There’s no such thing as a magic bullet for healthy hair, right? Right. Or . . . is there? In this article we will lear about one of the only supplements I have chosen to take for my hair and overall health that has made a huge and noticeable difference over the past few years. MSM! In this video, we'll learn all about taking MSM for hair growth!
There are so many supplements marketed for improving hair growth, it can be so hard to know which ones are for real! Personally, I don't take many supplements, but MSM has been one that I have been using for a few years now, and with good reason! MSM has seriously increased my rate of hair growth. In this video we will cover everything you need to know before trying MSM for hair growth.
We will be covering: what MSM is and why so many people could benefit from taking it. Some important Do’s and Don’ts for how to take MSM on a regular basis. The one type of MSM that I personally use and recommend. I will show you progress photos over my own journey with taking MSM, and finally, I will answer some frequently asked questions regarding MSM and pregnancy and breastfeeding. So let’s jump into it!
What MSM is and Why You May Need It
Up until about 4 years ago, I shared the common belief that there is no such supplement that can increase the rate of hair growth, or do much when it comes to hair thickness, unless one was severely deficient in something. However, when I first heard about organic sulphur, also known as MSM, I was intrigued. However, I can now say that after 4 years of taking a high quality organic sulphur supplement, my hair growth rate has almost certainly increased, and significantly. Let me explain.
Sulphur is a necessary building block of keratin, the substance that hair and nails are made from, and it also vital for the healthy function of bones and joints. Now, sulphur can only come from our diets. The problem is, with modern farming practices that have depleted soil nutrients, sulphur content in our food is typically the first thing to go. So, everything I am about to say about the potential benefits of organic sulphur supplementation should not be taken as me saying that this is some kind of magic bullet. No not at all. Rather, that so many of us are and have been living with the effects of a sulphur deficiency in our diets, and when you finally start getting enough of something that was unknowingly deficient in your diet, it can have all kinds of amazing, seemingly unrelated benefits. For example, many people take organic sulphur and report that it significantly decreases joint pain, muscle pain, and other kinds of low grade pain problems. Some also report an increase in energy.
Do’s and Don’ts for MSM
So now let’s talk about how to take MSM.
First of all, always consult with your own trusted healthcare provider before taking any supplements. This is not medical advice, just my own experiences.
Make sure you are taking a pure, high quality MSM supplement. We will talk about that in the next section. The best practice is to take MSM on an empty stomach - I do this in the morning - or at least 2 hours after eating and 30 min before eating. Make sure you are drinking plenty of water throughout the day, as MSM does have a detoxifying effect, which is great, but it means you need to up your water intake.
Third tip: MSM works synergistically with vitamin C, so it is a good idea to include that either naturally in your diet, through a vitamin C rich super food, or simply through standard Vitamin C capsules. However, again, it is best to take MSM alone as it can bind to whatever you take it with. So take your Vitamin C later in the day with food or any other supplements you are taking.
What Type of MSM to Take?
The one type of MSM I have personally been taking for a few years and that I trust is a little on the pricy side, but it is worth it. In my opinion, there is no point taking cheap or ineffective supplements.
The type of MSM I take comes in crystal form, and usually comes in a gold bag - this an option, as well as this.
I believe this type of MSM is the best kind to take - I know it is pure, there are no fillers, it is reputable, and it is in crystalline form. Most cheaper MSM’s on the market are a powder, which could contain fillers, or just not be as effective. However, if you want to start off with a slightly less pricey brand to give it a try, I will also include a link on my blog page of the first tub of MSM I bought, which is a powdered form, but it is from a reputable brand I trust. I do think that if you are going to take the MSM long term though, eventually invest in the 99.9% MSM crystals in the gold bag. There are two brands I have used but both are identical, and only one is currently available on Amazon so that is what I have linked.
My Experience with MSM
So, let’s talk about my experience with taking MSM. I have always had a slower than average hair growth rate, and when you add to that that my previous hair care practices were not allowing me to retain the length I did grow, my hair growth was basically nil.
About 2 years in to changing my hair care routine over to a natural and gentle routine, my hair was a lot happier and healthier. However, I was still not seeing an insane amount of gain in my length. For the first couple of years after cutting my hair, I gained a few inches, max. Then, when I started taking high quality MSM regularly, my hair growth rate took off and went from shoulder length to waist length in a matter of several months.
MSM and Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
One of the most frequent questions I receive about MSM relates to whether I take it during pregnancy and breastfeeding. First of all, when it comes to pregnancy and breastfeeding, this is a fairly high-stakes situation and therefore I will never give advice for what others should do, but rather simply share my own experience. Always do your own research, consult your intuition, and check with health care providers first, especially during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
The official, conservative stance is that MSM should be avoided during pregnancy and breastfeeding. This is not because it has ever been proven in studies to be dangerous, but simply because it has not been studied for safety, and it also has some detoxifying effects and generally we don’t want to be detoxing during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
In my experience, I actually have used MSM during pregnancy and breastfeeding, within reason and with taking breaks whenever I don’t feel like the MSM is suiting me. I have done research on MSM and what it is at its core, which is basically a way of oxygenating your body. I personally feel comfortable with it, but a big part of this is because I was taking it for a long time before my pregnancies. I would not recommend beginning to take MSM during pregnancy. Perhaps you could during postpartum, especially if you are experiencing serious hair loss, but please start off with a tiny amount and work up very slowly, making sure you are drinking lots of water. If at any time you experience negative symptoms, back off on the MSM. It’s okay to wait until later to take MSM. There are other ways to naturally support your body, eve just through eating nutrient dense foods.
I hope you enjoyed this article about MSM! Would you, or have you ever tried MSM? Let me know in the comments section!
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