The right nutrition for your hair

Lo and behold, July is already here... How quickly time flies, doesn't it!

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And so we end the first half of the year and head into the second half full of excitement. How did the first half of the year go for you? Were you able to keep your New Year's resolutions or not? At the beginning of the year, we talked about Veganuary. What was that about? Quite simply, Veganuary is a challenge that, as the name suggests, runs throughout the whole of January. This means that for the first 31 days of the year, no animal products are consumed at all.

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We focused on one question. Does a vegan diet lead to hair loss? No, on the contrary, it can even have a positive effect on your hair. In today's article, we would like to address the question of whether general malnutrition can lead to hair loss.

"Abs are made in the kitchen!" The saying went viral a few years ago. By now it should be clear to everyone that the summer body is not only created in the gym, but above all through the right diet, i.e. in the kitchen. Does this also apply to a full mane of hair? Or is our diet responsible for hair falling out or growing back? Does a good diet have an influence on hair quality? Or is your hair quality purely genetic?

Well, let's find out.

So, nutrition plays a major role in our lives. It gives us energy, provides us with vital nutrients and, in good company, contributes greatly to our happiness and well-being. Sure, we already know that! But how much does nutrition influence our hair growth?

For example, you have probably heard of gastric bypass. This involves reducing the size of the stomach in order to achieve a feeling of fullness more quickly and thus lose a significant amount of weight in a very short space of time. Such a radical change in diet, or let's call it a form of dieting, can throw our hair cycle off track. The possible consequence: hair loss. However, it is not just a bypass, but malnutrition in general that often leads to diffuse hair loss, with a lot of hair falling out over a period of 3-4 months. But when do we start talking about malnutrition?

Malnutrition occurs when the body's own energy requirements are not covered by sufficient nutrients over a longer period of time. This usually means that your body is insufficiently supplied with at least one of the three main macronutrients (fats, carbohydrates and proteins). Possible symptoms include tiredness, lack of energy, muscle fatigue, brittle nails or even hair loss.

However, malnutrition does not necessarily have to occur because someone eats too little. People who have a balanced diet but suffer from chronic bowel disease are also often afflicted by diffuse hair loss.

The intestine cannot absorb the nutrients sufficiently, which means that the hair is also undersupplied. Our hair has high demands and requires a broad spectrum of nutrients. We have the complex mechanism of cell division to thank for this. This is because hair cells divide very quickly and need a lot of energy in order to form healthy hair.

To cut a long story short: your body and therefore your hair are dependent on a balanced diet. But what exactly do you need to eat to meet your body's requirements?

1. remember the 5-a-day rule. The rule serves as a guide and includes three portions of vegetables and two portions of fruit a day. As fruit and vegetables provide you with plenty of nutrients, minerals, fiber and vitamins, these two food groups should make up a large proportion of your diet.

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2. carbohydrates are also among the essentials. We recommend that you choose whole grain products. Processed into bread, pasta, rice or flour. Whole grain products generally contain more nutrients than alternative grain products. They provide valuable long-lasting carbohydrates as well as valuable vitamins and minerals. They also contain more fiber and can therefore reduce the risk of bowel cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and lipometabolic disorders.

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3. integrate healthy fats into your diet. These include vegetable oils and nuts. Particularly suitable are: Avocado, walnuts, linseed, soybeans and olive oil. Healthy fats should be part of your daily diet. Don't forget: not all fats are the same.

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4. animals provide protein, vitamin B12 and calcium. The occasional consumption of fish is also recommended. Fish are a reliable source of omega-3, while meat provides you with sufficient iron, zinc and selenium.

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5. last but not least: water! About half of our blood consists of water. Our hair is 10-15% water. Adequate hydration is essential for all bodily functions. Depending on your body size and needs, you should drink between 2 and 4 liters of water a day. By the way: our tap water is always the best choice. It is cheap, environmentally friendly and of a very high quality, especially in Switzerland.

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So, that's it for today. It sounds like more than it actually is. After all, we all know which foods are good for us and which are not.

Do you want to be on the safe side or do you still have questions? Then don't hesitate and send us an email to info@haar-klinik.ch

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