There are many factors that play a part in hair growth and maintaining a healthy head of hair. Some of them are within your control while others are not. Diet plays a large part in hair health and is a factor that you do have control over. This leads to the question of whether or not you can adopt certain diets such as veganism and still have a healthy head of hair. Let's take a look at whether or not veganism causes hair loss.
What Does it Mean to Be a Vegan?
Veganism is a specific type of vegetarian diet in which those who follow it do not consume meat, eggs, dairy products, and any other foods that are made with ingredients derived from animals. Many vegans also choose to avoid using any products that are made from ingredients harvested from animals or even tested on animals. This means that so long as the food does not contain any ingredients from animals, it can be included in the vegan diet.
Can Veganism Cause Hair Loss?
The short answer is no, practicing veganism will not cause hair loss. However, there is a common misconception that adopting a vegan lifestyle is equivalent to eating a healthy diet. This is far from the truth. Vegans can eat junk foods that do not contain any animal products but do not have any nutritional value either. There are also nutrients found in animal products that are essential for the growth of healthy hair. If vegans do not find alternative methods for consuming these nutrients it can lead to poor hair health and even hair loss. It is a failure to eat a well-balanced diet that leads to hair loss because your body is missing essential nutrients that are needed for healthy hair growth, not the vegan lifestyle.
Essential Nutrients Required for Hair Growth
Your hair requires several essential nutrients for proper growth and health:
- Fatty acids, especially omega-3s are important for healthy hair. The main source of fatty acids is fatty fish.
- B-vitamins play a large role in hair growth, especially B12 which is most commonly found in dairy products, poultry, meat, and fish.
- Protein, which is most commonly found in meat, is crucial for hair growth and maintaining hair health.
- Trace minerals such as zinc, iron, and magnesium play a role in hair growth, as do vitamins such as A, C, D, and E.
Due to the nature of a vegan diet, it is not as easy to consume some of the required nutrients to ensure normal hair growth. Let's take a look at great vegan alternatives for nutrients that are most commonly found in animal products.
Vegan Nutrient Alternatives for Hair Growth
Foods such as flaxseed, walnuts, chia seeds, kidney beans, and soybean oil are great sources of omega 3 and fatty acids. Vitamin B12 supplements or consuming foods fortified with B12 such as cereals are the two main vegan options available for adequate consumption of this crucial nutrient.
When it comes to finding protein alternatives that are vegan, the list is a mile long. Some of the most popular sources include tofu, peanuts, almonds, quinoa, soy, and chickpeas.
Taking a daily multivitamin can help ensure that you are receiving adequate amounts of trace minerals and vitamins that are essential for hair growth and maintaining a healthy head of hair.
What to Do When Hair Loss is Out of Your Control?
Sometimes there are factors such as genetics, health conditions, or medications that are out of your control and can cause hair thinning or hair loss. This is where New Image Hair Clinic can help you restore your full head of hair. With over 238 years of experience in hair restoration, we are the premier hair restoration studio in Pennsylvania and proudly offer our clients a variety of hair restoration solutions to fit our clients' needs. Contact us today to schedule your FREE confidential evaluation and consultation.