07 / 01 / 13

Does Dieting Affect Hair Loss?

It should be no surprise that the best kept secret for healthy hair is a well-balanced diet. Just like the rest of your body, your hair needs a balanced diet full of vitamins, minerals and other nutrients. In this months blog post, New Image Hair Clinic will tell you the pros and cons of eating right and how it relates to the overall well-being of your hair.

Food is one of the great pleasures of life. However, if you’re not disciplined with the variety of food and the amount of intake, it can drastically change your body’s chemistry.

According to the American Academy of Dermatology, you may be at risk of hair loss if your diet lacks sufficient iron and protein. Protein is ones of hair’s key building blocks and insufficient protein can lead to thinner and more brittle hair strands. “When the body does not get enough protein, it rations the protein it does get. One way the body can ration protein is to shut down hair growth. About 2 to 3 months after a person does not eat enough protein, you can see the hair loss. Eating more protein will stop the hair loss. Meats, eggs, and fish are good sources of protein. Vegetarians can get more protein by adding nuts, seeds, and beans to their diet.”

Our hair specialists at New Image Hair Clinic suggest avoiding the following:

  • Crash Dieting
  • Diets that don’t include a healthy balance of nutrients
  • Diets that include too much of one nutrient
  • Low calorie liquid diets

Instead, make sure you follow these simple approaches to your diet:

  • Portion friendly, balanced meals
  • Eat regularly
  • Exercise
  • Eat enough protein and iron in your daily diet
  • Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables
  • Diet rich in omega 3 fatty acids and biotin

Above all, remember that a healthy body will result in healthy hair.

If you feel like hair loss is affecting your life, you may want to discuss this with a professional who can determine what’s going on. If you live in the Pittsburgh area, schedule a consultation with New Image Hair Clinic.

At New Image Hair Clinic, you matter. How you feel about your hair loss and making the right choice to solve it matters. We encourage you to take the time and review your options. Then come in for a no cost, no obligation private hair loss consultation.

References:

AmericanAcademy of Dermatology, “Hair Loss: Who Gets and Causes” 2013. https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/hair-and-scalp-problems/hair-loss