Hair Loss - Diet and Nutrition (Part II)

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Copper

Copper is a trace mineral that is required to produce hemoglobin. Vital to carrying oxygen to body tissues like your hair, is hemoglobin, for oxygen is mandatory for living tissues to thrive or regenerate. Especially in the case of hair, you need to transport the oxygen through the blood to fully give the hair the nutrients and oxygen it needs. Great food sources for obtaining proper amounts of copper are liver, seafood, nuts, and seeds.

Iron

Another type of mineral that is central to the manufacture of hemoglobin is iron. Heme iron is much easier to absorb, as opposed to its counterpart, non-heme. The iron that is present in red meat is a non-heme iron, which is not easy for the body to use, and the same can be said for some iron pills. It is now understood that if a person drinks coffee within an hour before or after, a meal, the body will not take in all the iron that it would without the coffee. Sources in which to obtain heme iron are kidney beans, bran and green leafy vegetables. In addition, one can also up the absorption rates of non-heme iron into the body through the consumption of non-heme food sources as well as vitamin C sources, all in the same meal.

Zinc

Also important in the process of preventing hair loss and maintaining healthier hair all together is to intake zinc. It is the responsibility of Zinc for the production of cells, growth and repair of tissues, as well as the maintenance of the oil-secreting glands of the scalp to take action. This also plays a vital role in the processes of protein synthesis and collagen formation. For these outlined reasons, zinc is vital to maintaining your hair, preventing unsightly dandruff and loss of hair. While many foods of animal origin are rich in zinc, oysters are notable for the high amounts they contain. In much smaller amounts, eggs and milk also contain zinc. Nuts, legumes, and natural grains act as a source of zinc and are of a different type than those found from animal sources. The body does not easily absorb this type of zinc. Oats are an exception to the rule, however and provide a good source for the human body.

Protein

Most animal source foods, particularly meats, fish, milk, cheese, eggs and yogurt contain protein. Too much protein will degrade hair growth and could cause other health problems, even though hair is actually made of proteins. It is mostly from animal sources that all of the complete proteins, those that contain all nine essential amino acids, can be found. Unfortunately, legumes, seeds, nuts, grains, and vegetables lack the essential proteins that are vital to maintaining a healthy body. Soybeans are the only common non-meat source for complete protein. On the bright side, soybeans have been synthesized into tofu, which can be found in a large number of tasty dishes. Furthermore, a person needs to eat from an expansive variety of fruit and vegetable sources to successfully obtain all of the essential amino acids that required.

Iodine

Iodine is necessary for hair to grow in a healthy fashion. Not only is iodine central to hair growth, but also it is invaluable in preventing actual hair loss. Iodine has actually been added, synthetically, to common table salt, although this form of iodine does not assimilate well into the body, and can result in iodine overload. The thyroid may be adversely affected by excess amounts of iodine. Because of that, it is not a bad idea to avoid iodized salt and rely on natural foods as the primary source of iodine. Such foods include seafood, eggs, potatoes with skins intact, watercress, garlic, lima beans and molasses.

Silica

Silica is a trace mineral important to hair growth but proves to be challenging to incorporate into the diet. An abundance of silicon, in which silica is a form of, is only second to oxygen and is found in the earth’s crust. Most trace minerals are lost from the Western diet because chemicals have depleted our soil and our food has been processed. Silica will not keep hair from falling out of the follicle, but it does supply the strength needed to help keep hairs from breaking. Decreasing the aging process is achieved by exciting the cell metabolism and formation. There are a variety of common foods that are typically rich in silica, including rice, oats, lettuce, parsnips, asparagus, onions, strawberries, cabbage, leek, sunflower seeds, celery, rhubarb, cauliflower, and Swiss chard. Almost all of these foods, rice in particular, are staples of an Asian diet; it is no coincidence that Asians tend to have the strongest, healthiest hair in the world. One method of obtaining the trace minerals necessary to continued health is to seek out each of the above foods from sources that you know and trust to grow their food organically.

Essential Fatty Acids (EFAs)

Essential Fatty Acids (EFAs) are fatty acids that are required for the healthy functioning of your body, but which are not actually produced by the body itself. More often than not, skin diseases such as eczema and seborrhea are partially due to EFA deficiencies. If you include seafood, particularly salmon, sardines, mackarel, trout, or herring, in ratios of approximately three times per week in your normal diet, you will be obtaining the correct amount of EFAs. If you don't like fish, you may need to take a supplement that contains EFAs.

Water

It is important to include adequate amounts of water in your diet. To be properly hydrated it is a must that you have an adequate amount of water throughout your system. Water regulates nutrients and your cells and hair follicles are dependent upon it. Recommended is the consumption of eight 8-ounce glasses of water per day, for a total of 64 ounces.

» Go to Hair Loss - Diet and Nutrition (Part III)

Provillus - A Preventive Cure for Hair Loss

The information on this site is designed for informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for informed medical advice or care. You should not use this information to diagnose or treat any health problems or illnesses without consulting your family doctor.