Overview

The common factors that are related to hair loss are heredity, hormonal imbalance and aging. However, what most of us don’t know is that hair loss also has something to with out diet. Stresses along with poor nutrition or poor food choices are the commonly overlooked causes of hair loss.

Who Can Be Affected?

Among women, thinning hair is a sign of deficiency in protein, zinc and other food nutrients. It may also be a sign of a problem in the gastrointestinal tract, which could be the root of poor food nutrient absorption. For men, a high-fat diet tends to increase testosterone levels, which often lead to hair loss problems. Some scientists postulate that eating low-fat foods may not stop hair loss but it can help slow it down. Children are no exception to hair loss problems. For children, the cause ranges from hereditary to dietary factors. The self-imposed diets and starvation, which are becoming the bandwagon from among the youngsters to keep their bodies slim and thin, increases the risk of suffering from severe hair loss.

Hair Loss and Food

While hair loss may be caused by a number of factors, inadequate food nutrients and vitamins is its major attribute. Being in a healthy diet can actually lessen the likelihood of hair loss problems.

Protein-rich foods: European studies have found that many of the protein food sources can help reinforce hair and aid the body in producing the amino acids that promote healthy hair growth. Good and healthy protein sources include soybeans and soy-bean-based products such as tofu and soy milk, low-fat cheese, eggs, fish, brewer’s yeast and yogurt.

Iron-rich foods: Anemia is one of the frequent causes of hair loss. Eating adequate amounts of liver or organ meat, whole grain cereals, dark leafy vegetables, eggs, dates and raisins are some of the foods high in iron that can also give you the protein that your hair needs.

Silica: Silica is typically used in various treatments that slow down hair loss. Organic forms of silica are even mixed with shampoo formulations to promote healthy hair growth and improved hair texture. When it comes to foods that are rich in silica, the list includes potatoes (the outer covering), green and red peppers, cucumbers and bean sprouts.

Vitamin C & Hair Loss - The Importance of Eating Healthy

If you are experiencing patches of hair loss, you may be under physical or emotional stress. Many times, switching to a diet that contains vitamins such as vitamin C will help the hair grow back. The scalp is very sensitive to pollutants in the air and will become depleted of nutrients needed for healthy hair unless they are replaced daily. This is why taking a vitamin and incorporating enough fruits and vegetables into your diet will help you keep from losing your hair. It’s also important to note that it’s always better to get vitamins and minerals from natural foods.

The following foods are an excellent source of vitamin C:

• Red peppers
• Green vegetables
• Citrus fruits

While there may be other reasons for the hair loss, such as illness, many people simply do not eat enough fruits and vegetables throughout the day. Eating a healthy diet will help the body maintain its present condition and will get nutrients to where they need to go. This will help hair remain strong and continue to grow as you age.

Vitamin E-rich foods: Vitamin E is not only agreeable to our skin; it is also helpful in maintaining healthy hair. And when people have healthy hair, they are less likely to suffer from hair loss. The list of foods rich in vitamin E includes avocados, nuts, seeds and olive oil.

These major food groups also deliver B-vitamins, Biotin, Zinc, Inositol and amino acids L-Cysteine and L-Methionine which all promote strong and healthy hair. And since there are no perfect diets, we can always turn to diet supplements to get help in growing healthy hair.

Conclusion

While there is no way to make sure that you do not ever lose your hair there are definitely things you can do to help prevent it. Eating healthy is important for your overall health as well as the health of your hair.

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