Can Eating The Right Food Reduce Hair Loss?

There are many reasons people end up coming to a trichology clinic after losing hair, but not everyone will think that diet could be a factor.

While a range of contributors from age to genetics to stress can lead to hair thinning or being lost altogether, the food we eat can also be a factor in hair health.

In a Q and A session published by eVn Express, a dietician answered a query about diet and hair loss from one sufferer by explaining that foods containing a lot of protein and certain vitamins can be very effective.

For instance, eggs are a good source of protein, as well as biotin, which encourages the growth of keratin (the substance hair and nails are made of). Another tip was to consume avocados, which contain a lot of vitamin E and thus help prevent fatty acid deficiency.

Fruit containing vitamin C was also recommended, as this helps with iron absorption, which helps hair growth, while carrots were tipped as a good source of vitamin A, which helps keep the scalp moisturised at the roots. Sweet potatoes help the absorption of Vitamin A, while oats offer zinc, iron and fatty acids.

All this sounds like very comprehensive advice. But is it sound and does it really make a difference?

The answer is yes. A Healthline article made some similar recommendations, noting the importance of substances like biotin, vitamins A, B, C and D, as well as iron and zinc. It suggested you could take multivitamins, which is one practical (if rather less tasty) way of delivering the same results.

If you do come to us with hair loss issues, it is not necessarily because you haven’t been eating the right things; there are other possible causes. But a diet that is healthy for your hair is likely to be very good for you anyway, and it may be an effective complement to any hair restoration work we carry out for you.