BACKSTAGE PASS
Eat properly to avoid hair loss
By Isabel Roces
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 20:38:00 08/07/2008
Filed Under: Health, Lifestyle & Leisure
MANILA, Philippines—Hair loss is a thief in the night. It starts long before you are aware of it. Most thinning is gradual, with the exception of stress-related fallout.
The good news? You don’t have to resort to implants or costly hair growth medicines and products. Proper nutrition and hair care can prevent hair loss.
Hair grows in cycles (Some follicles rest, while others shed or grow). As you age, re-growth eventually becomes so fine that you can’t see it. Over 25 percent of women over 50 lose more than half of their hair.
Hair loss can also be passed down from either parent’s side. Chances are, if your father is bald, you would end up bald, too. Thinning usually occurs throughout the crown area.
Pregnancy, illness, divorce or any other major stressors can cause you to shed all your resting hair, from 2-6 months after the event, although this fallout is temporary, with hair lost growing back naturally.
Protein deficiencies caused by extreme dieting can also make hair dry and baby-fine, while tight hairstyles, like braids and ponytails, can put so much tension on follicles that they are ripped out. Once they are gone, there’s nothing left to produce new hair.
Repetitive hair stress like brushing and blow-drying can likewise break hair. You have to keep your tresses hydrated and style it gently.
Don’t shampoo your hair too much. Clean hair is always a good thing, but too much shampooing can strip it of the nutrients it needs for healthy growth.
Finally, don’t use a hair dryer. Your hair is subjected to hot air and pulling, which is not good. Hot air strips the strands of moisture, making them brittle and prone to breakage.
Six foods that help prevent hair loss
Chickpeas. Eating chickpeas is basically killing two birds with one stone. You can get both zinc and the vitamin B-6 you need for healthy hair. Zinc plays an important part in building hair protein, and it also works well with Vitamin A. A lack of one of these two vitamins causes dandruff, which can contribute to hair loss.
Soy beans. Soy is a great source of protein. It also contains a substantial amount of Iron and Vitamin E. Iron is an important part of hemoglobin production, while Vitamin E helps the body absorb oxygen and increases blood circulation to the scalp. Without it, your hair won’t grow.
Almonds. Almonds are good sources of vegetarian protein, Iron and Vitamin E. They may also lower cholesterol, helping you avoid having to take cholesterol-lowering drugs in the future. Some cholesterol lowering drugs actually cause hair loss.
Whole wheat. Whole wheat is a good source of Silica and Iron. Silica is very important because it helps with the absorption of many other vitamins and minerals.
Oats. A good source of easily absorbable Iron, as well as Potassium, phosphorus and magnesium.
Oranges. Oranges (or orange juice) are good source of Vitamin C, which helps make sources of Iron more absorbable. Vitamin C is a big part of the development of collagen, which is necessary for hair growth.
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