From swapping beauty tips with your friends to browsing the aisles of your local store, you may already be familiar with biotin and its many perks. New to them? That’s cool too!
Whether you’re hoping to lean on biotin to support your hair or simply wellness #goals, there are many benefits to be explored.
Below, we take a deeper dive into these to understand what biotin is, what it can do for your health. Scroll on to get the scoop behind this standout ingredient.
What is Biotin?
Biotin, also known as vitamin H, is a member of the vitamin B complex family. Its primary responsibility includes turning the nutrients we ingest (i.e. proteins, fats and carbohydrates) into energy. This is important as many of our daily functions – think metabolic, digestive and cardiovascular – wouldn’t happen without it! Biotin also contributes to normal energy-yielding metabolism and macronutrient metabolism.
If you’re someone who’s thinking ‘I feel like I’ve seen biotin before’, you probably aren’t wrong! In general, biotin is a common ingredient behind supplements that work to support hair, skin and nails.
Do Biotin Supplements Help with Hair Health?
This is one of the most popular asks when it comes to biotin and biotin supplements (and for good reason!). On top of the critical health functions we previously mentioned, biotin vitamins have been popularised due to their alleged benefits on hair and skin. For example, some individuals who’ve increased their biotin intake have reported healthier hair and skin.
That said, as always, we recommend you ask a healthcare professional to decide whether a dietary supplement will be a helpful addition to your regime.
How Can I Add Biotin to My Diet?
The good news is there are natural sources of biotin, including:
- Egg yolks
- Almonds
- Nut butter
- Cauliflower
- Bananas
- Mushrooms
Written by Sarah Schuh
