You are what you eat, but does that apply to your hair? Absolutely! One of the first signs that you are not getting your body proper nutrition can be hair loss. The American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) lists hair loss as one of the top four symptoms of poor nutrition. But poor nutrition can mean a lot of different things.
What Lack of Food Causes Hair Loss?
Several different food deficiencies can cause problems with your hair, starting with a simple lack of calories.
Healthline puts it this way, “The cells that make up the hair bulb, which is the part of the hair follicle that produces hair, have a high turnover rate, meaning new cells grow and replace old cells at a rapid rate. For this reason, the hair is very sensitive to deficiencies in protein and calories, both of which your follicles need in constant supply to grow and function properly.”
Lack of protein can even lead to telogen effluvium, a condition where your hair prematurely starts falling out. When this happens because of poor nutrition, it can be reversed with improvements in your diet.
Can Hair Loss Be Reversed Through Diet?
This is a point of some contention among nutritionists and other scientists, but we do know that if your hair loss is specifically due to a nutrient deficiency – like lack of protein or specific vitamins needed for hair growth – then you may lose your hair because of your diet. Then, if those nutrients are returned to your diet, your body may recover and start growing hair again.
What Food Does Your Body Absolutely Need To Grow Hair?
Calories are the big one. It takes a lot of energy to fuel fast turnover cells like hair. After that, the important building blocks are protein and amino acids, the same things your body needs to replace any cell. That is why highly restrictive diets and some medical procedures (like gastric sleeve surgery) can lead to hair loss.
At Penn Dermatology an assessment regarding your hair loss even includes a nutritional assessment. WebMD offers a list of 10 foods that will help with preventing hair loss, ranging from salmon and chicken for lean protein to iron-fortified cereal and eggs for vital nutrients like iron.
And coffee might be great for your hair, but do not drink it. Curly Nely touts the benefits of a coffee rinse for your hair to help fight harmful scalp bacteria and increase circulation. Because your hair follicles need nutrients to grow, improving the circulation to them might improve growth. And as a side benefit, topical applications of coffee may help fight the body’s conversion of testosterone into DHT, preventing hair loss that way.
Do Eggs Cause Hair Loss?
No, in fact, eggs are likely to help your hair grow because of the high protein. Medical news Today talks about some food that can be associated with hair loss and those include:
- fried foods high in saturated fats
- simple carbs
- red meat
- fish with a high mercury content.
Foods like eggs, lean poultry, and Greek yogurt are considered to be beneficial to hair growth.
Concerned About Your Hair Loss? Precision Hair Restoration Can Help!
When you are not certain what is causing your hair loss, it’s important to rule out any potential causes. The doctor and staff at Precision Hair Restoration will discuss your diet, medical history, and family genetics when you come in so that we can help you as quickly as possible. If you’re looking to start the journey to revitalizing and regrowing your hair, contact us today.
