A lot of people are drinking bamboo leaf tea for stronger hair and nails. Does it work? And, are there other bamboo tea benefits that could improve health?

Want stronger nails and richer, fuller hair? Drink bamboo leaf tea! As much as this sounds like a trendy beauty remedy, there is scientific evidence that bamboo can help with hair and nail growth.

You’ve probably tapped your knuckles on a piece of bamboo. That dense, thick sensation you get after knocking on bamboo is the reason it’s good for your hair and nails. Bamboo is comprised primarily of silica, up to 70 percent. Silica is a crucial trace mineral for bone health.

There is too much emphasis on getting enough calcium in the diet for bone health. This is proven by the fact that the countries with the highest rates of osteoporosis are also those with the highest per-capita calcium consumption.

If you want strong bones, nails and hair, you need more silica, not calcium. Our bones lose silica as we age, so if you’re going to take a supplement for your bones, try something that has silica, like bamboo leaf tea.

Doesn’t it make sense that bamboo, since it’s the fasting growing plant in the world, would also be good for growing hair and nails?

But let’s leave theory aside and look at the facts….

“Functional components of bamboo shavings and bamboo leaf extracts and their antioxidant activities in vitro”

Though this headline doesn’t sound as sexy as a marketing ad for a beauty product, it is nonetheless the title of a research study. Published in the Journal of Medicinal Food, the study examined the beneficial compounds in bamboo extract. It also evaluated the free-radical-scavenging-capacity (antioxidant) of bamboo extract. Bamboo extracts from different parts of the bamboo plant possess excellent antioxidant activity, which can be used potentially as a readily accessible and valuable bioactive source of natural antioxidants, the researchers concluded.

Another study of bamboo extract, published in the Journal of Medicinal Plant Research reveals several therapeutic uses. These therapeutic uses of bamboo extracts have been clinically investigated since the 1960s. Products derived from bamboo, including tea, have been proven to show protection against:

• oxidative stress
• inflammation,
• High cholesterol
• Cancer
• Cardiovascular disease

The researchers concluded “bamboo has great potential for producing a range of extracts with functional utility in medicine.”

Traditional Uses and Bamboo Tea Benefits

A study examining bamboo’s traditional usage in Japan said traditional Japanese medicine uses the leaves of bamboo extracted in hot water at 100°C (212°F; boiling point). The researchers adopted an extraction method at even higher temperatures. This procedure not only yielded greater amounts of extract but also with significant increase in immune activity, including human natural killer (NK) cells, which help protect against cancer.

Research reveals that silica in bamboo leaves is continuously accumulated in the bamboo leaves’ tissues throughout their life, not only during the course of leaf opening. Bamboo tea benefits for hair and nails comes primarily from the silica.

Nutrition for hair & nails

We need to eat enough good sources of protein, and fats and oils for optimal health. Our hair is no different. If you want a head of fuller, thicker hair, your hair needs nourishment from these same macronutrients. Drinking bamboo leaf tea is a great way to get the silica needed to encourage hair growth. Silica, also known as silicon, can also be consumed by eating certain foods. Bananas, bran cereal, whole grain breads, and mineral water all contain silica.

(Avoid eating silicon chips; they’re not a new brand of healthy potato chips. They are components used in making computer processors and other electronics.)

You can also get food-grade diatomaceous Earth and scoop some, adding it to water, or even your regular shampoo.

Conclusion

Many people are deficient in silica. If you want stronger bones, hair and nails, consider getting more silica in your diet. Drinking bamboo leaf tea is one easy way. Taking a silica supplement is another easy way to help encourage hair & nail growth, naturally. Why not reap the bamboo tea benefits by drinking it regularly?