Did you know that a poor diet not only affects our health but also contributes to hair loss?
That's right; the foods we eat and the nutrients they contain are essential for maintaining healthy hair.
In this article, we'll look at the relationship between diet and hair growth, ways you can optimise your eating habits for healthy hair and review some supplements that might be useful in combatting balding or thinning. So if you're wondering how to keep your hair healthy, read on.
Table of Contents:
- The Link Between Poor Diet and Hair Loss
- Improving Your Diet for Healthy Hair
- Dietary Supplements for Hair Loss
- Conclusion
The Link Between Poor Diet and Hair Loss
Hair thinning or baldness is a common issue faced by all genders. Genetics can be a key factor in hair health, but diet also plays an important role too.
A poor diet can lead to thinning hair or even complete baldness. To keep your hair healthy and boost growth, it's essential to understand the link between poor diet and hair loss.
Certain dietary deficiencies can cause hair loss by reducing the body's ability to absorb essential vitamins and minerals needed for healthy hair follicles.
A lack of Iron, Zinc, Biotin and Omega 3-6 & 9 are linked to baldness, but iron deficiency is the leading cause.
This is because a lack of iron prevents your blood cells from carrying enough oxygen and nutrients to your scalp, which weakens hair follicles, leading them to become brittle and eventually fall out.
Processed foods high in sugar deplete vital nutrients from your system while increasing inflammation which inhibits growth hormones necessary for healthy strands.
Eating too much fast food has also been associated with higher levels of testosterone - another contributing factor towards male pattern baldness.
Your hair can suffer immensely from a poor diet, so you need to be aware of this connection.
Improving your diet can help promote the healthy growth of new strands, so let's take a look at how you can make dietary changes for healthier locks.
Takeaway: Eating a poor diet can negatively impact the health of your scalp, causing you to lose hair. This is because eating foods that are high in sugar and fat can interfere with absorbing the nutrients your body needs to grow healthy, strong, thick, shiny, and lustrous locks.
Improving Your Diet for Healthy Hair
Eating the 'good' foods high in vitamins and minerals keeps your hair and scalp healthy, which increases hair growth.
To optimise hair growth, ensure adequate protein intake.
Protein helps build keratin, which is the main component of hair strands, so eat plenty of lean meats like:
- Chicken and Turkey
- Fish Such as Salmon or Tuna,
- Eggs,
- Beans and Legumes, like lentils or chickpeas.
For the healthiest hair, eat a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, vitamins and nutrients - remember, eat the rainbow!
Fruits high in vitamin C (like oranges) can help promote collagen production, while leafy greens (like spinach) are packed with iron – essential nutrients for strong growth.
Eating a variety of brightly coloured produce will ensure you're getting all the micronutrients necessary for optimal health - including those related to good hair health.
In addition to a balanced diet, certain dietary supplements can be useful for promoting healthier-looking hair.
For example, biotin has been shown to help strengthen weak hairs from within - perfect if you're noticing breakage.
Omega 3 fatty acids found in fish oil capsules have also been linked with improved scalp circulation; this means more oxygenated blood flowing through your follicles which could lead to stronger roots over time.
And don't forget about Vitamin E either; its antioxidant properties protect against environmental damage caused by free radicals, which can leave your hair feeling dryer than usual.
Overall, following a balanced diet full of fresh fruits and vegetables plus adding some beneficial supplements into your routine should go a long way towards keeping your hair looking its best no matter how much stress life throws at us.
Takeaway: While a healthy diet is important for everyone, it's especially important for those suffering from the effects of thinning hair. Taking supplements and vitamins can boost your diet.
Dietary Supplements for Hair Loss - The Herbal Route.
Hair shedding is a common occurrence for many, and herbal supplements may be able to assist with this issue.
Supplements which have been specially formulated to target hair loss often contain vitamins and minerals known to be beneficial for healthy hair growth. These include biotin, zinc, iron, magnesium, and Vitamin B complex.
But for those who wish to explore herbal alternatives, popular dietary supplements include.
- Saw palmetto - Saw palmetto has been identified as potentially reducing the amount of DHT, a chemical which is assumed to be involved in some cases of male pattern baldness.
- Green tea extract - Polyphenols in green tea extract may block DHT formation and protect against environmental damage, as well as potentially increasing scalp circulation for new follicle growth.
- Omega-3 fatty acids - Omega-3 contain anti-inflammatory properties, which can increase circulation in the scalp and help promote new follicle growth.
Takeaway: Saw palmetto extract, green tea extract, and omega-3 fatty acids have all been found to be beneficial in combating hair loss and thinning, providing DHT protection as well as anti-inflammatory benefits for scalp health. These provide protection against DHT formation while providing antioxidants that fight free radical damage; they also improve scalp health due to their anti-inflammatory properties, which helps promote new follicle growth.
Conclusion
It is clear that poor diet and hair loss are connected.
Making sure you eat a healthy and balanced diet ensures that you have the nutrition you need to support healthy hair growth. Additionally, taking supplements may also help to prevent or slow down the effects of balding.
If you're experiencing hair loss due to genetics or poor diet, the Harley Street Hair Clinic can provide a solution with our advanced hair transplant procedures.
Contact us today for a friendly chat, get more information and book your free consultation.
