composition of the hair and methionine (0.5% of hair composition). Thanks to these amino acids it is possible to create "disulfide bonds", which are incorporated into the keratinous structure of the hair and act as reinforcements in it and give proper spatial structure. That is why sulfur-containing amino acids are necessary for their daily growth
How does the body provide sulfuric amino acids?
Methionine belongs to the essential amino acids, ie essential, which must be supplied with food and are released from it in the process of digesting proteins (especially meat and dairy proteins). The body may also partially produce some amino acids (so-called endogenous amino acids). This is the case with cystine, which is the basic building material of the hair. However, the quantities we make ourselves are sometimes too small.
What foods are rich in cystine and methionia?
Moderate amounts of both amino acids can be found in foods containing a lot of protein - eg in meat and its products, eggs, fish. Significant amounts of cystine can be found in cereal products and legumes, such as wheat germs, soybeans, oatmeal, wheat bran, etc. Unfortunately, these are not (apart from oatmeal) popular foods.
Do amino acids need to be delivered to the body regularly?
Yes, because due to its building role, sulfuric amino acids can not be replaced with any other compounds.You also need to know that they can not be stored "in reserve" and therefore they must be regularly supplied with food throughout their lives.
How to provide the right amount of cystine and methionine?
If we associate two facts; - firstly, the fact that we do not eat plenty of foods rich in sulfuric amino acids, (or, for example, we slim down) and that our hair does not look good - you need to reach for a high quality pharmacy preparation containing cystine and methionine. An example of such a preparation is e.g.
Finally, let's remind:
Apart from protein - the condition and appearance of the hair is influenced by numerous vitamins: A, E vitamins from B group and bioelements: iron, zinc, copper, iodine. However, it should be known that the shortage of these last components (except iron) is reflected in the condition and health of hair only after a long time.
Can we provide health and beauty to our diet?
Only the properly selected food will receive the necessary nutrients and building materials. In return, they will repay you with their lushness, strength, splendor, beautiful color - in other words, beauty.
However, the food consumed by us is often not enough to provide all essential amino acids, vitamins and microelements to the hair. It becomes possible thanks to supporting the diet with a valuable pharmacy preparation. An example of such a high class preparation is, for example, Revalid. In exchange for supporting the set of nutrients they need, the hair will later return health and beauty.
Ed. Edward Ozga Michalski
Consultation Katarzyna Prystupa
dr n. med. dermatologist
