Hair loss is a problem that affects large portions of the population at some time in their lives. Recent studies have shown that over 50% of men and women will have experienced some form of hair loss by the age of 50. Those people afflicted by this want to change the problem. Those studies that have shown the amount of hair loss in people have also looked at ways to stop hair loss and in some ways to reverse it. The best part is, most of them are natural.
There are three simple strategies that can be done by everyone. The first is to find ways to relieve stress. The Mayo Clinic has found a relationship between the two, and if an individual has extreme stress than hair loss can follow. Relieving stress is key, as it will always be there. While exercising, therapy, and stress reduction techniques can help tremendously; diet is also one of the most important factors.
Nutrition is key when it comes to healthy hair. Many types of nutritional deficiencies have been linked to hair loss, making it very important to have necessary amounts of nutrients in the body. A study done in Texas by Drs. Emily Guo and Rajani Katta focused on these efforts. The first mineral mentioned was iron. Throughout the world, iron deficiency is a major problem and it often times leads to hair loss. The best method to protect against this loss is by eating organic, grass-fed beef and organ meats such as liver. These are rich in absorbable iron, as well as vitamin B12, which enhances absorption of iron.
Zinc deficiency is another mineral that has been seen as a cause of hair loss. Dr. Guo and Dr. Katta saw that 312 patients who experienced hair loss all had low levels of zinc. Zinc levels can be aided in several ways, but the best is by eating foods high in protein. That brings up the point that protein is essential in having healthy hair. Digested proteins help the cellular makeup of human hair. The easiest way to obtain protein is by eating meat products and oysters. Focus on pasture raised and organic for meat sources. Dr. Guo and Dr. Katta saw that some vegetarians had problems because they focused so much on whole grains. Those whole grains have phytates which bind to zinc and inhibit absorption, creating more hair loss.
While minerals are important, eating adequate amounts of fat is just as critical. Fats, help balance hormones and feed mitochondria. Fat feeds your skin and strengthens your hair along with improving the health of your scalp. Include organic, grass-fed butter, coconut oil, and saturated fats, along with Omega 3 fatty acids in your daily diet. Vitamin H (otherwise known as biotin) also plays a big role in helping with the scalp and the hair follicle growth process. Having healthy levels will help grow hair properly, and the best way to achieve this is by taking it in supplement form, as the therapeutic levels you will need, are higher than what you may be able to get from your diet alone.
While exercising, therapy, stress reduction and diet can all help, seeing an integrative medicine physician that specializes in hormone health would be your best option before starting on any plan. This will allow you to get to the root of the problem by getting the proper blood work done. They will be able to check for hormonal imbalances, adrenal fatigue, vitamin & mineral deficiencies and much more. By using this targeted approach, you can see exactly where the issues lie. I’ve treated many patients with this issue, and I can honestly say that by finding the root cause we have been able to successfully help reduce hair loss and increase growth, naturally and safely.
