The condition and health of your hair is affected by a range of different factors. There is not one set reason as to why a person's hair starts to thin or why it becomes brittle. Illness can have an effect on the quality of a person's hair as well as genetic problems or hormonal changes. Your diet is also responsible for the health of your hair; some vitamins such as vitamin A aid in the process of healthy hair growth.
Glycemic Index
Foods that contain carbohydrates have a glycemic value, which is based on how high your blood sugar level rises after consuming the food. The glycemic index is the value placed on the food based on a comparison to pure glucose. Figures below 55 are considered a low glycemic index, 56 to 69 are considered medium and values greater than 70 are considered high in glycemic value. Cookies have a high glycemic value which will cause a rise in blood sugar. Carbohydrates such as oats change the level of blood sugar less because they take longer to digest.
Significance
The production of more insulin is the body's response to a rise in blood glucose. The extra insulin aids in the movement of sugars from the bloodstream into muscle and fat tissues. The body produces hormones to regulate your blood sugar levels; if you consume foods that increase your blood sugar levels you are forcing your hormones to react to the rise. Diets that contain many foods with a low glycemic index aid in balancing insulin levels in the body.
Hair
Dr. Christiane Northrup author of "The Wisdom of Menopause" reports that the female body produces an excess of the male hormone androgen when excess insulin is produced by the body due to the consumption of processed carbohydrate foods. Prolonged periods of excess blood sugar can lead to glycemic stress, which can lead to male pattern baldness.
Considerations
Polycystic ovary syndrome is a hormone condition where small cysts develop on the ovaries. Eating a low glycemic diet helps in managing the symptoms. One of the symptoms of PCOS is an overproduction of androgen resulting in excess body or facial hair or male pattern baldness. You can reduce the risk of rising androgen levels by avoiding foods with a high glycemic index which helps to balance hormone levels.
Prevention/Solution
Due to the number of different factors associated with the affect of food on blood sugar levels visit a nutritionist for an evaluation of your carbohydrate load, which is calculating the amount of carbohydrates in a regular serving size. It would also be of benefit that you do some research and look for foods that contain a low glycemic index. Examples are, whole grains, eggs or oat cereals for breakfast. Lunch can include foods such as grilled chicken, beans and vegetable salad or tomatoes with cottage cheese.
References
- The Vitamins and Nutrition Center: Vitamins for Your Hair
- Harvard School of Public Health: Carbohydrates: Good Carbs Guide the Way
- MayoClinic.com: Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
- "The Wisdom of Menopause"; Dr. Christiane Northrup; 2006
