One of the most frustrating things that can happen when you start working on your health is to find an unexpected, and negative, side effect. It’s like taking up tennis to improve your cardio health and then getting tennis elbow. It’s worse when the two things do not seem to be related on the surface.
Many people have no idea, for instance, that going on a diet can have a negative impact on your hair.
Can Diet Cause Hair Thinning?
Yes! Crash diets can be particularly hard on your hair because they often involve very restrictive calorie counts or eliminate a specific type of nutrient that your hair needs.
Let’s talk about keto or other carb-restrictive diets. Niacin deficiency is one of the primary reasons for diffused hair loss. If your hair starts falling out a little bit from everywhere, you might need more of the B vitamins.
Why Would a Carbohydrate Restricted Diet Lead to a Niacin Deficiency?
While lean meats, dairy, and poultry are good sources of niacin, MedlinePlus points out that most breads and cereals in the United States are enriched with B vitamins. You can also get niacin from leafy green vegetables, beans and peas are good sources as well, and guess what’s not on the menu if you are restricting carbs?
Other diets, including those that severely limit protein, can cause your hair to enter the telogen phase (or “resting stage”) sooner… leading to more hair loss. Your diet, especially a severe one, can also cause your body to react as though it has had a big shock, sending even more of the hair into telogen effluvium. Many weight loss medications and weight loss surgeries can also cause hair loss.
What Foods Cause Your Hair to Fall Out?
Just like you can experience hair loss if you are not eating enough nutritious food, some foods can be detrimental to your hair health. A 2016 study quoted by Medical News Today suggests that simple carbohydrates, like sugar, cake and candy can increase sebum production around the hair follicles. “[E]ating simple carbohydrates increases sebum production, an oily substance that the glands attached to hair follicles release. While sebum is beneficial for hair health, excess amounts can lead to inflammation that is harmful to hair health.”
The study further argues that especially in women at or near menopause, sugar treats can lead to inflammation in the pancreas and lead to diabetic-style issues… including poor blood circulation on the scalp. Lack of good circulation means more vital nutrients don’t make it the hair follicle leading to more damage or hair loss.
Can Diet Related Hair Loss Be Reversed?
Yes, if the only cause of the hair loss was a nutritional issue. When your hair reacts to a sudden change in the body – whether through a major illness or through a dietary change – it can take three to six months for the hair to start regrowing. But once you address the insufficiency, your hair should start growing back.
There are exceptions, of course, if the nutritional issues have lasted so long that scarring starts around the hair follicles. When a hair follicle is damaged, it is less likely that it will grow hair again.
According to the National Institutes of Health, “Patients with hair loss often inquire whether nutritional supplements can help restore hair growth or prevent further hair loss. In fact, many will start dietary supplements without consultation in the hope that the supplements will help. The unregulated supplement industry also capitalizes on this population’s vulnerability. While hair follicles are among the most metabolically active in the body, and hair growth may be impacted by calorie and protein malnutrition as well as micronutrient deficiency, the links are complex.”
In short, your diet might be affecting your hair loss, but just jumping online to choose a supplement to fix it is a bad idea. Instead, contact a hair restoration specialist.
Precision Hair Restoration Can Help Restore Your Hair Health
Don’t get sucked in by supplements that can claim just about anything. Contact us to have one of our hair specialists help you find out why you are losing your hair and what you can do about it.
