Sudden weight loss is a form of physical trauma that can lead to thinning hair. This could happen even if you are on a diet, and the weight loss is ultimately good for you. Not eating right can result in vitamin or mineral deficiencies eventually affecting your strands. A significant weight loss of more than 15 Ibs. can lead to hair loss, says the American Academy of Dermatology. Although, consuming vitamins such as vitamin A in excess can actually accelerate hair loss, receiving sufficient amounts of vitamins on a daily basis can help keep hair loss minimal during weight loss.
No matter in what manner people use to lose weight, the more weight they lose, the more likely they are to experience some temporary hair loss. The condition is usually resolved when a person stops losing weight and gradually increases calorie intake by going on to a nutritionally balanced maintenance eating plan. Read further to understand the reason for hair loss due to weight loss.
Dealing with Hair loss due to weight loss
Hair loss from weight loss is generally due to the condition known as Telogen Effluvium. Under normal circumstances, hair grows as much as half inch per month for approximately 2 years, then goes into a resting phase knows as Telogen. At the end of the resting phase, old hairs fall out to make room for new hairs. Approximately 10 % of the hair goes into resting phase. However, physical stress from dieting can cause more hair than usual to go into resting phase, and fall out when new hairs come in. Therefore, you need to consider following the below given steps for hair loss prevention.
Step 1
One has to ensure that their diet contains adequate amounts of protein as it helps to minimize hair loss associated with weight loss. Although, protein is not a vitamin, it’s an essential nutrient that, if deficient in your diet, can lead to hair loss, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. Protein sources include milk, eggs, meat, cheese, soy products, nuts, seeds and legumes.
Step 2
Make sure you are eating enough calories. While you do need to restrict calories for weight loss, restricting too much can cause hair loss because the body does not have enough energy to support hair growth. Multiply your target weight by 10 to get your daily calorie limit.
Step 3
Incorporate fruits, whole grains and vegetables into your diet. Whole grains contain iron which, is a major factor in hair loss. No matter how much did you lose with your diet regimen, poor iron intake can lead to hair loss. So include iron rich food like meats, legumes and fortified breakfast cereals in your diet.
Zinc is another nutrient that is essential when it comes to saving those strands. Zinc can be found in of foods such as meats, poultry and fortified breakfast cereals.
Step 4
Taking nutritional supplement in order to balance the diet is another great option. For instance, multivitamin contains at least 100 percent of your RDA for all vitamins and minerals. Vitamin C supplementation can help maintain healthy hair and reduce hair loss. Vitamin C is also found in a wide variety of fruits and vegetables and most multivitamins.
Solution
There are innumerable hair loss treatments available in the market. Though, hair loss due to weight loss is temporary, you need a solution until your hair grows back. In this situation, professionals recommend hair accessories. Hair extensions, hair pieces and wigs can give you a voluminous and beautiful temporary hair to complement your appearance. In order to get the right solution, get in touch with a reputed service provider today!
