Does your diet affect your hair growth? What is the science behind it? 

In today’s hectic world, when we are always getting late for one thing or another, maintaining a healthy diet is a must for good health and fitness. According to Ayurveda, the meals you eat today will take approximately thirty to thirty-five days to change into your seven tissues (dhatus). You introduce nutrients into your body every time you eat healthy meals, and they eventually become a part of you. And so, the old saying goes, “We become what we eat.”

How diet affects hair loss?

Eating a nutritious diet keeps the body healthy, and it makes the hair thick and lustrous. Not consuming certain foods can also promote the loss of hair and its original texture. Your hair may show the consequences of not getting specific nutrients. Poor dietary choices refined and processed meals, and bad fats may all cause inflammation and negatively affect hair growth, leading to hair loss. Factors like genetics, hormonal changes, medical conditions, and medications also influence hair growth.

Can diet affect hair growth?

Certainly so! According to Ayurveda, eating a balanced diet is essential for good health in general, which includes encouraging healthy hair development. The dosha (Vata, Pitta, or Kapha) of an individual may influence the diet recommendations.

Here are some suggestions:

• Indian gooseberry or amla as your hair companion: Antioxidants and vitamin C are abundant in amla. Amla supports and nourishes hair follicles, hence encouraging hair growth. You can include amla powder in your diet or eat raw amla.
• Make protein your best friend: Since keratin, the protein that makes up hair, is required for healthy hair growth, a diet high in protein is necessary. Hair loss and thinning can result from a protein deficiency. Consume foods high in quality protein, such as dairy products, nuts, seeds, lentils, and beans.
• Iron to prevent the irony of hair loss: An iron deficit causes hair loss by disrupting the hair growth cycle and affecting the production of hemoglobin, which supplies oxygen to cells, including hair follicles. Eat more iron-rich foods in your diet, such as lentils, beans, tofu, green leafy vegetables, and fortified cereals.
• Omega-3 fatty acids for those lustrous locks: Omega-3 fatty acids found in walnuts, flaxseed, and chia seeds are essential for healthy hair maintenance and development, preventing dryness and promoting a healthy scalp.
• Water, because hydration is a must: Maintaining enough hydration is crucial for good general health, which includes healthy hair. When dehydrated, hair growth slows down and becomes more prone to breakage.
• Spices and herbs for hair growth: Ayurvedic herbs and spices like turmeric, ginger, and cumin have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant qualities that can benefit general health, including hair health.
• More Ayurvedic goodness: According to Ayurveda, ghee is believed to promote healthy hair and can be used as a condiment or in moderation in cooking. Excessive consumption of fried and spicy foods can worsen Pitta dosha, so it’s important to cook in moderation using steaming or boiling techniques. Ayurvedic herbal beverages, such as nettle, Brahmi, and Bhringraj, can also be beneficial for hair health and overall well-being.

The following hair loss causes are the main reasons why most people fret about:

Women can have hair loss for a variety of reasons, most commonly a combination of environmental, hormonal, and genetic causes.

• Female-pattern baldness, or androgenetic alopecia, is the most common cause of hair loss in women, often resulting in gradual thinning over the crown and top of the scalp.
• Hormonal changes, such as pregnancy, childbirth, menopause, or birth control pills, can also contribute to hair loss.
• Medical conditions, such as thyroid disorders, autoimmune diseases, and conditions causing high levels of androgens, can also cause hair loss.
• Chemotherapy and radiation therapy can cause hair loss, but hair often regrows after completing the treatment.
• Nutritional deficiencies, such as inadequate intake of essential nutrients, can also contribute to hair loss.
• Physical or emotional stress, such as major illnesses or traumatic events, can trigger telogen effluvium, causing hairs to shift from the growing phase to the resting phase.

How can one stop hair loss and promote hair growth?

• Abhyanga (an Ayurvedic practice of scalp massage), herbal hair cleansing, and a balanced diet are believed to promote hair health. A scalp massage with Ayurvedic oils, such as coconut oil, almond oil, or Brahmi oil, can improve blood circulation and nourish hair follicles.
• Herbs like amla, brahmi, bhringraj, neem, and hibiscus are also believed to promote hair health. Traditional hair cleansers like shikakai and reetha are natural alternatives to commercial shampoos and promote hair growth.
• A balanced diet based on one’s predominant dosha can support overall health, including hair health. Many experts often recommend herbal supplements like ashwagandha, amla, and shatavari for promoting hair health.
• Adopting Ayurvedic principles for diet and lifestyle, such as eating seasonal and locally available foods, staying hydrated, and maintaining a routine, is also believed to contribute to overall well-being.
• Panchakarma, an Ayurvedic detoxification and purification practice, includes specific therapies like Nasya and Shirodhara, which are believed to benefit hair health.

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