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Nutritional Advice for Hair Loss

It is natural for a person to lose 50 to 100 hairs per day. Hair loss that exceeds this amount is known as alopecia, and can sometimes leads to baldness. Depending on the underlying cause, hair loss can usually be prevented or reduced with proper nutrition.

  1. Identify the Cause

    • Heredity, hormones and aging are major factors that contribute to hair loss. Hair loss can also be caused by nutritional deficiencies, especially of iron, biotin or silica. In her book "Prescription for Herbal Healing," Phyllis Balch explains that other possible factors for hair loss include poor circulation, heavy metals, pregnancy, autoimmune diseases, radiation exposure, skin diseases, sudden weight loss, high fever, diabetes, thyroid disorders, drugs, stress, fungal infection and exposure to toxic chemicals. Excessive intake of vitamin A (100,000 International Units or more daily) can cause excessive hair loss.

    Nourish the Hair

    • In "Prescription for Nutritional Healing," Dr. James Balch and Phyllis Balch, CNC, recommend a diet high in fruits and vegetables and low in starch to help slow hair loss, as well as soy foods, which inhibit the formation of DHT, a hormone implicated in hair loss. They explain further that hair needs nutrients in order to stay healthy, including vitamins E, C, B-complex (especially biotin, pantothenic acid and inositol), co-enzyme Q-10, minerals zinc, copper, silica, amino acids L-cysteine, methionine and glutathione, and essential fatty acids. Biotin is needed for healthy hair and skin, and may even prevent hair loss in some men. Sources of biotin include brewer's yeast, brown rice, green peas, lentils, oats, soybeans, sunflower seeds and walnuts.

    Herbal Remedies

    • Herbs can be used topically or internally to help prevent hair loss and promote hair growth. According to Joseph Marion, author of "Anti-aging Manual: The Encyclopedia of Natural Health," herbal solutions that include mullein, garlic and patchouli oil effectively grow hair, even on bald heads. Horsetail is an excellent source of silica, a mineral that is essential for strong hair. Before shampooing, massage 10 drops of tea tree oil into the scalp to fight bacteria and mites that cause of hair loss. A hair rinse made up of apple cider vinegar and sage tea may promote hair growth.

    Helpful

    • Lie your head down on a slant board for 15 minutes a day to allow blood to reach the scalp. Massage the scalp daily. According to nutritionist Phyllis Balch, supplements of thymus glandular and MSM may also promote healthy hair. Hair is fragile when it is wet, so you should treat it gently to avoid breaking hair or pulling it from the root.

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