Nutrition
& Hair Loss – Foods That Prevent Hair Loss
If you dread trips to the barbershop and cringe every time you pass a mirror,
there’s a pretty good chance you’re concerned about hair loss. Whether
you’re starting to see strands of your hair at the bottom of your shower
or are just worried that your thick head of hair won’t last forever, there
are helpful foods that prevent hair loss. You may be, however, genetically predisposed
to hair loss, and if that’s the case, there’s not much you can do
but keep your fingers crossed. Making sure certain foods are in your diet will
help keep your scalp healthy, happy and, hopefully, hairy. Here are some foods
that prevent hair loss, which means you need to stock up.
Fish, eggs and beans
Hair is primarily made of protein and, therefore, it makes sense to eat a protein-rich
diet if you’re trying to maintain your healthy hair. However, eating a steak
every day isn’t going to help you. High-fat diets will result in increased
testosterone levels, which has been linked to hair loss -- so steaks are not among
the foods that prevent hair loss. Stick to leaner proteins such as fish (which
has a myriad of health benefits beyond just maintaining your hair), chicken, calf’s
liver, brewer’s yeast, low-fat cheese, eggs, almonds, beans, and yogurt.
Soy milk and tofu are also smart to add to your diet because they are high in
protein and low in bad fats.
Raisins
Iron plays a key role in manufacturing hemoglobin, the part of the blood that
carries oxygen to your body’s organs and tissues. When your hemoglobin is
at a healthy level, oxygen is properly dispersed. This means your scalp is getting
a good flow of blood, which will stimulate and promote hair growth. Adding more
iron to your diet doesn’t mean you have to feast on liver day in, day out,
but when you’re craving something sweet, remember that dried fruits (like
raisins) and cherry juice are packed with iron. Eggs; dates; raisins; dark green,
leafy vegetables such as kale; and whole-grain cereals are all high in iron. Vitamin
C improves the absorption of iron, so fruits such as oranges, strawberries and
lemons should be on your grocery list of foods that prevent hair loss.
Bean sprouts
Silica may not be a word you commonly hear associated with diet (or foods that
prevent hair loss, for that matter). If you’re looking to promote hair growth
and prevent hair loss, however, silica will need to be on your menu. The body
uses silica to help it absorb vitamins and minerals; if you’re not consuming
silica, eating your vitamins might not be helping much. Silica can be found in
bean sprouts and the skin of cucumbers, red and green peppers, and potatoes. Remember,
when you eat these foods raw, as opposed to cooked, you’re getting more
nutritional value out of them.
Seafood
Many men who suffer from hair loss are found to have zinc deficiencies. Zinc plays
a key role in many of the body’s functions, from cell reproduction to hormonal
balance, and all these functions affect hair growth. Perhaps most importantly,
zinc manages the glands that attach to your hair follicles. When you’re
low on zinc, these follicles become weak, causing strands to break off or fall
out. To combat this problem, eat zinc-heavy foods such as red meats, poultry,
mussels, shrimp, nuts, and oysters. Excessive amounts of zinc can eventually lead
to hair loss, so it’s best to stick to a zinc-heavy diet rather than eat
these foods and take a zinc supplement.
Potatoes
It may be tempting to eat fast food, but greasy foods are among the worst culprits
for hair loss. If you have a craving for a burger and fries, your best bet is
to cook the burger yourself and dice, season and bake some potato wedges (leaving
the skins on) to go along with it. Try to limit your intake of excessively cold,
spicy and sugary foods as well. These can tax your body, and when your body’s
fighting something unhealthy, it’s not functioning at its peak level.
A Balanced Diet
Just as your overall health will benefit from eating a balanced diet, so too should
the health of your hair. Once it’s gone, it’s gone, so don’t
put foods in your body that speed up hair loss. You may be experiencing a thinning
on top already, but you can counteract this (or at least slow it down) by eating
from every food group daily -- concentrating on foods that are rich in protein,
iron, silica, and zinc.
By Malcolm MacMillan
Health Correspondent, Every Monday
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