I wanted to write about an important topic- Hair! It is a common complaint I get from mainly women. I’m losing chunks of hair and my hair is
thinning. Help me! Why? My opinion as a therapist is that the condition of our hair reflects the state of our general health. Yes the right products can help soften and make your hair look healthy, and prevent damage. However there is no miracle shampoo that will magically transform your hair into luscious locks. My approach to healthy hair is to feed it with the right nutrients and natural ingredients.
My formula for healthy hair is:
Healthy FOOD & SUPPLEMENTS + Less stress & MORE EXERCISE + Hair OILS and CONDITIONING
A good diet as the hair needs nutrients from within. I also recommend supplementing nutrients to boost nutrients and hair growth. Nutritional deficiencies such as iron deficiency anaemia, low protein and zinc can lead to hair loss or thinner hair. Certain medications and chemotherapy can also impact hair growth. Outlined below are some key nutrients and foods that can help keep your locks lustrous.
Iron is contained in hair follicles and maintains hair growth and strength.
Food sources: red meat, eggs, pulses, nuts, dark green leafy vegetables and beetroot. Vitamin B12 found in yeast, organ meats, fish, eggs and dairy, can help iron absorption.
Silica & Zinc are trace minerals that strengthen blood vessels and improve circulation, which stimulates blood flow to the scalp and encourages growth.
Silica food sources: oats, unrefined grains, cucumbers, asparagus, lettuce, cabbage, onions, potatoes, and sunflower seeds.
Zinc is found in lean beef, poultry, seafood, lamb, whole grain cereals, beans and pumpkin seeds.
Protein: May help lengthen hair by promoting hair growth. 90% of the hair follicle is protein and adeficiency may place the hair growth process into the resting phase. Food sources: lean meats, eggs, dairy products, beans, and legumes.
Calcium: May help to thicken hair by promoting healthy hair growth.
Food sources include: cheese, yogurt, salmon, turnip greens, fresh and dried figs.
Biotin: functions like a B-vitamin and may promote healthy hair growth.
Food sources include: egg (yolks), wheat germ, oatmeal, mushrooms, cauliflower, peanuts, cheese.
Essential fats are great for dry and brittle hair. Food sources: ground flaxseed, nuts, olives, avocado, tuna, and salmon.
Vitamin A: helps sebum production and may reduce dandruff.
Food sources: kale, sweet potatoes, red pepper, and cantaloupe melon.
Water is also essential to keep the hair cells hydrated and shiny. Water makes up approximately one fourth of the weight of a strand of hair. You can add some lemon or lime slices to plain water for a refreshing flavour.
Stinging nettle is a traditional remedy for stimulating hair growth. You can purchase ready-made nettle tea bags or make your own with to 3 or 4 tsp. of dried nettle leaves or roots and add 2/3 cup boiling water and steep up to five minutes. You can also use nettle externally in hair tonics or rinses.
Additional lifestyle tips for healthy hair
Hair has growth and resting phases so there may be some times of the year when the hair doesn’t grow.
Stress! Can impact hair loss, deep breathing, meditation, yoga and head massages are some techniques to better manage stress. I also find massaging oils such as castor oil into the hair scalp can help stimulate hair growth. And coconut oil can nourish the dry ends of the hair preventing split ends.
Hair loss revolution have formulated a successful topical oil called – Wild Growth Hair Oil which contains jojoba, coconut, olive oil and additional hair nutrients to promote thick hair growth, detangle and soften hair so effective as a hair strengthener and protector.
Just to end I wanted to touch upon alopecia which many women suffer from. The protocol I take with my clients is similar to the points listed above where I look to improve the nutrient status of the diet, and investigate imbalances within the body such as with female hormones and the thyroid gland. Below are some facts about this condition. There are different types of alopecia and alopecia areata is patches of hair loss. Occasionally, all of the scalp hair is lost, a condition referred to as alopecia totalis.
Current evidence suggests that alopecia areata is caused by an abnormality in the immune system. This particular abnormality leads to autoimmunity, a misguided immune system that tends to attack its own body. As a result, the immune system attacks particular tissues of the body. The hair follicles and normal hair formation is disrupted. Biopsies of those affected show immune lymphocytes penetrating into the hair bulb of the hair follicles. Alopecia is occasionally associated with other autoimmune conditions such as allergic disorders, thyroid imbalances, vitiligo, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, and ulcerative colitis. Alopecia areata is not contagious and tends to occur most often in adults 30 to 60 years of age. However, it can also affect older individuals. It should be distinguished from hair shedding that may occur following the discontinuation of hormonal oestrogen and progesterone therapies for birth control or the hair shedding associated with the end of pregnancy.
