Melanin rich foods Benefits

Melanin rich foods Benefits | man amazed | man thinking | melanin benefits for skin

It is a pigment that is responsible for the variety of our skin tones and shades, eye colors, and hair colors. Melanin is also responsible for guarding us against the harmful effects of UV rays. People who have darker skin tones have more melanin than those with lighter skin tones.

People who have more melanin in their skin are at a minimum risk of sunburn and skin cancer. When you get tanned in the sun then it is a way for your skin to protect itself from damage as it releases melanin. Special skin cells called melanocytes make melanin and everyone has the same quantity of melanocytes.

The quantity of melanin in your body depends on your genes. If your parents have a lot or a little pigmented skin, you’ll probably look like them. Melanin can build up in some parts and cause darkening of the skin, which doctors call hyperpigmentation. Hyperpigmentation is when certain parts of your skin are darker than others. How to reduce melanin in the skin? Well, it’s also possible to reduce melanin production in the skin.

Foods to improve melanin for hair

There are a few foods that can help improve melanin production in the body, which can in turn help improve the health and appearance of your hair. Some of the best foods for this are:

Walnuts: 

Walnuts are a great source of omega-3 fatty acids, which are essential for healthy hair.

Eggs: 

Eggs are a good source of protein and biotin, two nutrients that are essential for hair health.

Sweet potatoes: 

Sweet potatoes are a rich source of beta-carotene, a precursor to vitamin A. Vitamin A is important for hair growth and health.

Spinach: 

Spinach is a good source of iron, a nutrient that is essential for hair growth.

Beans: 

Beans are a good source of protein and zinc, two nutrients that are helpful for hair health.

How to increase melanin content at home?

There are a few ways by which you can increase the levels of melanin on your skin and your hair at home.

The easiest and very common way of increasing your melanin is tanning but it can be dangerous and can cause harm to your body.

You can also use some supplements and vitamins which can increase your melanin levels. Some vitamins like vitamins A and E can increase melanin levels.

Some foods can also be used to produce more melanin and increase the level of our skin and hair.

Does everyone have the same amount of melanin? 

The amount of melanin usually depends upon the number of melanocytes. All human beings have roughly the same quantity of melanocytes. But people with darker skin tones have melanosomes higher in number, larger in size, and more pigmented than those with light skin.

Melanin oil for grey hair

Our skin and skin colors are usually determined by the melanin content present in our skin. The more melanin content is, the darker we look and the darker our hair looks. Generally, with ageing, our melanin content in the body tends to decrease, which results in the formation of grey hair.  So taking melanin supplements like applying melanin oil to hair can help diminish the grey hair and gets you shiny dark black hair. 

How to make melanin oil at home?

Recipe: Add two tablespoons of Amla powder, 3 tablespoons of Jatamansi, and 2 tablespoons of Hibiscus powder, in a bowl and mix them with 1 cup of regular coconut oil. Pour it into a transparent jar, mix it for a while, and leave it in the sunlight for four days. 

Apply this thrice a week, massage it on the scalp, leave for an hour and wash it. Try this procedure for four months and you can reverse your grey hair to shiny black hair.

What happens due to a lack of melanin?

There are generally two conditions that occur when your body lacks melanin:

Vitiligo: it is an autoimmune disorder that happens when the body doesn’t produce enough melanocytes. This causes a lack of melanin and color which can lead to white patches appearing on your skin or hair.

Albinism: this is a very common condition that occurs when the body doesn’t produce enough melanin. The number of melanocytes is decreased due to reduced melanin production from melanosomes.

Take Away 

Melanin is both useful and dangerous for the body. You just need to accept yourself the way you are and avoid using any of the natural methods to increase or decrease melanin levels in your skin as it may cause infections and other skin issues.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which fruit is rich in melanin?

Here are some of the best foods that help your natural-born melanin glow even more than it already does!

  • Broccoli. 
  • Turmeric. 
  • Eggs. 
  • Red Peppers. 
  • Peas. 
  • Orange Fruits and Veggies. 
  • Almonds. 
  • Green Tea. 

Does vitamin D increase melanin?

The amount of melanin in the skin impacts vitamin D status as the skin depends on UV rays to synthesize vitamin D, and darker skin can inhibit its production. It takes around 15 minutes in the sun for a person with a lighter skin tone to generate enough vitamin D for the day, whereas a person with darker skin needs around 30 minutes to three hours.

What kills melanin production?

Aging, strong cosmetics, medical conditions, and insufficient sun exposure are the main reasons for the diminishing and destruction of melanin production.

Which fruit increases melanin?

Foods rich in iron like sweet potatoes, grapes, sprouts, peaches, and cashews can increase melanin content. 

References

  1. Neuromelanin in human dopamine neurons: comparison with peripheral melanins and relevance to Parkinson's disease.
  2. Photoprotection and Skin Pigmentation: Melanin-Related Molecules and Some Other New Agents Obtained from Natural Sources
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