The Link between Hair Loss and a Poor Diet
Whether you are just beginning to lose your hair or you have been battling hair loss for years, you have probably asked yourself, your doctor, and the universe that all-important question, “Why?” Maybe you’ve taken to the Internet in search of hair loss causes and hair loss treatment options, hoping to find that there is some reason other than heredity or stress that can explain your thinning hair. In fact, that may be how you happened upon this very blog post.
Of course, there are many possible reasons for hair loss, and most people who lose their hair can probably point to multiple causes, even if one or two in particular stand out. For many people, a poor diet is at least a contributing factor in, if not a primary cause of, their hair loss. The good news is that, on the other hand, a good diet can help people who are just beginning to experience hair loss to restore health to their remaining hair and slow their hair loss. An improved diet can also help patients who have undergone hair transplantation surgery to promote efficient healing and ensure the long-term success of their procedure.
At the hair restoration clinic of Dr. Raymond Konior in Chicago, hair loss and diet are among the topics that are discussed during comprehensive, confidential consultations with prospective patients. If you are interested in having a full head of your own, growing hair, we encourage you to meet with Dr. Konior today.
The Link between Nutrition and Hair Loss
The human body is like a remarkably well-run, highly logical organization. When resources such as essential nutrients are plentiful, they are spread throughout the body, including to those features that are not absolutely necessary to our survival. While our hair may well be important to our self-esteem, our bodies do not interpret it as being all that important to our remaining alive. Therefore, when essential nutrients and other resources are running low, our bodies make sure that they are sent to the vital organs first. If little or none are left over for the hair, then the hair goes without.
This, of course, is a somewhat simplistic - though not inaccurate - crystallization of how a diet lacking in certain nutrients can affect the health of a person’s hair. Specifically, the hair requires the following nutrients (among others) to thrive:
- Protein
- Omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids
- Iron
A diet lacking in these nutrients can contribute to unhealthy hair and, ultimately, to hair loss.
Foods That Promote Good Hair Health
Fortunately, there are certain foods you can eat to promote healthy hair. These foods include:
- Walnuts and pecans
- Carrots
- Spinach
- Sweet potatoes
- Greek yogurt
- Eggs
- Salmon, herring, halibut, and other fish
- Oysters
- Blueberries and strawberries
- Chicken, pork, and lean beef
- Pumpkin
- Apricots and mangoes
- Avocadoes
- Brown rice
- Sunflower seeds
- Olives
Learn More about Hair Loss and Diet
If you would like to learn more about the relationship between hair loss and diet, or you would like to schedule an appointment with Dr. Konior, please contact Chicago Hair Institute today.
