Eat Your Way to Healthy, Radiant Hair
By Aine McAteer
Original Content | March 19, 2010
There was a time in my early teenage years where I was nicknamed "Wiry." It wasn't because I was strong and slim, as the phrase might imply; rather, it was because my hair looked like wire that had rusted and could be used to scrub pots clean! To add to my dilemma, my grandmother, although endowed with many skills for which I'm more than willing to give her credit, considered herself a hairdresser—and my hairstyles from my youth are sufficient testimony to prove that she was anything but.
I was obsessed with hair as a child, and perhaps this was in some way related to the sad state of affairs on my own head. All my dolls were endowed with long, luscious locks that I would spend hours brushing and styling. I was severely envious of any of my friends who had long hair or were taken to a proper hairdresser who gave them some semblance of a hairstyle.
In those days, it never dawned on me that what was sprouting out of my head had any connection with what was entering my mouth. It was years later, when I was put on medication to treat my underactive thyroid and opted instead to change my diet, that I started to notice some gradual and subtle changes that delighted me. In addition to having so much more energy and vitality, my locks not only started to grow faster, but also developed a softness and sheen that was quite uncharacteristic. Instead of the frizz that had earned me my nickname, I was developing a lovely curl, and slowly but surely, I started to get compliments for my long and beautiful locks.
•Try Aine's Golden Hiziki Tarts to help with hair health
I will confess that my commitment to adhering to a healthy diet and lifestyle has much to do with the fact that I want to grow old gracefully and beautifully with as little cosmetic intervention as possible. One's hair, or lack thereof, is a great indicator of a person's overall state of health—in fact, there is a diagnostic therapy often used in alternative medical practices that analyzes the hair to get an overall reading of a person's nutritional history and health condition.
True beauty is something that emanates from the inside out, and a diet of nutrient-rich food is a major consideration in overall health and the health of our hair. There are many factors that influence hair health and also many ways that you can ensure healthy, glossy locks right into old age. I'll tell you how.
Learn what factors influence your hair
Diet: I think I've given sufficient testimony that diet plays a major role in the health and beauty of our hair. Before I changed to a more balanced diet, I could sit for hours in the classroom picking at my split ends. Now, I can search my entire head and there's not one to be found! One of the main factors influencing hair health is a deficiency of good-quality protein and iron. Protein is essential for cell growth and repair, while iron produces hemoglobin in the blood, which carries oxygen for growth and repair of all body cells. Excess sugar in the diet robs the body of minerals vital to hair health.
Hormones: As women go through hormonal changes during and after menopause, or after pregnancy, they often experience hair loss. Once hormonal levels become balanced, this loss will be halted. One of the most common causes of hair loss is low thyroid function, so if you're experiencing hair loss, it's a good idea to have your thyroid levels checked by an endocrinologist.
Smoking: Smoking destroys vitamin C, which is an essential nutrient for nourishing hair follicles and clearing toxins from the body. Nicotine causes blood vessels to constrict, making it harder for nutrients to reach the skin and hair and for waste to be eliminated.
Genetic factors: Male pattern baldness can be passed on genetically, as well as other predispositions that can affect overall health and the health of the hair.
Medications: Drugs such as those used in cancer treatment (chemotherapy), anesthetics, anticoagulants (used to thin the blood) and oral contraceptives can cause temporary hair loss. It's important to consult with your doctor before making any changes to your prescribed medications. Dietary changes and properly prescribed natural supplements can greatly improve hair and scalp conditions.
Products: Many of the haircare products on the market contain toxic chemicals and dyes that can cause inflammation, dry the scalp and damage the hair follicles. Chemicals can enter the body through the skin and scalp and can be absorbed into the bloodstream, where they can build up and result in other health problems.
Environment: Environmental factors such as air conditioning and indoor heating can dry out the hair and leave it lackluster. Treated water in swimming pools can also dry the hair and irritate the scalp, as can overexposure to sun. So, if you're in a hot climate, it's a good idea to keep your hair covered if you're outdoors a lot.
Processing: Excess blow-drying, straightening, curling, perming, bleaching and dyeing can give you instant gratification, but over a period of time, it also dries out and damages the hair.
Stress: When you're under stress, it's easy to let basic health habits go. Unfortunately, this results in poor health, which is reflected in the health of the hair. Tension in the scalp restricts the flow of oxygen and nutrients to the hair follicles.
What to feed your hair to make it healthy
MY THOUGHTS
we cannot just blame genetics. maybe when we were younger we can make an excuse out of it. but there are ways to beautiful hair even if your grandmother was ms. wiry. i know. i know. i need to stop.
Showing posts with label hair follicles. Show all posts
Showing posts with label hair follicles. Show all posts
Monday, December 20, 2010
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Alternative Medicine for Gray Hair?
Natural Remedy to Reduce or Reverse Gray Hair?
By Cathy Wong, About.com Guide
Updated February 28, 2010
About.com Health's Disease and Condition content is reviewed by our Medical Review Board
Question: Natural Remedy to Reduce or Reverse Gray Hair?
Q: I recently heard about supplements and other products that can reduce or reverse gray hair. Is there any truth in these products or are they bogus? Thanks for any input.
Answer:
There is no scientific evidence that any diet, herb, supplement, or product can reduce or reverse gray hair, however, there are some underlying conditions that may result in premature gray and some ancient approaches you might be interested in.
It might help to first understand why we get gray hair. Hair color is produced by tiny hair pigment cells within our hair follicles called melanocytes. As we age, the activity of these melanocytes gradually declines until they stop making pigment. New hairs grown in without pigment, resulting in gray hair.
Each one of us has a genetically determined time when we will get gray hair. Although nothing can stop hair from turning gray, there are some conditions that can cause hair to gray earlier or more quickly than normal.
•Thyroid disorders. Conditions such as Grave's disease, Hashimoto's disease, hyperthyroidism, and hypothyroidism have been linked with premature gray hair.
•Vitamin B12 deficiency anemia. It can be due to a diet low in vitamin B12, which is found mainly in meat, eggs, and milk. It can also occur if the stomach can't absorb vitamin B12, due to surgery involving the stomach or small intestine (such as gastric bypass surgery), diseases that affect the small intestine, such as Crohn's disease, celiac disease, fish tapeworms, or small intestine bacterial overgrowth, or a lack of protein called intrinsic factor due to an autoimmune reaction or a genetic defect.
•Vitiligo. A condition in which your skin loses melanocytes, resulting in very light patches of skin and possibly premature gray hair.
•Early menopause
•Smoking. Cigarette smoking has been linked to premature gray hair.
Addressing these underlying conditions, in some cases, may help to prevent hair from going premature gray.
In traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and Ayurveda, the traditional medicine of India, premature gray hair reflects an underlying disturbance.
Hair, according to TCM, reflects the quality of blood and the strength of the kidneys. The kidneys and blood have a broader role in TCM than they do in Western physiology.
Foods that are thought to strengthen the blood and kidneys are:
•Hijiki seaweed
•Blackstrap molasses
•Black sesame seeds
•Nettles
•Wheat grass
•Chlorophyll
Keep in mind though that consuming excessive amounts of these foods is not recommended. For example, excessive amounts of iodine (from seaweed) may increase the risk of developing thyroid problems, which itself is a cause of premature gray hair.
Foods to avoid, according to TCM, are excessive meat, dairy, and salt
Many commercial products that claim to restore hair's natural color contain herbs that are used in TCM to strengthen the kidneys and blood. The most popular is a herb called He Shou Wu, also called Polygonum multiflorum or Fo-Ti.
The name He Shou Wu means "black-haired Mr. He" in Chinese. This name refers to a legend of an older villager named Mr. He who took this herb and restored his black hair, youthful appearance and vitality.
He Shou Wu isn't right for everyone with grey hair, say TCM practitioners, which is why a consultation is recommended. If used improperly, it is thought to lead to emotional ailments such as anger or depression. For more information about He Shou Wu, read the He Shou Wu / Fo-Ti Fact Sheet.
In ayurveda, hair is associated with an imbalance in the pitta constitutional type. An imbalance in the vata constitutional type, aggravated by stress, is also associated with premature greying.
•Quiz: What is Your Ayurvedic Type?
•Foods to Eat for Your Ayurvedic Type
A herb that is used in Ayurveda for gray hair is called bringaraja, translated as "king of the hair". It is taken by mouth to support the liver and kidney energies, however, there aren't any studies on the safety or effectiveness of this herb. It is also an ingredient in Ayurvedic hair oils and tonics, which are applied topically to the scalp.
Another popular Ayurvedic herb is called amla. It is used for inflammatory conditions, to strengthen eyes, and to address prematurely gray hair.
http://altmedicine.about.com/library/quiz/bl_quiz_ayurveda.htm
MY THOUGHTS
the best advice is to accept that this is part of aging. why shouldit bother you if all of you have graying hair or obviously spending a lot of money on hair color. i find it funny when i see someone with no gray hair but has wrinkles all over. why not just try and grow old gracefully?
By Cathy Wong, About.com Guide
Updated February 28, 2010
About.com Health's Disease and Condition content is reviewed by our Medical Review Board
Question: Natural Remedy to Reduce or Reverse Gray Hair?
Q: I recently heard about supplements and other products that can reduce or reverse gray hair. Is there any truth in these products or are they bogus? Thanks for any input.
Answer:
There is no scientific evidence that any diet, herb, supplement, or product can reduce or reverse gray hair, however, there are some underlying conditions that may result in premature gray and some ancient approaches you might be interested in.
It might help to first understand why we get gray hair. Hair color is produced by tiny hair pigment cells within our hair follicles called melanocytes. As we age, the activity of these melanocytes gradually declines until they stop making pigment. New hairs grown in without pigment, resulting in gray hair.
Each one of us has a genetically determined time when we will get gray hair. Although nothing can stop hair from turning gray, there are some conditions that can cause hair to gray earlier or more quickly than normal.
•Thyroid disorders. Conditions such as Grave's disease, Hashimoto's disease, hyperthyroidism, and hypothyroidism have been linked with premature gray hair.
•Vitamin B12 deficiency anemia. It can be due to a diet low in vitamin B12, which is found mainly in meat, eggs, and milk. It can also occur if the stomach can't absorb vitamin B12, due to surgery involving the stomach or small intestine (such as gastric bypass surgery), diseases that affect the small intestine, such as Crohn's disease, celiac disease, fish tapeworms, or small intestine bacterial overgrowth, or a lack of protein called intrinsic factor due to an autoimmune reaction or a genetic defect.
•Vitiligo. A condition in which your skin loses melanocytes, resulting in very light patches of skin and possibly premature gray hair.
•Early menopause
•Smoking. Cigarette smoking has been linked to premature gray hair.
Addressing these underlying conditions, in some cases, may help to prevent hair from going premature gray.
In traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and Ayurveda, the traditional medicine of India, premature gray hair reflects an underlying disturbance.
Hair, according to TCM, reflects the quality of blood and the strength of the kidneys. The kidneys and blood have a broader role in TCM than they do in Western physiology.
Foods that are thought to strengthen the blood and kidneys are:
•Hijiki seaweed
•Blackstrap molasses
•Black sesame seeds
•Nettles
•Wheat grass
•Chlorophyll
Keep in mind though that consuming excessive amounts of these foods is not recommended. For example, excessive amounts of iodine (from seaweed) may increase the risk of developing thyroid problems, which itself is a cause of premature gray hair.
Foods to avoid, according to TCM, are excessive meat, dairy, and salt
Many commercial products that claim to restore hair's natural color contain herbs that are used in TCM to strengthen the kidneys and blood. The most popular is a herb called He Shou Wu, also called Polygonum multiflorum or Fo-Ti.
The name He Shou Wu means "black-haired Mr. He" in Chinese. This name refers to a legend of an older villager named Mr. He who took this herb and restored his black hair, youthful appearance and vitality.
He Shou Wu isn't right for everyone with grey hair, say TCM practitioners, which is why a consultation is recommended. If used improperly, it is thought to lead to emotional ailments such as anger or depression. For more information about He Shou Wu, read the He Shou Wu / Fo-Ti Fact Sheet.
In ayurveda, hair is associated with an imbalance in the pitta constitutional type. An imbalance in the vata constitutional type, aggravated by stress, is also associated with premature greying.
•Quiz: What is Your Ayurvedic Type?
•Foods to Eat for Your Ayurvedic Type
A herb that is used in Ayurveda for gray hair is called bringaraja, translated as "king of the hair". It is taken by mouth to support the liver and kidney energies, however, there aren't any studies on the safety or effectiveness of this herb. It is also an ingredient in Ayurvedic hair oils and tonics, which are applied topically to the scalp.
Another popular Ayurvedic herb is called amla. It is used for inflammatory conditions, to strengthen eyes, and to address prematurely gray hair.
http://altmedicine.about.com/library/quiz/bl_quiz_ayurveda.htm
MY THOUGHTS
the best advice is to accept that this is part of aging. why shouldit bother you if all of you have graying hair or obviously spending a lot of money on hair color. i find it funny when i see someone with no gray hair but has wrinkles all over. why not just try and grow old gracefully?
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