Hair loss is a conversation that not too many of us talk about in public, unless you’re in the hair business. Or, maybe you whisper concerns to your best friend. I know men may feel less attractive when they find their hair is thinning. They confide, they have more hair on their backs or in their ears than on their head! And, I’ve seen hairstyles change in order to cover up thinning instead of addressing the problem.
Over the years women, have confided in me about those special times they would donate their locks for cancer patients, and years later they are feeling less than comfortable about their own thinning hair. Is there a certain age where everything droops, puckers or falls out, they’d ask? Not really, I’ve answered.
Well the reason “Why” is a great topic covering many categories. But one thing for certain is: changing habits can be helpful in improving hair growth.
Many well known factors for hair loss include radiation, chemotherapy and aging.
Less known is our daily exposures to environmental pollution, medications, heavy metals, stress, and junk foods that can change the way our hair breathes!
My thoughts are, excessive hair loss is not a normal process and so we may find the need to address these 12 issues below, one by one.
What influences hair loss?
Environmental Pollution contributes to scalp irritation and hair loss.
A high sugar and wheat habit can rob us of essential B vitamins, and is linked to adrenal fatigue and hair loss. Additionally, a compromised immune system along with chronic antibiotic use can also deplete our B Vitamins and lead to hair loss.
Most people are on more than one prescribed medication. Medications such as: metoprolol, steroids, antidepressants, and statins can be causal in hair loss.
Exposure to heavy metals can cause hair loss. “Thallium is a heavy metal whose salt form is tasteless, odorless, and colorless.”
Hormones can play a significant role in the health and quality of our hair follicles. For ladies, quick hair loss could result from a lack of nutrients and low iron levels. Eating disorders and obesity can also add to hormonal disruption. Thinning of hair in men and women can be related to the changes in the hormone, testosterone. Sugar and alcohol can deplete testosterone levels leading to mineral deficiencies.
Hair dyes and toxic hair products can cause thinning and hair loss. These can also disrupt hormones.
An abundance of stress that triggers an unhealthy and sudden weight loss can also cause hair loss.
Cell phone use/electromagnetic radiation is related to inflammation and can be causal in hair loss.
Do you use too many supplements instead of eating real whole foods? Overdoing vitamin A, or using Accutane for acne, can trigger hair loss, according to the American Academy of Dermatology.
Sleep allows the body to repair itself. A sleep deprived body produces more stress hormones and adrenal fatigue. Sleep is another “must haves” to help fight hair loss.
Leaky gut, poor digestion, and poor utilization of proteins can cause hair loss. This can be triggered by food additives, artificial ingredients, Carmel coloring, and diet sugars. Candida can be linked to dermatitis or atopic dermatitis which can sometimes cause hair loss.
Oxidative Stress and free radical damage can be causal in hair loss.
Habits designed to keep hair on your head
1. Improve gut microbiome.Healthy hair thrives on real whole nutrient dense foods. Choose more organic fruits, and green vegetables to improve depression. Going gluten free may reduce inflammation.
2. Address improvement of mineral absorption. Some choices are spinach, bananas, Brazil nuts for selenium and oysters for zinc. To achieve a more balanced healthy lifestyle and improve the health of your hair and scalp, ditch the chips, sugar, alcohol, addictions to dangerous substances and processed crap.
3. Chronic stress must be addressed and the adrenal glands must be fed to maintain a healthy scalp and hair. Add in pumpkin seeds, avocados, seaweed, fermented sauerkraut, and broccoli to your meals.
4. Add exercise to your day. Exercise helps to release stress and promotes better sleep habits. Get 7 to 8 hours sleep every night.
5. Wash your hair more than once a week and make sure to stimulate your scalp and use organic coconut oil to improve a dry inflamed scalp.
6. Avoid hours in the sun with an “unprotected scalp”.
7. With sense of peacefulness and calm, a scalp massage can increase blood flow and lymphatic drainage in the head, both of which purportedly stimulate hair follicles in the scalp and keep it healthy.
8. Hair loss has been improved by hypnosis.
9. Remove toxic chemical laden shampoos and conditioners that can cause hair loss and replace with organic products.
10. Your hair breathes. A health scalp is key to healthy hair. Avoid pollution in work and home environments. (some examples include pesticide exposure and the petroleum industry)
Connie Rogers is a Certified Health Coach & Brain Health Coach.
She is the author of Memory Stealers on Amazon and video.
Connie believes health and wellness are established with proper nutrition, fitness, and mindfulness. Connie takes a natural and holistic, common sense approach to rebuilding wellbeing from the ground up.
