Nutrients such iron and zinc are not only necessary for a healthy body, but also for a healthy head of hair. Deficiency of any of these minerals directly harms the health of hair and the most important of them is iron. Its not that hair loss occurs only due to aging, heredity or hormonal changes, but there could be other causes. One of the reasons for hair loss can be anemia which is a result of the low amount of red blood cells. Anemia generally refers to a significant decrease in the red blood cell count. A person is also considered to be anemic if blood cells refuse to function properly due to a lack of vitamins and minerals (e.g. iron, potassium, calcium), even if his or her red blood cell count is normal. Like your body, your hair too needs proper nutrients and minerals to survive, including potassium, iron, magnesium and so on. Getting proper supply of nutrients to produce and absorb red blood cells can help you to fight anemia. There are basically three types of anemia that cause hair loss, each with its own different causes and symptoms.
How Does Anemia Causes Hair Loss?
Iron Deficiency Anemia:
This type of anemia is very common among women and in people who consume food which has a low amount of iron. Iron tends to become deficient in women especially due to blood loss during menses and childbearing years. This results in rapid hair loss, while hair becomes dry, brittle, and you may also notice discoloration of hair. Certain vitamins are necessary too for the proper absorption of iron like vitamin E and especially vitamin C. High intake of cellulose, tea and coffee hinder the absorption of iron and the level of iron absorption varies from person to person.
Eating food products like beans, broccoli, rice help to absorb and also it is advisable to include foods which are rich in Vitamin C such as citrus fruits, cauliflower, tomatoes. Children can also suffer from anemia and its better to see a doctor to get proper treatment. Include iron-rich diets in your meals such as dark leafy vegetables, dried fruits, red meat, nuts, and iron-fortified cereals can help prevent or treat iron deficiency.
Copper Toxicity Anemia:
Copper is an essential element that helps to produce enzymes so that our body can function properly. It plays a vital role in the absorption of iron in the body. When your body lacks this nutrient, you tend to show symptoms which are similar to iron deficiency anemia. Copper is required in moderate amount as excess of it can destroy Vitamin C and results in iron deficiency. A person diagnosed with Copper Toxicity Anemia can face symptoms like fatigue, depression and mood swings. Hair loss, headaches, hypoglycemia, increased heart rate, depression, over-stimulation and insomnia are some of the symptoms related to this disease.
Try to include foods like grains, shellfish, organ meats, nuts, poultry, beans to tackle copper deficiency. If you notice excessive copper levels start now to balance, while exercise every three times a week for minimum 30 minutes to keep Copper Toxicity Anemia symptoms at bay.
Pernicious Anemia:
It is an autoimmune disease in which body does not have sufficient amount of red blood cells. This type of anemia occurs when immature, nucleated cells refuse to function as blood cells. In simple words, your immune system destroys own tissues incorrectly. Your body is unable to absorb vitamin B-12 from gastrointestinal tract due to the presence of an auto-antibody against intrinsic factor (IF). Adults mostly in the age of 60 are commonly diagnosed with pernicious anemia. There is also a juvenile form of the disease. Rapid hair loss, weight loss, change of hair color, dryness of hair, sore tongue, nosebleeds are symptoms of Pernicious Anemia. Include dairy products, yeast extracts and most breakfast cereals in your diet. The onset of the disease is slow and its better to get timely treatment.
What Can you do to Prevent Anemia?
In order to deal with anemia, all you need to do is focus on eating healthy and nutrient rich food, while living an active lifestyle. It is extremely depressing and annoying when one faces hair loss. But you should always seek advice from your doctor who would be able to provide suitable treatment for the cause. If you have excessive sugar intake, a change in your diet is the first and most important thing you can do to prevent hair loss caused by anemia. According to researchers, hair loss treatments are more effective when anemia is being properly dealt with.
