If you’re struggling with hair loss, a new study suggests that your diet might be the culprit. If you’re making some of these mistakes, you could be losing valuable hair each day without even realizing it. But just because you can’t see hair doesn’t mean it’s not there—the average person loses 50 to 100 strands of hair each day from shampooing and other activities, so if you don’t have thick or full hair to begin with, any amount of daily loss can make your hair look thin and unhealthy.
Quick introduction
If you’re concerned about hair loss, you might be surprised to learn that your diet could be to blame. In fact, there are a number of foods that can contribute to hair loss and a general decline in the health of your locks. Keep reading to learn more about the diet-hair loss connection and what you can do to promote healthy hair growth.
What causes hair loss?
Hair loss can have many causes, from genetics to health conditions to medications. But did you know that diet can also be a factor? That’s right – what you eat (or don’t eat) can affect the health of your hair. A healthy, balanced diet will provide all the nutrients needed for healthy hair growth. What this means is that if there are any deficiencies in your diet (whether they’re caused by lack of nutrient or calorie intake), these deficiencies will impact not only your hair but also other aspects of your health as well. For example, a low protein intake may lead to thinner and less lustrous hair while insufficient iron may lead to dryness and brittleness.
Why does diet affect hair loss?
Unhealthy eating habits can lead to a number of different health problems, one of which is hair loss. When you don’t give your body the nutrients it needs, it starts to shut down non-essential functions, like hair growth. Additionally, crash dieting or yo-yo dieting can also cause hair loss because it stresses the body and can lead to nutritional deficiencies. If you’re concerned about your hair loss, take a look at your diet and see if there are any improvements you can make.