The thing about growing older is … it happens to everyone. There’s no real way to avoid it.

But there are some age-related symptoms that you can slow down a bit… including hair loss or thinning.

That’s why, when Dr. Gundry talks with patients who are concerned about thinning hair, he recommends biotin. It’s simply one of the best supplements to help with preventing (or slowing) hair loss.

What is Biotin?

Well, biotin is a water-soluble B-vitamin that’s super important when it comes to your body’s energy metabolism. It is considered a coenzyme – that means it’s basically a non-protein compound your body needs to help other enzymes function.

You might also see biotin referred to as coenzyme R, vitamin B7, and vitamin H. It has several different forms, actually. But only D-biotin is totally active in human beings. So, when you see the word “biotin,” it usually means you’re looking at D-biotin.

Now, biotin is a nutrient – and an essential one at that – which means your body needs it to carry out specific biochemical functions, like:

• Creation of fatty acids¹
• Conversion of amino acids to other useful compounds²
• The production of glucose from non-carbohydrates to help supply your brain and red blood cells with fuel³

Just how does biotin generally accomplish its duties? It simply attaches to certain proteins at specific places in a process called biotinylation. Biotinylation is basically a fancy name for a process that’s routinely used to attach biotin to proteins and other large molecules.⁴

You see, the thing is, people aren’t able to directly produce biotin.

Though in some cases, the bacteria that usually live in your gut can produce close to enough biotin to keep your body going.

But, since the body doesn’t make its own biotin, how can you support hair growth if you can’t rely on your body?

Well, you’ve got to get your biotin from biotin supplements, or even certain dietary sources, like⁵ – 

• Leafy greens (ie: kale, spinach, and Swiss chard)
• Omega-3 egg yolks
• Avocado
• Cauliflower
• Wild-caught fish
• Mushrooms
• Liver

Of course, not everyone is willing to eat raw egg yolks and liver. But with supplements and all the other delicious sources of biotin, there’s no reason not to eat it.

After all, biotin is considered to be a very safe vitamin. Whether you’re using it to support hair growth or fight various health issues, even super huge doses of biotin fail to lead to adverse side effects – which is a very, very good thing.⁶

And, because it’s water-soluble, excess amounts simply pass through your body and are eliminated with your urine.

Therefore, it may be important to consider biotin supplements, too. And, biotin isn’t just for thinning hair.

But first, it’s important to assess if actually need to supplement with biotin.

How Do You Know If You’re Biotin Deficient?

Turns out, there are several symptoms that can alert you to the possibility you might have a biotin deficiency. In most cases, biotin treatment can help.

Here’s a list of certain signs you might be biotin deficient –

• Low Muscle Tone
• Skin rash
• Hair loss (or slowing of hair growth)
• Issues with vision and hearing

And these symptoms of biotin deficiency can become even more apparent during times of stress.⁷

What are the Best Biotin Benefits?

The Health of Your Hair

Of course, first and foremost, biotin is sometimes recommended when you notice the frustrating occurrence of hair loss – meaning you’re hair is starting to thin, or even disappear.

It may also help boost your hair’s thickness and perhaps even help you keep the natural color of your hair. Luckily, biotin benefits can be found in multiple supplements marketed to consumers for inspiring hair growth and helping prevent hair loss.⁸

Nail Health

When it comes to the health of your nails, biotin benefits include helping you to maintain the normal thickness of your fingernails and toenails – especially for those who suffer from brittle nails.⁹

Skin Health

Biotin might also be able to help support healthy skin development – especially around your mouth, nostrils, and maybe even your eyes.¹⁰ Progeline is another great wrinkle helper.

Healthy Blood Sugar

Finally, there’s also a bit of scientific evidence that suggests it’s possible a combination of biotin and chromium could help support your body’s natural ability to maintain and support your blood sugar level.¹¹

Biotin Benefits in Review

Again, biotin is simply a B-vitamin – one that your body needs in order to play a very crucial part in the metabolism of carbohydrates, fats, and proteins. And so many of the potential biotin benefits could affect your skin, hair, and nails in positive ways.

But the best part is, you can find biotin in a bunch of different types of foods (and supplements), so if you think you may be experiencing a deficiency in biotin, you can correct that with relative ease.

In the End …

It can be tough to see yourself change when you look in the mirror. Even harder is the feeling of losing your confidence when you lose your hair, your health, or your youthful agility.

But there are ways to hold onto what you’ve got. Eating right, avoiding lectins, and taking the right supplements will help you feel like you longer.

Longevity is what everyone’s after – feeling good and looking good for as long as you can. And that’s becoming a real possibility every day, as scientists and researchers discover new ways to help people live better, longer.

For information on vital supplement, keep reading here:

Vitamin B5 Benefits & How To Tell if You’re Deficient
The Vitamin You Need to Load Up On…Right Now!
Feeling Tired? 6 Symptoms of Niacin Deficiency

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Sources

1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2895169
2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10846444
3. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK22591
4. https://www.thermofisher.com/us/en/home/life-science/protein-biology
5. http://lpi.oregonstate.edu/mic/vitamins/biotin
6. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25787192
7. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK1322
8. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5315033
9. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2648686
10. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1764357
11. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/dmrr.755/abstract