Hair Loss
Diet and hair loss
Introduction
Everyone sheds hair at about the same rate, but there
are some people, through genetics, who have fewer new
hairs that grow to replace those that shed. Pattern
baldness or permanent hair loss is simply the result of
genetic programming. Increased hair shedding, or
temporary hair loss can be caused by a host of different
reasons.
Alopecia is the medical or technical name for hair loss.
The loss of hair can occur on the scalp or on any part
of the body that normally has hair, such as eyebrows or
eyelashes.
A certain amount of hair loss is normal. The average
person normally sheds 50 to 100 hairs every day. The
hair shed daily is not necessarily permanent hair loss.
Most of the hair we shed grows back.
All hairs have a life expectancy of three to six years.
At any given time, some of our hair is growing, some is
done growing and in the resting stage, and some is in
the falling-out stage.
Some of these reasons include poor nutrition and diet,
genes, hormones, age, medications such as chemotherapy,
radiation treatment, infections, stress, chemicals used
for certain hairstyles, and rapid weight loss.
Certain illnesses and diseases can also cause hair loss
or hair shedding. Examples include anemia, low thyroid
hormone levels, lupus, and sometimes cancer. In most of
these cases, hair loss is not permanent.
Nutrition and Dietary Recommendations
Nutritional deficiencies can contribute to increased
hair shedding by weakening hair shafts that cause
breakage to the hair and slow regrowth.
Hair problems that are caused by nutritional
deficiencies can be corrected by a proper diet.
Principal nutrients that are involved include vitamin A,
certain B vitamins, the vitamin biotin, vitamin C,
copper, iron, zinc, protein, and water.
Vitamin A
Adequate intake of vitamin A is vital in helping to
promote the growth and health of cells and tissues
throughout the body, including the hair and scalp.
Prolonged vitamin A deficiency can lead to hair loss and
dandruff caused by the buildup of cellular debris in the
hair follicles.
The daily intake of vitamin A for adults is 5,000 IU
(international units). The body actually gets vitamin A
in two ways: from plant sources in the form of
carotenoids, such as beta carotene, that convert to
vitamin A in the body.
These sources include red, yellow, and orange fruits and
vegetables as well as some dark green leafy vegetables.
The body also gets vitamin A from animal sources in the
form of retinol. Good animal sources include:
liver
fish oil
eggs
fortified milk
other foods fortified with vitamin A
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Vitamin B6, folic acid, vitamin B12
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