Is Your Diet Causing Your Hair Loss?

Did you know that one cause of hair loss could be found in a basic need that you have? Your diet, the foods you eat everyday maybe something you should explore as a cause for your hair loss. Iron deficiency can contribute to and in fact be a leading cause of hair loss in women who are pre-menopausal. Of women surveyed who have hair loss, 72% of them were found to be deficient in iron deficiency. When blood iron levels drop they can develop a condition called, telogen effluvium (sudden hair loss). Iron deficiency has also been linked to slow hair shedding. Women who have been pregnant or who are going through menopause often experience this slow shedding of hair. Women in the reproductive years of their lives can lose as much as 15 mg of iron during each month period. A pregnant woman can lose as much as 1000 mg of iron during her pregnancy. If you have a poor diet, this can contribute to lower than normal levels of iron. Coffee, tea and bran consumption can also lead to poor iron absorption, which can contribute to the problem.

Your doctor can determine if iron deficiency may be causing hair loss and if this is found to be true; prescribe iron supplements, or advise you on how to improve your diet by eating foods rich in iron or by avoiding foods and beverages that disrupt the absorption of iron contained in foods that you eat.

Other nutritional deficiencies can also contribute to the increase in hair shedding experienced by those who suffer from hair loss. Iron is not the only dietary deficiency. Others include a deficiency in vitamins A, certain B vitamins, vitamin biotin, and also vitamin C. You can also be deficient in copper, protein, water and zinc and any one of these can also contribute to hair loss.

If you suspect that you may be deficient in vitamin A, you can obtain this vitamin by eating animal food sources such as eggs, fish oil, fortified milk, and liver. Plant sources can also contain carotenoids, like beta-carotene, that is converted to vitamin A once in the body. To get this plant source of vitamin A eat plant foods such as orange, red and yellow fruits and vegetables and also dark green leafy vegetables.

If you feel that your diet may be deficient in vitamins B6, folic acid, or vitamin B12 try eating more chicken, fish, kidney beans, soybeans, or pork. You can also get adequate amounts of these nutrients by eating certain grains, cereals, nuts and legumes. You can obtain good sources of folic acid by consuming leafy green vegetables, by drinking orange juice, and by using brewer’s yeast in baking or also by eating avocado, beets, and broccoli.

Animal foods such as fish, poultry, dairy beverages and foods as well as eggs contain the vitamin B12 so make sure that your diet contains these items if you fear that your hair loss may be associated with poor diet.

If you suspect that your diet may be contributing to your hair loss issues, seek the advice of a registered dietician or a nutritionist. Your doctor can recommend these dietary professionals in your area to you when you visit the doctor to discuss your hair loss.

Tags: diet causing hair loss, hair loss, vitamin a