Ever since I turned 50 a year ago, I decided that I was not going to let a number determine how I feel, how I look, and definitely now how I age.
My friends and I joke that we are on a Reverse Aging Program, and all jokes aside, that’s been my mission!
One of the most beautiful features, I believe a woman can have, is a beautiful set of hair. It’s the first thing we see on a person, or on a woman.
Aging, hormones, food sensitivities, and our toxic world can play havoc on our hair, and many of us, and maybe even you, find that as you reach your 40’s, 50’s and beyond, you hairline is getting a bit thinner.
Let’s talk about this…….
Hair loss is becoming a common problem from which both men and women are suffering. Many turn to chemical solutions, like hair transplant pills, but these may have side effects that affect not just the hair but other parts of the body as well, including skin reactions. There are other chemical treatments that may result in complete hair loss. It is important that hair loss is treated through natural ways for healthier, shinier, longer hair. We will discuss foods that help prevent hair loss and promote regeneration. We will also talk about some possible causes of hair loss and ways to prevent it
Foods that help prevent hair loss
There are 17 different kinds of foods that are most effective in the prevention of hair loss. These are natural foods that contain no chemicals and provide the nutrition that your body needs for better hair growth.
Spinach
Spinach has many health benefits because it is a green vegetable and has many vitamins that help the body prevent various ailments, including hair loss. It has minerals that are healthy for the body and contains antioxidants that may prevent deadly diseases like cancer. Spinach can be eaten in different forms, and they are all beneficial. Daily servings of spinach are helpful for the skin as well as hair. Spinach is rich in Vitamins A and C, which promote hair growth. Spinach helps develop oils in the scalp that are beneficial to the hair and the hair roots. Ground spinach mixed with hair oil is excellent for massaging on the hair and the hair roots. Again, this helps the production of oils on the scalp for better growth. Spinach can also be added to smoothies. Spinach hydrates the hair and acts as a natural conditioner.
Salmon
Salmon contains Omega three fatty acids, proteins, and vitamins like Vitamin D that are essential for hair growth. They also keep hair hydrated and prevent drying, which is important for preventing excessive hair loss. To maximize the benefits, fit in salmon to your meals twice a week.
Greek yogurt
Greek yogurt has very few calories compared to other types of yogurts and is rich in proteins and vitamins that the scalp needs for hair growth. Panthothenic acid is present in this yogurt that is very good for hair.
Cinnamon
Cinnamon stimulates the scalp. Cinnamon is used in a variety of home health remedies, including those for skin and hair. Dealing with hair loss is a difficult task and cinnamon is a good relief to this problem. A blend of cinnamon powder and honey is an ideal solution for promoting hair growth and can be mixed into a hair mask and applied. Having cinnamon in the diet also helps reduce weight and balance hormones, which is also beneficial for hair.
Oatmeal
Oats contain fiber that helps hair grow thicker, shinier, and longer. They contain iron, zinc, and omega-6 fatty acids that keep the hair beautiful. These are healthy, saturated fats and are beneficial for hair and skin. Oats should be eaten several times a week to maximize their benefits, so plan them into your breakfast for the perfect balance.
Guava
Guavas contain vitamins B3, B5, and B6, which are very beneficial to the skin as well as the body. For hair, they strengthen and shine the roots and help them in grow thicker and longer. Hair grows healthier, stronger, and shinier. Dermatologists often recommend guava for many skin and hair scalp problems.
Eggs
Eggs are good for the body as well as hair because of their naturally occurring proteins. They also provide energy for the day and support healthy body functions.
Lentils
The folic acids in lentils have are very good for nurturing healthy skin and hair growth. They support the health restoration properties of red blood cells and keep hair healthy and shiny.
Oysters
Oysters contain zinc, which is critical for building and re-growing hair cells.
Liver
Liver contains high amounts of iron. While green vegetables are often recommended to increase iron levels, one serving of liver contains exponentially more. This iron is crucial to strengthening your hair and keeping it from falling out.
Poultry products
When there is no or little protein in the body, the muscles grow weak and start to finish up. Same is the case with hair if there is no protein there is no good or beautiful hair to flaunt around. This is the reason why meat is essential, and poultry products contain high amounts of protein that help hair grow faster and beautifully. They have less saturated fat that is very helpful for both muscles and hair.
Barley
Barley is an ideal source of Vitamin E, which helps nurture stronger, shinier, and longer hair growth. Vitamin E supports strong, healthy roots and scalp.
Nuts and seeds
According to research, nuts and seeds have oils that are very good for skin, hair, and overall health. They prevent dandruff and dryness in the scalp. They strengthen hair to prevent damage and breakage. The most effective are pistachios and walnuts. Almonds have oils for nourishment and walnuts have added weight-loss properties.
Bok choy
Another food that promotes incredible hair is bok choy, a green vegetable packed with iron and antioxidants, which are essential for healthy hair. Recently dermatological studies recommend this vegetable for its support of hair growth.
Sweet potato
Calling all sweet potato lovers! Sweet potatoes also prevent hair loss and dryness of the scalp. Dry hair is brittle hair and easily damaged, but can be prevented by adding sweet potatoes to your diet. They contain beta-carotene, which converts to Vitamin A. Vitamin A relieves dullness and dryness and adds life to limp hair. Sweet potatoes can also be useful ingredients in hair masks.
Halibut
Magnesium is important for shiny hair and can be found in halibut. Other fish also contain magnesium, but halibut has the highest content.
Mushrooms (shiitake)
Shiitake mushrooms are loaded with copper, which restores natural hair color. Low amounts of copper in a diet can lead to premature gray hair, and the chemical compounds in salon colors can severely damage hair. Copper can restore natural hair color and increase its health and shine. Sesame seeds are another natural source of copper.
Reasons for hair loss
Hair loss has been identified as the 3rd most discussed problem among people under the age of 40. Men and women alike experience hair loss, and, for centuries, different environmental factors were blamed for it. However, a more scientific approach has enabled us to identify some root causes of the problem, some temporary and some permanent.
Over-styling is the most basic cause of hair loss. Extreme hairstyles like cornrows, weaves, wedges, and use of unapproved waxes and styling gels are some of the factors.
Physical stress has been identified as one of the primary causes of hair loss. Any physical shock, illness, trauma, injury or even exposure to viral infections has been shown to cause temporary hair loss. The hair usually recovers as the body recovers.
Pregnancy tends to cause hair loss for many women. However, it is more evident after delivering the baby since labor and delivery are highly traumatic to the body. It is a temporary cause, and hair usually grows back in 3-4 months.
Excessive levels of Vitamin A also cause hair loss. It is difficult to detect because patients usually don’t consider overconsumption of vitamins a problem. Many are even unaware of the fact that their diet has more Vitamin A than their bodies need. Hair should grow back in a few months after the levels return to normal.
A diet rich in carbohydrates and fats and deficient in proteins also contributes to hair loss. Insufficient protein intake makes our bodies change the allocation of protein to muscle repair and reproduction, leaving little or no protein for hair growth.
Male Pattern Baldness is also a factor in hair loss in men. As men age, a whopping 66% begin to lose hair around the temple. This is typically due to a combination of genes and testosterone. According to studies, there is a special gene named the androgen receptor (AR) gene that can be passed down from a father to his daughter. That gene is typically found on the X chromosomes, and that gene may or may not affect the daughter because she gets another variant from her mother. But when the daughter bears a son she may pass that AR gene to him, which causes baldness in the grandchildren of a carrier male. Stated more simply, men tend to receive that gene from their maternal grandfather. There have been several breakthroughs in treating this malfunctioning of the Androgen Receptor gene, but the most common one is the drug Propecia, which alters the way AR gene works.
Hormonal Imbalance is another known factor for hair loss both in males and females. The imbalance can be due to internal as well as external reasons. Internal reasons include emotional stress and a constant state of anger or depression. External factors may include hormone pills or birth control pills.
Stress and hair loss
Persistent emotional stress is a hormonal hurricane for the human body. It can have many harmful effects on an individual, one of which is rapid hair loss. Any unhandled stress ranging from the emotional pain of losing a loved one to exam pressures in students can cause hair to fall out more quickly than normal. Persistent stress or anxiety may cause Alopecia Areata, Telogen Effluvium, and Trichotillomania. Alopecia Areata causes a person to lose large clumps of hair near the scalp. Telogen Effluvium is a condition in which the body sends out mixed signals, leading to less hair grow than normal. The hairs on our head have a normal cycle during which they fall out (typically two years) and new hair grows. If less hair is growing to replace the falling ones then the deficit of hair will be much more prominent. Trichotillomania, on the other hand, is a type of psychological disorder where a person pulls out his or her own hair when in a state of anxiety.
1 in 10 women faces hair loss due to a deficiency of iron. Anemia causes hair loss in many individuals, but it can be treated with iron supplements. Similarly, a deficiency of Vitamin B is also been found to contribute hair loss. Autoimmune diseases, such as lupus and alopecia, are much more serious causes of hair loss. In these diseases, the body identifies hair as a foreign particle and starts killing it off. These types of situations may result into medical emergencies and must be consulted.
Receiving heavy dosages of treatment for certain diseases also results in rapid hair loss. Examples include chemotherapy and AIDS treatment. Antidepressants, cardiovascular blood pressure control drugs, and other anti-inflammatory drugs are also known to cause hair loss.
Genetics and hair loss
Genetics play a factor in hair loss, specifically in the X chromosome men inherit from their mothers. Men on the mother’s side are good indicators of hereditary hair loss and balding. However, researchers have also found that bald men may also be able to pass that gene on to male offspring. Some studies claim that baldness is 80% genetic, but others have shown that baldness can be a consequence of not receiving the proper nutrition in childhood.
Hair loss is a common problem caused by a variety of factors. These factors include environment, diet, medications, and genetics. In general, hair loss is often temporary and can be resolved and prevented by changes in diet, such as the addition of the foods we discussed above. It can also respond to changes in emotional health, such as stress reduction. If you are experiencing hair loss, changes in lifestyle are a good place to start, but chronic hair loss may be the sign of a more serious problem and requires medical consultation.
Personally, I not only eat a very clean diet, detox regularly, but I drink my vitamins by chugging between 16-32 ounces of fresh pressed greens everyday. I practice yoga and meditation daily for stress management, and I recently changed my hair products to luxury line called MONAT (made in the USA). Changing my hair products to a hair line that is toxic free and specifically designed to help with anti-aging and hair loss prevention was the ultimate game changer for my hair!
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