PALM BEACH COUNTY, Fla. — Your first gray hair is a rite of passage, a reminder that you're getting older and wiser, but is there a way to prevent white hair without coloring it?
“You can't prevent aging. It's going to happen but you can prevent premature aging and reverse some of the signs of premature aging, said Jodi Rund, a Palm Beach County personal trainer and dietitian.
Rund believes the formula to stop the signs of premature aging is simple.
First, exercise is key, but don't overdo it.
Also, you are what you eat or rather don't eat.
“We have them eliminate inflammatory foods because those will prevent the nutrients from absorbing,” said Rund. “Getting those nutrients to uptake in your body will help counter and stop the grey.”
Delray Beach hairstylist Karen Pflieger sees a lot of customers with grey hair. About 80% of her clients are dealing with the white stuff and she hasn't convinced food is the answer.
“I don't want grey hair to be fixed anytime soon,” said Pflieger.
Rund maintains foods that create inflammation are pro-aging so to stop premature aging, she believes you need to nix processed, packaged and fast foods, as well as gluten, dairy, and sugar.
She also said certain foods do prevent going grey.
Think vegetables and fruits such as avocados, cranberry, and dark, leafy greens.
These foods are high in vitamins b12, vitamin d, and protein, but the biggest anti-grey treatment, according to Rund - catching more z's.
“When you don't sleep, your body produces more stress hormones and those drive the aging process,” said Rund.
So how much sleep do you need?
According to the experts 7 to 9 hours a night and Rund said it needs to be quality sleep. Her advice is to turn off the TV and put away the smartphone at least an hour before you hit the sack.