Hair Loss: Causes, Dietary Intervention & Prevention

The hair has its life cycle of growth, shedding and resting. It is normal to lose 50 to 100 hair strands per day. New hair will replace the lost hair, but in some cases, it does not happen which leads to temporary or permanent hair loss.

Causes of Hair Loss:

• The most common cause of hair loss is hereditary baldness, and it is difficult to treat.
• Certain hormonal changes like menopause, pregnancy, use of birth control pills, and childbirth can cause temporary hair loss.
• Emotional or physical stress can lead to hair loss.
• Medical conditions like thyroid and medications used to treat arthritis, depression, cancer, high blood pressure, heart problems can trigger hair loss.
• A diet that lacks iron, protein and important nutrients leads to thinning of hair.

How to Prevent Hair Loss:

• Firstly avoid hairstyles that put too much pressure on your hair like ponytails, braids, buns as they damage your hair follicle.
• Use a gentle shampoo to wash your hair and avoid styling tools like heated combs, colouring products, blow dryers, hair straighteners, bleaching agents, etc. (Use heated tools on lowest settings).
• Some dietary changes can help you prevent hair loss – include adequate amounts of protein, iron and vitamin A.

Dietary Changes to Prevent Hair Fall:

It is important to eat the right nutrients to prevent hair fall like:

• Omega-3 rich foods: walnuts, almonds, flaxseed, fatty fish like tuna, salmon and mackerel.
• Vitamin B12, B6 and folic acid are important for hair growth, but vegans and vegetarians don’t get enough of these nutrients so include foods like potatoes, bananas, spinach as they include B6. Dairy products, poultry, fish and meat include B12 vitamin.
• Include protein-rich foods in your daily diet: fish, soy products, chicken and eggs.
• Take a multivitamin supplement as trace minerals like magnesium, iron, biotin, and zinc also affect hair fall.

When To Take a Supplement:

Food is the best source of vitamins and minerals. But when you fail to eat a balanced diet and your diet lacks variety, supplements can be really helpful in such situations. Supplements only work when a person is deficient as large doses of vitamins and minerals can be harmful. Focus on eating whole and nutrient-dense foods.