Lifestyle
Whilst people often associate thinning hair with more extreme causes, it is important to remember that the condition of your hair can be a barometer of general health.
For example, scientists in Taiwan* discovered men who smoked 20 or more cigarettes per day had a greater chance of developing baldness. Cigarette smoking has been shown to cause poor circulation, which can affect the amount of blood flow available to the hair follicles of the scalp.
If you do not exercise properly, look after your overall well being and most importantly, maintain a balanced, healthy diet, your hair is just one area which can suffer.
Hair thrives on a plentiful supply of protein, vitamins and minerals. In fact, a lack of protein is often at the root of thinning hair and because hair is considered non-essential by the body, if you're lacking in nutrients it will often be your hair that suffers first. Eating badly affects new growth which slows or can halt altogether, leading to excess shedding, hair breakage and weak connection of the hair strand at the root.
The healthy hair diet
Ensuring you eat a balanced diet including plenty of essential high-protein foods (such as fish, meat, eggs, nuts and milk), and fruit and vegetables will boost your protein, vitamin and mineral intake and keep your hair looking its best. View a guide to healthy hair foods below.
| HEALTHY HAIR FOODS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Nutrient | Hair health benefits | Where to find it? | |
| Protein | The building block of hair and essential for hair growth | Fish, whole grains, nuts and seeds, eggs and milk | |
| Vitamin A | Great for skin and boosting a healthy scalp | Broccoli, carrots and milk | |
| Vitamin C | Useful for boosting circulation and ensuring a plentiful supply of oxygen to the scalp and hair | Citrus fruit, strawberries and potatoes | |
| Zinc | Useful for boosting the body's absorption of protein and preventing thinning hair | Seafood and meat | |
| Water | An essential component of every hair strand, making up a quarter of its composition | Drink plenty throughout the day to top up your body's reserves | |
In addition, you can take a nutritional supplement rich in protein and encourage your body to work from the inside out by providing it with all the nutrients it needs for healthy hair growth.
*Lin-Hui Su; Tony Hsiu-Hsi Chen, Association of Androgenetic Alopecia with Smoking and Its Prevalence Among Asian Men: A Community-Based Survey, Archives of Dermatology, Nov 2007; 143: 1401 - 1406
