Hair loss and diet
As part of National Hair Loss Awareness month each week I’m discussing hair. This is my fourth post about it and today I want to check the connection between what we eat and hair loss. Hair follicles are affected by nutritional deficiencies which can be responsible for hair loss. The first one that comes to mind is iron deficiency which diverts iron stores in the hair follicle to other areas of the body that need the iron more. Vitamin D deficiency can affect hair growth especially causing female pattern hair loss and alopecia areata. Zinc is another mineral necessary for hair follicle function and stops follicles from shrinking. Other minerals that affect hair growth and loss include: biotin, vitamin B12, riboflavin, copper and folate.
The most traditional way of getting nutrients is through the diet and testing can identify if you have a nutritional deficiency. To be safe the best solution is eating properly with fresh fruit and vegetables, whole grains and healthy fats and oils. One of the biggest dietary requirements for hair growth is protein and that’s why strict diets are so bad for the hair. The proteins that are required for hair growth (especially in the hair bulb or living part of the hair) are diverted to the cellular functions in the body that are more essential. So hair follicles need a constant supply of protein to avoid hair loss. Strict diets also mean nutrients don’t get absorbed properly also leading to thinning or loss.
So we’ve talked about mineral deficiencies but what happens if you’re taking too much of something? That can also cause hair loss especially if the dosages are too high. Selenium, vitamin E and vitamin A are some examples of supplements that are unhealthy in high doses and may trigger hair loss. So in a nutshell what you eat will affect your hair.
I would recommend so many different solutions for treating hair loss but given today’s post, I would suggest IV nutritional therapy and Biotin injections. Join me next week for my fifth and final post in this series.
Come in and see us at Invigorate Advanced Aesthetics in Centennial, Colorado for your IV nutritional therapy and Biotin injection needs.
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"So hair follicles need a constant supply of protein to avoid hair loss. Strict diets also mean nutrients don't get absorbed properly also leading to thinning or loss."
