Hair loss -- a condition called alopecia -- can occur for a number of reasons. Some individuals inherit genes that lead to patterned hair loss, while others may suffer hair loss due to a hormonal imbalance, as a side effect of pharmaceutical treatment, or as a result of a nutritional deficiency. If you suffer from abnormal hair loss due to nutrient deficiencies, consuming egg whites might help to prevent further hair loss and allow for hair re-growth. Always talk to your doctor before trying to treat hair loss with your diet.
Nutrients in Egg Whites
Egg whites contain a range of nutrients, some of which can have an effect on hair loss. The most abundant nutrient in egg whites is protein and consuming egg whites provide all the essential amino acids needed in your diet. The whites also contain several minerals, including selenium, potassium and sodium, as well as essential vitamins including choline and B-family vitamins.
Positive Effects on Hair Loss
Some of the nutrients in egg whites might help relieve some types of hair loss. The protein found in egg white provides your hair follicles with the tools required to generate the proteins that make up each hair shaft, and eating egg whites might help treat hair loss due to a protein deficiency. In addition, the several B-vitamins found in the whites contribute to healthy hair growth and eating egg whites might prevent vitamin deficiencies that can cause hair thinning.
Possible Negative Effects
While egg whites contain several hair-friendly nutrients, consuming raw egg whites can increase your risk of vitamin deficiencies that can lead to hair loss. Egg whites contain avidin, a protein that naturally binds to biotin, or vitamin B-7. Avidin can sequester the biotin within your digestive tract, preventing your intestines from absorbing the vitamin, and leading to a biotin deficiency. Since biotin deficiency can lead to hair thinning and loss, regular consumption of raw egg whites might actually increase your rate of hair loss over time.
Considerations
You can prevent hair loss due to egg whites by cooking the eggs before consumption, explains the Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University. The cooking process denatures the proteins within the egg white, including avidin, and this denaturation prevents avidin from interacting with biotin in your digestive tract. If you plan to use dietary sources, like egg whites, to help treat hair loss, consult a physician. Eating egg whites might help treat some underlying disorders that cause hair loss, but diet alone cannot treat or prevent all forms of hair loss.
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