It should come as no surprise that the same nutrition that supports overall healthy hair growth also supports eyelash growth. A balanced diet of whole foods is essential for your eyelashes to grow and stay healthy. There are some key vitamins and minerals that you should be sure to include in your diet that will help maintain healthy eyelashes.
Biotin
Biotin is very important for hair and eyelashes, as it is necessary for the growth of all cells and tissues. Include romaine lettuce, tomatoes, brewer’s yeast, brown rice, walnuts, sunflower seeds, and carrots in your diet to ensure you’re getting enough biotin. You can also take biotin as a supplement. It is soluble in water, so it is unlikely that you could overdose on biotin.
Do not eat foods that contain raw eggs because they are high in protein that binds to biotin and prevents it from being absorbed. Boiled eggs are fine.
Zinc
Zinc deficiency could be the culprit if one suffers from hair loss and weak eyelashes. It is often combined with biotin to support healthy hair growth. You can get zinc in meats, peas, beans, and lentils. Check your multivitamin, it usually contains zinc. Too much zinc can cause an upset stomach. Do not exceed 100 mg / day. Excessive amounts of zinc can interfere with iron absorption. You should check with your doctor if you have questions about your zinc intake.
Iron
Lack of iron is responsible for a condition known as anemia, and hair loss is one of the symptoms. To make sure you get enough iron in your diet, eat lean meats, legumes, nuts, and beans. You can also take iron as a supplement. Iron is not soluble in water and if you ingest it in excess, you can suffer constipation and excessive amounts can lead to toxicity and even death.
Iron requirement decreases after menopause for women. The RDA for women 14 to 18 years old is 15 mg / day, for women 19 to 50 it is 18 mg / day and for women over 50 it is 8 mg / day. Check with your doctor to determine what is right for you.
Vitamin B complex
Vitamin B also supports healthy hair and eyelash growth. Foods rich in B vitamins are liver, tuna, beef, oatmeal, turkey, bananas, and potatoes. You can also supplement with a good vitamin B complex. Since vitamin B is soluble in water, it is practically impossible to overdose.
Other means for healthy eyelashes
There are other things you can do to keep your eyelashes healthy. Save false eyelashes and heavy mascara for special occasions. Remember to remove your mascara at night and be gentle on your lashes when you do. Easy does it with the eyelash curler and does not pull the eyelashes when you use it.
To condition, try a little Vaseline or Aquaphor at night and comb with an eyelash brush or comb.