Diet for Hair Loss Hair loss is fast becoming a global concern due to extremely poor eating habits and an overall defective diet.
With the growing fast food trend, typical everyday meals are high in unhealthy fats and processed flour and low in vitamins and minerals. Although Male and female pattern baldness is due to hereditary factors, most cases of hair loss seem to be either directly or indirectly linked to unhealthy foods. Most people, especially adolescents have at least one fast food meal every day and since a high-fat diet and hair loss is irrefutably linked, it is not surprising that the incidence of hair loss is rising rapidly.
Recent research shows that a vast majority of people suffering from hair loss also have anemia.
Anemia is one of the most common blood disorders and as it does not have easily noticeable symptoms, it often goes undetected for years. Anemia is most often caused by an iron deficiency and causes a shortage in the supply of oxygenated blood to various organs in the body including the skin and scalp. Vegetables like spinach, broccoli and cabbage have a high iron and calcium content and should be included in any diet for hair loss.
Include citrus fruits in your diet as Vitamin C maximizes the absorption of iron by the blood.
In order to stop hair loss, it is necessary that you have a diet that is rich in vitamins and minerals. Silica is one such mineral that plays a vital role in preventing hair loss and is found in green and red peppers, potatoes, raw oats, cucumbers, green leafy vegetables and Bean sprouts. Most packaged breakfast cereals are flavored and contain high amounts of processed sugars. Substitute these with oats and other homemade porridges. Try to have a balanced diet that contains fruits and vegetables. Fruits like grapes, bananas and muskmelon contain flavonoids. Many of these flavonoids are antioxidants and help to protect hair follicles from damage as well as encourage hair growth. As hair is comprised of a type of protein (keratin), a diet that is lacking proteins will inhibit hair growth. Make sure that your diet contains protein-rich foods like eggs, liver, beans, brewer’s yeast and wheat germ. Soy protein stimulates hair growth and so including Tofu and soy milk in your daily diet will help to reduce hair loss.
Vitamin E is also vital for healthy hair growth so make sure that you have nuts, seeds or olive oil daily. You could either use an olive oil dressing on a salad or sprinkle a handful of chopped nuts over it. Avocados are considered by many to be particularly effective in the treatment of hair loss as they are high in essential fatty acids. Finally, remember that a diet for hair loss is not the solution to all hair loss problems — if you continue to lose hair, there may be other causes. |
