Your Diet May Be the Cause of Your Hair Loss

Although genetic and hormonal conditions are usually the first to bear the blame with hair loss, another factor is also responsible for rapid hair loss, although this involves an area where most people are quite particular with – the daily diet. Nutrition (or a lack of it) has been known to cause numerous health conditions, so it is no surprise that your hair follicles are susceptible to nutrient deficiencies as well. Anemia is one particular condition which can make someone susceptible to hair loss. Women are especially at risk if they suffer anemia during their menstrual cycle.

The blood of a person who suffers anemia contains low, unhealthy levels of hemoglobin. As a result, the blood cannot efficiently carry oxygen through to the various parts of the body, your hair follicles included. The problem with iron deficiency anemia is that it can be acquired without initial indications, so many people usually do not know if the condition is the cause of their hair problem until they undergo tests which confirm the deficiency. For some people with a preexisting condition (such as women who just gave birth), their hair loss may be caused by a combination of anemia and post-pregnancy hormonal imbalance.

The insufficiency may also come in severe forms, known as chronic iron deficiency; this can make the hair strands extremely dry and brittle, resulting in hair fallout. Chronic iron deficiency may be caused by several factors: a lack of vitamin C in the diet; excessive consumption caffeine-rich beverages, such as tea and coffee (caffeine decreases the amount of available iron which is obtained through the food you take); and excessive alcohol intake (alcohol limits the amount of available iron within the body).

Unfortunately, diet supplementation alone cannot address the deficiency, if it is not complemented with an iron-rich diet. For this purpose, your intake of iron may be increased by consuming legumes, fish, sea foods, dried fruits, potatoes, molasses, whole grains, meats, green leafy vegetables, wheat germs, and various other foods with high iron content. You can lessen the effects of chronic iron deficiency anemia by consuming food rich in copper and vitamin C. Mushrooms, whole grains, beans and other legumes, and nuts are rich in copper, while fruits and leafy vegetables contain plenty of vitamin C. There is also another type of anemia which is closely linked to excessive hair loss: pernicious anemia usually affects individuals who are over the age of forty, and is caused by a deficiency in vitamin B12. This may be sufficiently addressed by consuming foods with a high content of the vitamin, including dairy products like cheese, eggs, and milk; yeast extracts are beneficial as well. Make sure that you also avoid excessive intake of caffeine and alcohol; even the slightest levels of alcohol can cause a certain degree of hair loss.

Talk to your doctor if you are experiencing any form of hair loss. A specialist (trichologist) can also acutely determine the causes for your condition, as it may be a result of a combination of health factors other than anemia.