One key part in maintaining a growing protein on a piece of one's living body is obvious: one should keep a healthy diet. Even if certain factors have been definitely identified as contributors to hair loss, we should keep in mind that hair is a piece of the entire biological organization of the human body. Being a system, dysfunctions in one piece of the combination can contribute to dysfunctions in other parts; chain reactions happen when one piece of the body malfunctions, causing different parts within the system to falter. To continue optimum health, it is best to preserve a healthy diet and routine exercise regimen.

Defining precisely what a healthy diet is when it comes to preventing hair loss can be a little more complex. Largely, the important vitamins, minerals, and nutrients that one should ingest in some form to maintain healthy hair are vitamin A, all B vitamins-particularly vitamins B-6 and B-12, folic acid, biotin, vitamin C, vitamin E, copper, iron, zinc, iodine, protein of course, silica, essential fatty acids (EFA's, once known as vitamin F) and last but not least one should drink water. There are also certain foods that may cause dysfunctions that will contribute to hair loss.

The best way to maintain a healthy vitamin and mineral intake is a good diet. It is not essential or advisable to go out and buy a bunch of over-the-counter vitamin supplements in order to realize your suggested nutritional levels. Many over-the-counter vitamins are chemically processed and are not altogether absorbed into the system. It is also easy to overdose oneself with over the counter vitamins especially when taking supplements of fat-soluble vitamins and minerals, causing toxicity and harmful reactions. The likelihood of doing this is far less with food; consequently it is always best to procure the mass of your vitamin and mineral requirements from complete foods.

Vitamin A is a key component to growing healthy cells and tissues in the body, including hair. Further it works with silica and zinc to prevent dehydration and clogging of the sebaceous glands, the glands imperative to manufacturing sebum, which is an significant lubricant for the hair follicle. Vitamin A deficiencies commonly cause thickening of the scalp, dry hair, and dandruff. Air pollution, smoking, extremely bright light, certain cholesterol-lowering drugs, laxatives, and aspirin are several known vitamin A inhibitors.
Liver, fish oil, eggs, fortified milk, and red, yellow, and orange vegetables are good sources for vitamin A, as are several dark green leafy vegetables like spinach. Be especially careful if you take vitamin A supplements, as vitamin A is fat-soluble, allowing the body to amass it and making it easy for the body to overdose on vitamin A. Vitamin A overdoses can cause exceedingly dry skin and inflamed hair follicles, and in some cases ironically can cause hair loss. If you choose to take supplements of this vitamin, confer with a specialist first. As mentioned above, the likelihood of overdosing by accomplishing your vitamin A intake by food sources is almost nil, so it is best to attempt to realize this at all costs.

B-vitamins work interdependently and therefore all levels of B vitamins need to be enough in order to maintain suitable health. Vitamins B-6, folic acid, biotin, and vitamin B-12 are all key contents in maintaining healthy hemoglobin levels in the blood, which is the iron-containing part of red-blood cells. Hemoglobin's primary use is to transport oxygen from the lungs to the tissues of the body, so if these vitamins were deficient in one's body, then hair and skin would certainly suffer. Fortunately some of the tastiest foods contain these vitamins.

Vitamin B-6 is found in protein rich foods, which is exceptional because the body needs a sufficient amount of protein to maintain hair development as well. Liver, chicken, fish, pork, kidney, and soybeans are good sources of B-6 and are rather low in fat when they are not fried. Folic acid is found in whole grains, cereals, nuts, green leafy vegetables, orange juice, brewer's yeast, wheat germ, and liver again. Meat, fish, poultry, eggs, and other dairy products meantime contribute healthy amounts of B-12. Biotin deficiencies are rare unless there is a severe case of malnutrition or a serious intestinal disorder, since a healthy gut produces biotin through good bacteria found there.

Vitamin C is responsible for the occurrence of healthy collagen, which is essential to keep body tissues together. A vitamin C insufficiency can cause split ends and hair breakage, yet this is simply reversible by an increase to standard vitamin C levels. Vitamin C can be found in foods such as fresh peppers, citrus fruits, melons berries, potatoes, tomatoes, and dark green leafy vegetables.

Vitamin E is essential to contribute good blood circulation to the scalp by
increasing the uptake of oxygen. Vitamin E is obtained from foods such as green leafy vegetables, nuts, grains, vegetable oils, and most ready-to-eat cereals, which are fortified with vitamin E. Vitamin E deficiencies are rare in persons in North America and Europe. In the rare cases of vitamin E deficiency, most often caused by the inability to absorb oils and fats, dietary supplements are accessible.

Copper is a trace mineral that is also essential in the manufacture of hemoglobin. Hemoglobin as mentioned earlier is essential to the method of transferring oxygen to tissues such as the hair, and indubitably hair is alive cannot grow without appropriate oxygen, yet it does not breathe as other components of our body do, because the oxygen must get to the stem of the hair. Good sources of copper are liver again, seafood, nuts, and seeds.

Another key mineral necessary in the manufacture of hemoglobin is iron. Iron is found in two forms, heme and non-heme; heme iron is much easier to absorb into the system. This is where the trouble lies. Of course most people understand that red meat is a good source of iron, however red meat is non-heme iron and is difficult for the body to absorb, as are numerous iron supplements. Good heme iron sources are green leafy vegetables, kidney beans, and bran. Additionally, one can grow the absorption of non-heme iron into the body by consuming non-heme food sources and vitamin C sources in the same meal.

Zinc is another needed component to healthy hair, being that it is responsible for cell production, tissue development and repair, and the upkeep of the oil-secreting glands of the scalp. It also plays a great role in protein synthesis and collagen development. For this pretext, zinc is important for both hair sustentation and dandruff prevention. Most Americans are deficient in zinc. Most foods of animal origin, especially seafood, carry good amounts of zinc; oysters are particularly rich in zinc. Zinc is also found in eggs and milk, although in much smaller amounts. Zinc from sources such as nuts, legumes, and natural grains is of a different kind than those found in animal sources and is not easily used by the body, though oats are a good source of zinc that is eagerly used by the body.
Protein is found in most of the aforementioned animal source foods, particularly meats, fish, milk, cheese, eggs and yogurt. There is no demand for a person eating the normal Western diet to eat additional protein. Too much protein, even though hair is made of protein, will not better hair growth and may cause additional health problems.

A challenge for vegans is to maintain healthy levels of protein, being that complete proteins containing all nine essential amino acids necessary are found especially in animal sources. Legumes, seeds, nuts, grains and vegetables do not contain the same form of protein necessary for a healthy body. There is only one usual non-meat source for complete protein, and that is the soybean. Fortunately, soybeans have been made into tofu and texturized vegetable protein (TVP) so that they can be made into a variety of dishes. Additionally, one may eat from a wide variety of vegetable sources in order to capture all the essential amino acids.

Iodine is required to the development of hair. Sheep farmers long ago discovered that vegetation void of iodine due to iodine-depleted soil will adversely affect the growth of wool in sheep. Similarly, our hair needs iodine to grow. Iodine is synthetically added to table salt, in spite of in this form it is not assimilated well into the body and can accordingly cause iodine overload. An excess of iodine in the body can adversely affect the thyroid. It is best to use non-iodized salt and retrieve your iodine from natural food sources. These include seaweed, salmon, seafood, lima beans, molasses, eggs, potatoes with the skin on, watercress and garlic.

One of the most difficult nutrients vital to hair growth to get in one's diet is the trace mineral silica. Silicon is a organization of silicon and is the second most plentiful element in the earth's crust, second only to oxygen. The Earth provides everything we need for health, and with silicon being so abundant, it would appear that there would never be a problem with silica deficiency.

Unfortunately, trace minerals are rare in Western diets because our food is processed and our soil depleted by chemical treatments so often that trace minerals are lost. Silica is vital to the strength of hair, and if it will not necessarily keep hair from falling out from the follicle, it will stop hair breakage. It works by stimulating the cell metabolism and genesis, which slows the aging process. Foods that are rich in silica are rice, oats, lettuce, parsnips, asparagus, onion, strawberry, cabbage, cucumber, leek, sunflower seeds, celery, rhubarb, cauliflower, and Swiss chard. Note that many of these foods, particularly rice, are a large part of Asian diets and Asians tend to maintain the strongest and healthiest hair.

Be certain to seek out all the above foods from sources that grow food organically, as this is vital to obtaining the trace minerals that are usually not existing in North American soil and wherefore not in American foods. Additionally these foods ought be eaten fresh, or in the case of rice-unwashed, as trace minerals are easily cooked and washed away.

Essential Fatty Acids (EFA's) are fatty acids that are needed by the body yet not produced by the body. EFA's are a key component to healthy skin, hair and nails. Commonplace skin diseases, such as those discussed later on this site like eczema and seborrhea, are in part caused by deficiencies in EFA's. Including deep-water fish such as salmon, sardines, mackerel, trout, or herring approximately three times a week will provide enough amounts of EFA's. But, if for some reason you cannot eat deep-water fish or possess an extreme loathe for it, it may be necessary to take a supplement to obtain the requisite total of EFA's.

Last but not least, make sure to include the right amount of water in your diet. Water is vital to proper hydration, which is necessary in order for all nutrients to be utilized properly by the body, not to mention the proper function of every cell in the body including hair follicles. The suggested amount of water intake everyday is eight 8-ounce glasses of water a day, or 64 ounces a day.

The effects of high-fat diets and the increase of DHT (Dihydrotestosterone), a chemical produced by the body found to cause hair loss, is not conclusive at this time. However, there does appear to be a connection; as societies that consumed relatively low-fat diets such as pre-World War II Japan experienced almost no pattern baldness, whereas in post-World War II Japan there is an increase in pattern baldness as their society consumes a higher fat diet.

In truth, Asian and African men in their native countries traditionally suffer very little Male Pattern Baldness (MPB). Although when the same peoples come to North America, they begin to develop MPB. Because people of all races and ethnicities tend to develop MPB or androgenetic alopecia, yet do not exhibit these tendencies before moving to America, changes in diet may be a leading contributing factor. Diets elevated in fat do increase testosterone, which is the primary component in DHT. Additional research needs to be done on this issue to reach conclusive proof, although it certainly could not hurt to lower one's fat intake.

Fiber is vital to making certain undigested food moves through the body and to the bowels properly. Failing of foods to move through the bowels in a reasonable amount of time can cause fermentation of undigested food in the bowels and blocking of nutrients being absorbed through the body. Beyond causing degrees of malnutrition, this can also cause a level of toxicity that will overwork systems in the body such as the adrenal glands and contribute to hair loss. Healthy amounts of fresh vegetables, fruits and legumes consumed daily will secure a proper amount of dietary fiber.

Although nutritional remedies were those that were discussed here, supplements can be used if one feels they are simply unable to eat properly due to work schedule or dislike of certain foods. Nutritional supplements containing these same vitamins and minerals can be taken, with the exception of water of course. Be sure to always take supplements that are naturally chelated, meaning that the supplements were developed in a natural base. This will ensure that the supplements you consume will be more readily absorbed in the body. There are some cautions to taking supplements of certain vitamins and minerals, particularly those that are fat-soluble because the body stores them.

Vitamin A can be highly toxic and supplements of vitamin A ought be avoided unless recommended by a physician. It is best to achieve one's vitamin A requirements either by food or through a naturally chelated multivitamin. Also remember that smoking and second hand smoke can cause blocking of vitamin A assimilation, so it is best to shun smoking and remove one's self from areas and situations where second hand smoke is present if at all feasible.

Vitamin E supplements should always be taken at 400 i.u. per day to start and work your way up to 800 i.u. Always take vitamin E in its natural form, which is d'alpha tocopherol. Avoid taking vitamin E supplements in the synthetic form d'alpha tocopherol, which is derived from petroleum and is less accessible for assimilation into the body. If you have high blood pressure or other serious illnesses, consult a physician before taking vitamin E supplements.

Zinc is one fat-soluble mineral that can cause harm if an overdose is taken. Zinc can rob the body of copper, mentioned above as a key nutrient in hair growth and health, not to mention in other functions of the body. Zinc supplements should be taken in low doses, such as 5mg at a time. These can commonly be found in the form of zinc lozenges designed for sore throats. There is a trick to tell if you are taking too much zinc. When the zinc levels in the body have surpassed the level that they can be used, a metallic taste begins to form. If you pay heed to the metallic taste, you will know when enough zinc has been consumed, and you can then stop consuming zinc immediately.

Iron supplements are not recommended unless a doctor has diagnosed you with a severe iron deficiency. If you do take an iron supplement, avoid ferrous sulfate, which you will find as the most customary over-the-counter iron supplement in drug stores. Ferrous sulfate is hard for the body to assimilate, and because iron is not water-soluble it will sit in the body and can cause severe liver problems over time. Further, ferrous sulfate causes constipation, which can trigger a great deal more problems besides being extremely unpleasant. One iron supplement that does not contain ferrous sulfate is called Floradix and is available in both liquid and pill form.

Since there are so few foods to mention that are grown in North America and contain a good amount of silica, supplements may truly be needed. Horsetail is an herb that is a rich source of silica. It is greatly important to never take horsetail directly however, or take a supplement made from unprocessed horsetail, as this herb can be toxic when ingested whole, ground, in tablets or capsules. Horsetail must be taken in an aqueous extract of the herb only. Ask someone at your health food store or someone knowledgeable around herbs to help you find this form. Silica gel is suspended in water, although it is not an aqueous solution and should be avoided. Nettle is also a good source of silica and Nettle Root Extract is readily available at health food stores.

Supplements of Essential Fatty Acids (EFA's) are easily found in most health food stores and even numerous supermarkets and pharmacies. These include Evening Primrose Oil, Wheat Germ Oil, Flaxseed Oil, Cod Liver Oil, and other oils from deep-water fish. It is not recommended to swear by on Cod Liver Oil as a source for EFA's because it contains high levels of vitamins A and D, and the amount of Cod Liver Oil necessary to achieve proper amounts of EFA's would cause overdosing on these vitamins. The recommended supplements are Evening Primrose Oil and Flaxseed Oil. Both these oils are available in oil form or in capsules. Keep in mind that high amounts of saturated fat blocks the effectiveness of EFA's, counteracting their effectiveness, so there needs to be adjustments to your diet if there is a high amount of saturated fat in it.

Juicing is a natural way to obtain a lot of the vitamins, minerals, and trace minerals mentioned above. When using organic fruits and vegetables, juicing can provide quite a boost to the system and encourage the health of hair. Juices are greatly readily assimilable by the body and provide the same content as the whole food. Fresh juices have a high enzyme content, which is beneficial because these enzymes are stored by the body and can be used by the body when cooked foods that have been robbed of enzymes are consumed. Storing the juice or purchasing pasteurized juices from the store diminishes this benefit, although the benefits of the minerals and vitamins are usually still available.

All the above-mentioned fruits and vegetables can be juiced to obtain the maximum benefit from them. A great deal of silica, sulfur, iron, and potassium for example is extracted from organic carrot juice. In truth, carrots being roots contain most trace minerals the body needs. The effects of carrot juice are enhanced when adding cucumber juice to it, because of its high silica and sulfur content. Organic spinach juice is highly recommended, as it is high in iron, vitamin A, and other vital vitamins and minerals; it is often combined with lettuce and carrot juice, two very good sources of silica and vitamin A. Non-organic spinach juice can be extremely high in pesticides and should therefore be avoided. Spinach juice should also be avoided if one suffers from kidney stones, as it contains a large amount of oxalic acid, which exacerbates kidney stone growth.

There are a number of foods and substances to avoid and limit the intake of. Substances such as alcohol, caffeine, sugar and nicotine can consume the body of nutrients and raise adrenal levels, which will cause a chain reaction of producing more androgen and causing hair loss. High levels of saturated fat and cholesterol rich foods are also connected to increased DHT levels and their consumption should be restricted. Additionally, common table salt has been connected to hair loss. And the usual diet provides the recommended amount of sodium intake; therefore, salt should never be added to food. However, when using salt for seasoning while cooking, be sure to use salt with Iodine being that it is a nutrient that is vital to hair growth as well, unless you are a common consumer of seafood, which contains high levels of Iodine.

Toxemia can cause a great deal of dysfunction in the body's systems, including hair-loss related illnesses such as eczema, psoriasis, seborrhea and possibly several others. It is vital for one to cleanse the body of impurities in order to maintain a healthy system and avoid such illnesses, as there are no cure for these illnesses beyond cleansing and the maintenance of a healthy diet to admit the body to heal itself. Regular cleansing should include a diet rich in fiber as mentioned earlier, and the use of added fiber such as provided by consuming psyllium husk as a bulking agent along with laxative agents. More is discussed under the section Natural Hair Loss Remedies.

Although hair loss can be caused by numerous other variables, shortage of proper nutrition will assuredly cause hair loss in many people. Fortunately, adopting a proper diet that includes the above nutrients can reverse hair loss caused by malnutrition. One item for certain, regardless of whether your hair loss was caused by malnutrition or not, adopting a healthier diet will help the function of other areas of the body.

Note that the contents here are not presented from a medical practitioner, and that any and all dietary and medical planning should be made under the guidance of your own medical and health practitioners. This content only presents overviews of hair loss prevention research for educational purposes and does not replace medical advice from a professional physician.