Nutritional Deficiencies for Hair Fall - Understanding the Science Behind Hair Fall

About 150 million Indians in their 20s experience hair loss, baldness, and greying. With added responsibilities and bodily changes, these issues become more prominent as you age. Although it is nerve-wracking, you can tackle hair fall and other hair issues by understanding the science behind them.

The human body is a wondrous tool where metabolic activities govern its different aspects, including hair health. Hair loss boils down to the hair follicle's growth cycle. Each follicle goes through growing, shrinking, and resting phases. Shedding during the resting phase is normal. However, disruptions caused by genetics, hormones, stress, or nutrient deficiencies can tip the cycle, leading to excessive hair fall. Understanding these factors is key to addressing hair loss and overcoming them.

What are the Common Hair Loss Causes?

It is normal to lose 50 to 100 hair strands every day. However, if the numbers are considerably higher for you for a prolonged period, you could suffer from hair loss. The common reasons for hair loss are discussed here.

Nutritional Factors

What you eat affects your entire body system. Therefore, your hair issues could be a reflection of your improper diet. Here are the nutrients for hair growth that you might be lacking:

1. Protein Deficiency

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   Hair primarily comprises a protein called keratin, accounting for 88 to 95% of its structure. A lack of protein in your diet can directly impact hair nutrition and health, leading to brittle, dry, and easily breakable strands.

2. Iron Deficiency

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   Iron is a crucial component of haemoglobin, a protein in the blood that delivers oxygen throughout the body. An iron deficiency can directly lead to anaemia and other issues. As a result, hair follicles might not receive the proper nutrition and weaken or fall over time.

3. Vitamin D Deficiency

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   Vitamin D is among the top vitamins needed for hair growth. It stimulates the development and growth of new and old hair follicles. Without appropriate amounts of this vitamin, follicles may not mature enough to grow healthy hair strands.

4. Omega 3 Fatty Acid Deficiency

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   Omega-3 fatty acids regulate hair's proper thickness, density, and texture. Without this nutrient, hair strands may weaken and become dull over time, eventually leading to hair loss.

5. Lifestyle

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   Every aspect of your lifestyle impacts your body, from your activity level to your sleep habits and outer environment to your inner peace. A sedentary routine, prolonged exposure to pollution, constant stress, and a messy sleep cycle could be the reasons for your hair loss. Choose hair and skin care products with less or no harmful chemicals depending on your lifestyle.

6. Hereditary Hair Loss

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   A study suggests that approximately 9 out of 10 Indians have suffered hereditary hair loss at some point in their lives. This includes conditions like pattern baldness and a receding hairline. Usually, hair loss due to genetics is permanent. You can, however, opt for hair loss treatments to slow it down or improve the outcome.

Vitamins That Boost Hair Growth

When worried about hair loss, you cannot ignore the vitamins needed for hair growth. These components are essential to your diet and contribute to your overall health. While all vitamins are equally crucial, here are some of the most important vitamins to promote hair growth:

• Vitamin B7 is vital in forming red blood cells (RBCs) that supply oxygen and nutrition to your entire body, including hair follicles. A healthy blood circulation ensures that you receive ample hair nutrition. It also partakes in keratin production.
• Vitamin B12 also helps form red blood cells in your body.
• Vitamin C contributes to proper blood circulation to your scalp and thus helps keep your hair healthy.
• Vitamin D is the food for keratinocytes, which produce keratin. These cells metabolise this vitamin to produce the protein that forms your hair.

Impact of Nutritional Deficiency

The primary use of any nutrient in the body is to produce energy. Excess nutrients are then moved to different body parts, including the scalp, to play their role.

A nutritional deficiency can disrupt the hair growth cycle. When the body lacks essential nutrients, hair growth can slow down, prematurely pushing more follicles into the resting phase. This eventually leads to increased hair shedding, a condition called Telogen effluvium.

Identifying Deficiencies: Signs and Symptoms

How do you know if you have a nutrient deficiency? The following sections discuss what to look for and how to confirm a deficiency.

Symptoms of Nutritional Deficiencies

• Unexplained weight loss
• Frequent bloating
• More prone to infections
• Constant fatigue
• Weakness
• Slow wound healing
• Signs of anaemia
• Signs of muscle weakness like twitches or cramps
• Heart palpitations

Diagnostic Tests

Blood tests can be a valuable tool for diagnosing nutrient deficiencies. A comprehensive blood panel can measure the levels of essential vitamins and minerals. Doctors will then interpret these results, along with your symptoms and medical history, to determine if a deficiency exists.

Nourishing Your Hair: Food Nutrition for Hair Growth

Vitamin deficiency is among the top things to look out for in hair loss. Proper diet and tracking your nutrition index can help improve hair health.

Foods Rich in Essential Nutrients

Choosing the right food for hair growth is the first step toward healthy hair. Eat foods that include the nutrients and vitamins to stop hair loss, like:

• Green leafy vegetables like spinach and lettuce
• Eggs
• Fatty fish like tuna, salmon, sangria, and tilapia
• Bell peppers
• Sunflower seeds
• Pumpkin seeds
• Nuts
• Blackberries
• Lentils

Supplements for Hair Health

It's not easy to keep track of your nutrient intake in your diet. Therefore, you can opt for iron supplements, omega-3 fatty acids, zinc, proteins, and vitamins for hair health. It's preferable to talk to your doctor about the supplements you need and their dosage. Some nutrients, if taken too much, can cause adverse effects. 

Homeopathy medicines are highly effective because they address the root cause by stimulating the body's natural healing mechanisms. These remedies gently replenish the deficient nutrients, enhance absorption, and promote healthy hair growth from within without causing any side effects, making homeopathy a safe and natural choice.

Cultivating Habits for Stronger Hair

If you want strong and healthy hair, choosing the right food nutrition for hair growth is only the first step. Building small healthy habits in your daily life can contribute to the improvement. Here's where to begin:

Stress Management

Stress is unhealthy for you in every aspect, even for your hair. So try to take some time alone and engage in activities that help you relax. Meditation is also an effective method of stress management.

Sleep Patterns

Work on building a healthy sleep pattern. Proper sleep is crucial for maintaining efficiency in your body's metabolism, including hair health. Moreover, In addition, you feel upbeat and prepared to face the day after a good night's sleep.

Exercise

You have to determine what kind of exercise your body favours. Sports, yoga, jogging, cycling, swimming, pilates, or hitting the gym–engage in whichever exercise you prefer. Staying active improves the circulation and metabolism in your body and thus favours hair health.

Conclusion

Proper food nutrition for hair growth is as important as a healthy and active lifestyle. To improve your hair health, try implementing the suggested diet for hair growth and lifestyle tips mentioned above.

Visit Dr Batra's® Clinic for further improvement under expert guidance. Our clinic is based on the principles of homeopathy and always addresses the root of your health concerns. 

Our experts take the time to understand your health status, lifestyle, diet, and regular habits. They make a proper diagnosis and deduce the causative factors. Our treatment is focused on eliminating your issues right from where they arise. This gives you long-term relief from your ailments. At Dr Batra's®, we take pride in offering personalized and premium-quality homeopathy treatment to each patient at economical prices.