Hair today, Gone tomorrow

Everyone loses hair at some stage in life. There are about 1,00000 hair follicles on an average on the human scalp. We lose about 100 strands of hair a day. Usually they grow back. But when hair thinning sets in, the hair growth is reduced. Some men begin to lose their hair in their twenties. Women also lose hair but it is not very noticeable. Hair loss, thinning of hair or malnourished, unhealthy hair can indeed be frustrating. But you might be surprised to learn that you have control over most of the factors responsible for great looking hair.

There are various reasons for hair loss. Your hair is a mirror of your general health. If your body is not receiving proper nutrients, your hair will suffer along with the rest of your body. Improper food choices, eating on the go, work pressure, time pressure and intense stress affects overall health including your hair. I personally believe that a person’s ability to withstand stress without falling sick depends a lot on his nutritional state. Hair falls out due to stress caused by disease, emotional, turmoil, hormonal imbalance and fever. It depletes the body of important vitamins & minerals. If your body is adequately nourished you may be able to withstand many shocks to the system without falling sick. The idea is to strengthen the body to withstand stress and related problems.

Repeated attempts at following fad diets which cut calories with no thought for nutrition are the worst offenders for hair health. Over zealous dieting, apart from causing hair loss could also bring on anemia, low thyroid levels and make you deficient in protein, essential fatty acids, vitamins and minerals. Pregnancy, onset of menopause and the accompanying drop in hormone levels triggers hair loss in many women. Conversely, women who are years away from menopause complain about their healthy hair, turning dry and brittle. Clearly there’s an underlying link between hormones, nutrition and hair. In low protein diets, the “dispensable” proteins in hair and skin are among the first lost. Protein deficiency stunts hair growth and affects the process of replacing dead and fallen hair. Likewise, a deficiency of iron could prove fatal. Iron is the most important mineral for hair growth. The amount of iron in the blood controls the amount of hemoglobin, which carries oxygen. Too little oxygen affects hair follicles adversely. Hair that’s becoming finer and thinner at the hairline is an indication of iron deficiency. For healthy hair: start by eating a balanced, healthy diet. Cut back on sugar, junk food and eat more fresh products. If your hair is adequately nourished, it’s likely to withstand shocks to the system brought about by illnesses, better, without hair loss. Avoid drastic changes in your eating habits. Ensure that your body is getting an adequate supply of vitamins, minerals and micronutrients. Zinc, B vitamins, vitamin A, folic acid are all important for hair health and it’s common for women to be deficient in these.

One of the most important strategies for keeping your hair thick is to avoid sugar. Sugar accelerates hair loss in human and dogs. Eat adequate proteins as it will prevent sugar cravings as well as strengthens your hair and makes it shine. Eat egg regularly as it is rich in sulphur, which is beneficial for hair growth. Include bean sprouts and soya products in your diet to get more protein. Some herbs are known to be beneficial to prevent hormone related hair loss.

Saw Palmetto: Men concerned about male pattern baldness should try saw palmetto for preserving their hair. This herb is known for its ability to treat benign prostrate enlargement. It helps prevent conversion of testosterone into dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and the same mechanism is involved in male pattern baldness. DHT kills hair follicles and saw palmetto prevents its formation.

B-Vitamin: If you have hair loss, try taking a B Complex supplement along with Biotin. Biotin also helps prevent the conversion of testosterone into dihydrotestosterone, thus preventing or slowing down hair loss.

B-Vitamin: If you have hair loss, try taking a B Complex supplement along with Biotin. Biotin also helps prevent the conversion of testosterone into dihydrotestosterone, thus preventing or slowing down hair loss.

Bouncing, shinning, long or short dandruff free hair is the dream of every men and women. Your hair is the most visible sign of beauty. With a little care, you too can have healthy, lustrous hair.

ANJALI MUKERJEE, Nutritionist, Founder Director-Health Total, having health centers
in Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Pune -manages obesity & other health related disorders.
Contact numbers: 1800 8918131/+91 86575 61727
For further information, Visit www.health-total.com