Diet & Food for Hair Loss

Poor Nutrition

The most straightforward cause of hair loss related to diet is poor nutrition. Yet it’s not a simple matter of “eating an apple a day...” Longstanding malnutrition, calorie restriction, eating disorders, and nutritional deficiencies cause excessive hair shedding, hair thinning, and extreme hair loss. The result?

Chronic Telogen Effuvium
A hair loss condition lasting longer than six months that is caused by prolonged poor nutrition. Thinning occurs across the entire scalp, and it may take longer for hair to regrow due to prolonged damage.

Dieting

Some diets are safe and effective for sustainable weight loss. Yet many variables shape and impact your body during the dieting process. Your starting weight, genetics, and medical history all play a role in weight loss. As it turns out, they also impact your hair health. Meaning your approach to a well-balanced diet will determine whether or not you also shed hair. If you can maintain a healthy diet that still incorporates vital nutrients, you shouldn’t experience excessive shedding. However, crash diets, extreme weight loss, or nutrition deficit can cause:

Telogen Effuvium
A diet-related hair loss condition resulting from crash dieting and stress on the body. Hair’s will rapidly transfer out of the growing phase and into the shedding phase. Once you address and alter the dietary issue, your hair will regrow within 3-6 months.

Essential Nutrients For Healthy Hair Growth

When we talk about essential nutrients for hair growth, we’re not merely emphasizing certain ingredients because they are healthy. Instead, “essential” means that biologically, your body depends on these nutrients to enact its normal functions. Essential nutrients must be eaten or incorporated with an oral or sublingual supplement to create the best diet for hair growth.

Foods Good for Hair Growth

Protein

If we look at hair anatomy, we learn that hair is made of a protein called Keratin. As such, restriction of protein results in weak, brittle, and thin hair that sheds. The good news is that there are excellent sources of protein for every diet, including meat, poultry, fish, dairy, eggs, legumes, beans, quinoa, and soy.

Iron

Hair follicles live under the scalp and feed on your blood supply. As such, they crave blood rich in iron. One of the leading causes of excessive shedding is an iron deficiency. If you’re iron deficient, increase your intake of dark leafy greens, red meat, chicken, fish, tofu, broccoli, egg, mussels, oysters, veal, or iron-fortified or enriched foods like cereal or brown rice.

Healthy Fats - Omega Fatty Acid

We know that circulation is vital to cardiovascular health, but where else in the body is regulated blood flow necessary? Microcirculation is the circulation of blood through the tiniest vessels in the body. And where’s one place small blood vessels live? In our hair follicles. Healthy fats promote microcirculation, minimize inflammation of the blood vessels, and stimulate healthy hair growth. Some of the best food for hair loss that include healthy fats are salmon, avocado, and coconut oil.

Biotin

Biotin is also crucial for producing Keratin, the protein building block of hair strands. Get biotin from eggs, almonds, mushrooms, cauliflower, and cheese, or take a supplement.

Vitamin B12, C, E & D

These are all essential nutrients that support a myriad of functions in the body, including healthy hair. Eating a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and nuts will provide abundant nutrients. If you aren’t privy to greens at every meal, you can also take daily supplements.

Calcium

Calcium supports strong, healthy bones and teeth. It also promotes the secretion of androgens, the hormone responsible for stimulating hair growth. Considering this fact, calcium deficiency can lead to hair breakage and excessive shedding. Milk, yogurt, almond milk, broccoli, sesame seeds, salmon, sardines, oranges, and apricots are all excellent sources of natural calcium.

While your hair recovers from dietary deficiency, you may also want cosmetic or alternative support to enhance hair health and improve confidence.