American Diet Causes Hair Loss




American diet does not only ruin health and make people fat, the meals high in fat, animal protein, and salt lead to hair loss. Paul Pitchford in Healing with Whole Foods explains that American diet brings damage to kidneys and changes acidity of blood. Both of these factors lead to alopecia or hair loss.

The word “diet” here does not imply the meaning that we are used to: a set of meals which help lose weight; “American diet” is the way people in America eat in their everyday life. Majority of them have fast-food products for their breakfasts and/or lunches. Hamburgers, French fries, sandwiches, carbonated drinks and the food alike are damaging for human body. They are not only high in salt and fat, but low in vitamins and this is another reason for hair loss. After years of success in the U.S. the chains of fast-food restaurants spread to Europe, Asia, South America, Africa and Australia and now the hair loss caused by unhealthy eating comes to people all over the world.

The harmful effect of American diet can be easily seen on a comparison of American and Asian men because male pattern baldness is more common than female. It is caused by a derivative from the hormone testosterone called dihydrotestosterone or DHT. High amounts of fat and animal protein change the balance of blood sugar and increase the production of DHT. Asian men eat less food like this and in addition, they eat a lot of fish which is high in Omega-3 fatty acids, the mineral needed to healthy hair growth.

Another factor in the American diet that causes hair loss is high concentration of sugar primarily taken from sweet drinks and deserts. Sugar from food changes the level of sugar in blood and brings imbalance to hormones. This causes problems with hair follicles and starts shedding.

There are many reasons for hair loss: it can be a matter of genetics, immune system problems, trauma, disease or some other factor, but food makes a great impact of hair growth and health too. Alopecia caused by unhealthy eating is preventable and can be reversed with meals full in vitamins and minerals. In fact, healthy food can also help fighting hair loss caused by other factors.

First of all low-fat and vegetarian diets bring hormones to the best level. They lower the levels of estrogen and testosterone and therefore DHT. They also help to have the right amount of insulin in blood. This is only a small part of health benefit of the good diets.

The specialists who talk about health food put very big accent on high intake of vegetables and fruits. It is best to eat them raw, because this way the vitamins and minerals are saved and taken in full amount.

The main vitamins that hair needs are A, B complex, C, and E. The highest concentration of vitamin A is in orange products like carrots, sweet potatoes, pumpkins and cantaloupes. It is also present in liver, broccoli, leafy vegetables and squash. The most important ones in B-group for hair are B6 and B9 (Folic acid). They can be found in products high in protein like beans, potatoes and meat. Vitamin C is high in red sweet peppers, citrus fruits, broccoli, and many berries like currant, strawberries and blueberries. And finally, vitamin E can be taken from a variety of oils: corn oil, safflower oil and soybean oil.

Such minerals as protein, iron and zinc are also important for hair and they are in high supply in a low-carb diet. Such products as dried fruit, dark leafy vegetables, liver, apples, peas, and fish contain a lot of iron. High protein foods are meats, eggs, dairy, seeds, nuts, and legumes. And zinc responsible for hair growth and dandruff elimination comes from lean meats like wild turkey and organic beef, nuts and lima beans.

Natalie Brown

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Posted on October 19, 2009 
Filed Under Hair Loss, Hair Loss Reasons

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