Dietary influences on hair loss

There are many reasons you might be experiencing hair loss. In addition to illness, medication side effects, and genetics, the foods you eat (or don't eat) could cause your hair to fall out, and not allow your body to grow healthy hair. 

Some of the ways that dietary factors that could cause your hair to fall out include:

• Vegetarian Diet – Protein is a vital part of your hair that can help hair growth, vegetarians do not get enough protein, and therefore their risk of hair loss is higher. If you are a vegetarian, it is important to work with a dietitian to ensure that you are getting the proteins you need to prevent or reverse hair loss and maintain your overall health.
• Vitamin A supplementation – An excessive amount of dietary supplements can lead to hair loss. In particular, dietary supplements with excessive amounts of vitamin A can trigger hair loss.
• Insulin Resistance - Insulin resistance is a condition in which your body does not respond to insulin as it should, which can lead to diabetes, heart disease and other health problems, in addition to hair loss. People who eat excessive amounts of saturated fats, sodium, and added sugar are at increased risk of developing insulin resistance. Therefore, Insulin resistance can lead to both male pattern baldness and female pattern baldness.
• Eating Disorders – Eating Disorders such as anorexia starve people of vital nutrients, this can then cause hair loss. Getting treatment for an eating disorder can help you get the protein and other nutrients you need, which can help your hair begin growing again.