A healthy diet including necessary vitamins and minerals aid in the production of healthy hair growth and can prevent hair loss. Those who are considering dieting should first consult with their doctor; he may suggest vitamin and mineral supplementation in order to reduce the chances of hair loss.
Cycle of Hair Growth
The scalp contains close to 100,000 hair follicles; throughout a person's life each follicle will grow on average 20 new hairs, according to research from Proctor & Gamble, manufacturer of several hair care products. These hair follicles go through cycles of growth and rest, known as anagen and telogen. Anagen is the cycle in which the hair grows, and telogen is the cycle in which the hair is shed and new hair is replaced in the hair follicle. The length of the cycles depend on factors such as health, age and medical conditions.
Telogen Effluvium
Telogen effluvium is one condition that results in hair loss. According to the American Hair Loss Council, too many hairs enter the resting phase and fall out prematurely with telogen effluvium. Physical stress such as rapid weight change, anemia and illness may cause this. The American Academy of Dermatology also notes that low iron and inadequate protein in diet can cause telogen effluvium.
Important Vitamins
Vitamins that are important for hair growth include vitamin A, C and E. These vitamins help the body fight free radicals, which are harmful to the body, by acting as antioxidants. Vitamin C aids with iron absorption. Vitamin E is important for healthy skin and nails, and is also known to help with the aging process. B vitamins are also important as they help break down protein and fat and help with energy production in the body.
Important Minerals
Iron is a very important mineral needed to help the body function and promote healthy hair. According to Medline Plus, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, iron is needed for the transportation of oxygen throughout the body; having an inadequate iron can result in iron deficiency anemia which can result in hair loss. Holistic Online notes that silica and calcium are also important minerals needed to promote hair growth and prevent hair loss.
Considerations
On average, a person loses 50 to 100 hairs per day from the scalp; if you notice much more shedding, you may have an inadequate diet that is lacking vital vitamins and minerals needed to produce healthy growing hair. An overabundance of vitamin A may increase hair loss.
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