Diet to follow if you've Alopecia Areata

You might have heard the old adage, ‘You are what you eat’. Your diet plays a very important role in ensuring good health. Have you been diagnosed with alopecia areata? Well, you should know that anti-inflammatory foods might help to decrease symptoms of alopecia areata. Let’s understand this better.

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Alopecia areata – An overview

Alopecia areata is an autoimmune disease that’s related to unexplainable hair loss. It affects about 2% of the population all over the world. (Source: NCBI) Hair loss in this condition happens to different people in different ways. Alopecia areata can happen to anyone at any age. But it’s more common among persons under 30 years of age. (Source: Medical News Today) One major risk factor of developing alopecia areata is genetics. A person is at higher risk of developing alopecia areata if any family member has experienced this condition. In alopecia areata, the white blood cells attack the hair follicles. And it causes slow production of hair. Also, the hair becomes shorter and this causes the hair to fall.

Also Read: Factors responsible for causing alopecia areata

Diet for alopecia areata

The main goal of this diet is to reduce inflammation. When there is reduced inflammation, then the chances that hair loss would reduce also increases. So, let’s take a look at anti-inflammatory foods and foods that can worsen inflammation.

Foods to eat

• Fruits and vegetables:

  Bright colored fruits and vegetables contain antioxidants that help reduce inflammation. These include apples, strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, pineapple, cherries, broccoli, cauliflower, spinach and green cabbage. And with these, symptoms of alopecia areata might also improve.

   

• Onions:

  This contains many antioxidants. The good thing is you can eat onions raw, add them to your soup or make a juice out of them. They help to lessen inflammation. And that’s the reason why it’s a great choice for alopecia areata.

   

• Protein:

  Your hair is actually a protein. And for it to grow, sufficient protein and nutrients are required. But it’s important to not consume too much. Foods rich in protein comprise of egg, beans and chicken.

Foods to avoid

• Dairy products:

  The protein found in milk is a source of irritation to the immune system. And this worsens the symptoms of alopecia areata.

   

• Polyunsaturated fats:

  Polyunsaturated fats comprise of corn oil and sunflower oil. These are not good fats. And consuming them worsen the symptoms of alopecia areata. This is the reason why it’s advised to avoid fried foods. You can have boiled or steamed foods.