Natural Ways To Combat Graying Hair

One thing that's pretty much unavoidable in life is that most of us will get gray hairs at some point in our lifetime (even celebs like Kelly Ripa, who doesn't appear to age). In fact, according to WebMD, approximately half of us will have a head full of silver strands by the time we turn 50.

So, what causes this unavoidable reality? Long story short, each hair follicle contains pigment cells full of melanin. As we get older, the cells begin to die. When this happens, our follicles no longer produce pigment, which leads to hair that appears gray, silver, or white (per WebMD).

And, while it's true that things like genetics, certain illnesses, and medications can certainly trigger premature graying, the reality is that lifestyle habits can also cause us to "go gray" sooner than we'd like — or even have to.

The good news is there are simple and effective ways to combat gray, if that is something you desire to do. The great news? The following tips are all-natural, backed by research, and easy to implement.

Copper is an essential mineral we all need. Medical News Today shares that it helps to keep your bones, blood vessels, nerves, and immune system running just as they should. So, what are some strong indicators that you may need to up your copper intake a bit? If you're exhausted a lot, you keep getting sick (and don't understand why), or you suddenly have an unexplained sensitivity to cold temperatures — this could all point to a need for more copper in your system (per Healthline).

Seeing more gray hairs popping up is another sign of copper-deficiency. The reality is that copper helps to reduce the amount of oxidative stress in your body. This is good news, because the less stress you have, the easier it is for your system to produce melanin — which includes the melanin for your hair follicles.

Since foods like turkey, sunflower seeds, potatoes, avocado, and dark chocolate are all loaded with copper, why not treat yourself to one (or some) of these today?

Whether you opt to use blackstrap molasses as a sweetener substitute or you choose to put a couple of teaspoons into a cup of hot water (to make a coffee substitute), you'll do your body a lot of good. Healthline shares that blackstrap molasses are good sources of protein, iron, calcium, and magnesium. This is beneficial because these types of nutrients can work together to prevent anemia, boost bone health, and supply your system with antioxidants.

If you're wondering just how in the world blackstrap molasses can help prevent gray hair, remember that these types of molasses are high in iron and that some studies even indicate a link between iron deficiency and premature graying. Since a lack of iron is also tied to hair loss, blackstrap molasses can serve as a remedy to fight gray hair (and keep your hair healthy) on a myriad of levels.

Since antioxidants are good for slowing down gray hair growth, it should come as no surprise that Vitamin C does the same thing, since it's a nutrient full of antioxidants (per Everyday Health). However, this particular point is more about why you should put Vitamin C on your hair, not just in your body.

For one thing, Vitamin C can help protect your skin and hair from sun damage. And, since gray hair is more vulnerable to sun damage (because it contains less melanin — per HuffPost), hair products that include Vitamin C can make you less worried about hair damage as you enjoy your time basking in the sun's rays. Another perk of Vitamin C is its ability to help your system produce more collagen — the more collagen in your hair, the less oxidative stress it will experience. Healthline also states that Vitamin C helps your system to absorb iron, which helps decrease your chances of premature graying.

So, the next time you're out shopping for hair products, look at the labels to see if any include Vitamin C as an ingredient — the more Vitamin C, the better!

Curry leaves come from a citrus tree in regions of India. That's why it makes sense that curry is such a popular ingredient in many traditional Indian dishes, as noted by WebMD. Health-wise, curry is good for you because it contains some pretty powerful medicinal properties: ones that can help to strengthen your immunity, protect against neurodegenerative conditions, balance blood sugar, reduce inflammation, and keep harmful bacteria within your body at bay (per Healthline).

According to Healthline, the awesome thing about curry is that it can work in your favor on many different levels. Curry can help heal your scalp, promote hair growth, reduce frizz, and, yes, even help fight gray hairs. The belief is that the antioxidants and Vitamin B found in curry can help feed your hair follicles, so they can maintain melanin for a longer period of time.

If this has piqued your curiosity, you can find curry oil extract available online and at many health stores. Or, if you'd like to make your own oil out of curry leaves, the YouTube channel Hebbars Kitchen has a pretty simple recipe.

There's no time like the present to intentionally reduce your stress level. There are a billion reasons why you should. Aside from the fact that stress can cause all sorts of anxiety and emotional uneasiness, WebMD shares that obesity, diabetes, heart disease, headaches, and even shortened longevity are all directly linked to stress-related issues.

Something else that stress can do is accelerate the aging process, and your hair is not exempt, either. What's interesting about your hair, though, is that additional research cites that, just as stress can lead to gray hair, the effects of stress can also be reversed when it's better managed (via Scientific American).

Although all of this research is still in the early stages, for the sake of your overall health and well-being, it can't hurt to be intentional about reducing stress. You can do this by eating healthy, exercising, journaling, meditating, and spending quality time with your friends, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Stress is something that happens to all of us at some point. Just remember that managing it is always a good idea — for the sake of your health as well as your appearance.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, smoking is a really bad idea for several reasons. For starters, did you know that more people die every year from smoking than from HIV, substance abuse, and motor vehicle-related accidents combined? In addition, smoking can increase your risk of heart disease and cancer and impair fertility — it's even linked to type 2 diabetes and tooth loss.

As if all of these aren't enough reasons to avoid or stop smoking, WebMD notes that smoking can also lead to premature aging, of which premature graying is a part (especially if you are under the age of 30). While your physical health should be the main reason to put cigarettes down, the fact that smoking can also make you look older than you are should be seen as the "final straw" to never smoke... or to finally stop. For good.