Diet to Reverse Hair Loss

In The Pursuit Of The “Perfect” Look

The desire for achieving ethereal beauty has been one of the pursuits in human evolution. As science unearths more elements (either from nature or the lab) the perfect look seems more accessible and hence desirable. The U.S. cosmetics market, for anti-aging products pegged at $80 billion today, is marked to reach more than $114 billion by 2015.

Women – and also men, strive daily to mask blemishes and “imperfections” to project an ageless look. How far these chemicals succeed in their claims is something even the FDA doesn’t care knowing about. Cosmetics it seems are regulated just for safety and not for effectiveness (as claimed). People tend to care less, our skewed short-term symptomatic-solution-seeking minds, getting the instant result that they desire.

Are Cosmetics The Answer?

But are we missing something? Are these products having an actual impact on the person’s appearance? Well to be fair, they are from the outside but not penetrating and changing anything inside. And that is where this doesn’t work out in the long run. The only way you can feel “natural” about your hair or skin, for as long as you live, is when it happens from the inside out. All that processed junk loaded with sugar, salt, starches, oil and chemicals is eating away at your flowing tresses and glowing skin.

Like for the skin, the cells and processes that support strong, vibrant hair depend on a balanced diet. The reason why most miss the triggers is because it takes longer for diet missteps to show on your hair. For eg: Just one week with a poor diet can yield acne flare-ups or dry, sallow skin within days but with hair, it can take a few months for a nutritional deficiency or the effects of a crash diet to show up. On the flip side a healthy diet will take longer to show positive results to your hair, so be patient.

Top 11 Food Tips For Healthier Hair

Here’s a low down of the “must have” foods for hair loss and the “must avoid” foods that cause hair loss and keep those long tresses flowing:

Must Have

Fatty acids rich food: Omega-3 Fatty Acids promote healthy hair growth by nourishing both the hair shaft and follicles, and the cell membranes in your scalp, providing elasticity to your hair.

Foods rich in Omega 3: Flax seeds, walnuts, salmon, tuna, kale, Brussels sprouts, rapeseed oil. Zinc rich food: It helps regulate testosterone and other hormone levels in the body, maintain production of oil-secreting glands on the scalp, boost tissue growth and repair, keeping your scalp and hair healthy.

Foods rich in Zinc: Chickpeas, wheat germ, oysters, beef, veal liver, roast beef. Protein rich food: Protein is a main constituent of hair, so having less of this can lead to graying and poor hair health. For lustrous hair consume high-quality, naturally occurring protein rich diet.

Foods rich in Protein: Greek yogurt, eggs yolks, kale, peanuts, beans, peas, lentils, tofu, chicken, turkey. Iron rich food: Iron helps deliver blood and critical oxygen and nutrients to the body’s cells, including your scalp. Getting iron efficiency (anemia) treated quickly will enhance the health of your hair.

Foods rich in Iron: Dark leafy greens (spinach, Bok Choy), whole grains, beans, red meat, turkey, egg yolks, clams, mussels, oysters, lenthils, prunes. Vitamins A and C rich foods: Both vitamins trigger hair follicles tosecrete Sebum, an oily substance, which keep the hair rooted and prevent hair loss. Vitamin C also boosts iron production.

Foods rich in Vit. A & C: Swiss chard, spinach, broccoli, carrots, sweet potatoes, pumpkin, blueberries. Magnesium rich foods: Deficiency of magnesium contributes to inflammation, which is a major reason for Hair loss in both men and women.

Foods rich in Magnesium: Almonds, spinach, cashews, lentils, brown rice, halibut. Selenium rich foods: A trace element that helps the body produce selenoproteins, which regulate reproduction, metabolism, DNA synthesis, and immunity, and also stimulates hair follicles to encourage new growth.

Foods rich in Selenium: Brazil nuts, tuna, halibut, shrimp sardines, ham.

Must Avoid

Soy protein shakes: Protein shakes that contain soy proteins are very unhealthy, because soy isolate requires hexane (a petroleum solvent) for refining purpose that can lead to hair loss. Cholesterol rich eatables: Foods containing high amount of cholesterol and saturated fats increase the DHT(Dihydrotestosterone) levels, an endocrinal secretion, that destroys the hair follicles. Alcohol, nicotine, caffeine foods: Nicotine and caffeine destroy Vitamin C present in the body. They also inhibit essential nutrients absorption, leading to hair quality degradation, making them brittle, dull, dry and lacklustre. Chemical Sweeteners and Foods: Sweeteners such as sucrose, fructose and dextrose, present in processed food, destroy essential vitamins such as E, K and C from the body, which are vital for healthy hair.

Having said this, other factors like hormonal imbalances, lack of sleep, stress, etc. can still affect how your hair looks and feels. Get yourself checked and treated and stick to these tips to feel the difference it brings to the texture, volume and health of your hair.