Biotin is one of the B complex vitamins that play an integral role in the breakdown of food into energy. Known as a water-soluble vitamin, it also plays a vital role in the growth of our hair, nails, and skin. Biotin is also referred to as vitamin H and is found in many foods such as eggs, milk, and even bananas, in small amounts. In this article, we’ll take a look at the benefits of biotin and common biotin-rich foods you can incorporate into your diet.
Our bodies, the food we consume, and the system built around them are designed in a manner to support self-sustenance. Your body produces a natural amount of biotin, and when it faces a deficiency, you can turn to biotin-rich foods to supplement the deficiency. But, how much biotin do we actually need, and is there such a thing as ‘too much biotin’? For adults, the daily allowance of biotin consumption is often recommended to be between 30 to 100 micrograms. The same amount is recommended for adolescents as well. To put this into perspective, a small banana holds about 0.2 micrograms of biotin
As mentioned earlier, biotin plays an important role in our health and well-being. If you are suffering from a lack of biotin, biotin-rich foods and supplements are often considered a good means of making up for a biotin deficiency. Luckily, biotin is naturally present in lots of foods we commonly consume so deficiencies are very rare. However, if you want to stay healthy in the long run and keep yourself financially protected, you should look into getting health insurance for yourself and your family.
Biotin helps accelerate the growth of skin and also heals cracked and dry skin.
Some biotin-rich fruits you can add to your diet are avocados, bananas, and most dry fruits.
Most people do not need to take biotin supplements as long as they consume foods containing biotin. If you are still feeling the effects of biotin deficiency, it is best to consult a professional doctor.
Here are the main health benefits of biotin:
Helps in hair, nail and skin growth.
Helps absorb nutrients into the body.
Helps manage the symptoms of diabetes and regulates blood sugar levels.
Here is a small list of foods rich in biotin:
Lean Meats
Eggs
Fish
Seeds and Nuts
Mushrooms
Biotin is water-soluble which means that our bodies cannot store it. So the best natural way to increase biotin naturally is via the intake of biotin-rich foods such as liver and other meats, nuts and seeds, sweet potatoes, dairy, yeast, and more.
One fruit that is rich in biotin is Bananas. One banana contains approximately 0.2-0.4 micrograms of biotin or 1 percent of the daily value.
With the intake of salmon and tuna in our daily diet, we can increase the biotin in our hair. That is because both salmon and tuna are packed with omega-3 fatty acids that are great for hair growth.