There are numerous pea protein benefits for hair that you must know before using the ingredient as your savior for multiple hair woes.
We all want soft, silky, and healthy hair without treating them to the harsh chemical treatments or products that eventually lead to more damage than benefit. Having adequate protein in the diet not only ensures good hair health but also helps in getting good skin, promotes weight loss, improves metabolism, and helps achieve a healthy body.
There are many food items that you can add to your diet for a balanced intake of protein, such as eggs, almonds, oats, lean meats, pulses, dairy, etc. Some people prefer drinking protein powder to achieve the recommended quantity of protein.
Pea protein is a plant-based protein that is made from dried split yellow peas. This makes it a popular choice among vegans. Like other animal-based proteins, pea protein provides various benefits to your health and is one of the plant-based proteins with the highest protein and fiber concentrations per gram. It is hypoallergenic and can be a part of almost every diet. Keep on reading to find more information about it.
Nutritional Composition of Pea Protein
Pea protein is a lean protein and contains various essential vitamins such as E, A, K, D, and minerals, including iron, copper, magnesium, and zinc.
It contains all the nine essential amino acids, histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, threonine, tryptophan, and valine, required by the body through food. It is though low in methionine which can be supplemented with other dietary elements. Typically, peas contain 23.1–30.9% protein and 1.5–2.0% fat.
Peas contain about 60 % carbohydrates, mainly in the form of starch. But, in most manufacturing methods, the starch is removed by washing dried and powdered peas. These are then again dried and powdered before packaging. Peas contain about 15-20 % dietary fiber and are very low in sugar.
Pea Protein Benefits for Hair
Our hair is made almost entirely of protein, keratin which is essential for maintaining healthy hair. Dietary protein help ensures good hair health by supplementing keratin production and new cell growth in the scalp. Here are a few benefits of adding pea protein to the diet:
1. Prevent Hair Loss and Breakage
The essential amino acids in pea protein help in protecting the hair. It prevents breakage and split ends. It improves the composition of keratin in the hair, giving you strong, healthy hair.
2. Improve Hair Health
Pea protein has essential vitamins and minerals such as iron and calcium, which help boost hair quality and improve hair growth.
3. Hydrates the Hair
Pea proteins help slow down water loss and moisturize the hair simultaneously. This in turn makes it soft and silky. It reduces frizz and improves manageability.
4. Adds Volume to the Hair
It helps in making the hair look fuller. It adds volume to the hair, making the hair shiny, bouncy, and healthy-looking.
How to Use Pea Protein
You can add pea protein powder to smoothies, yogurt, or oatmeals. You can also add it to baked goods while prepping. Many hair products such as shampoos and conditioners contain the hydrated version of pea protein. Try looking for natural products with pea protein as an ingredient.
Precautions
Plant-based proteins can be challenging to digest compared to animal-based proteins. Hence, it might take some time for your body to adjust and should be consumed in low quantities in the beginning.
Bodyweight is the determining factor for calculating required protein intake. The commonly recommended range of protein for both men and women is roughly 0.8 to 1.0 grams per kilogram of weight or 0.36 to 0.45 grams per pound of bodyweight. The liver may struggle to process protein fast enough if taken in extremely high amounts. It might cause side effects like high ammonia levels in the blood, nausea, diarrhea, and even death. Pea protein contains purines, which can affect people who suffer from gout.
These are some of the pea protein benefits for hair that you can reap by including the protein into your daily diet. Share your thoughts, questions, or suggestions in the comment section below.
