The human body consists of many different structures such as the bones, the skin, and the muscle tissue. Each one of these structures runs on certain nutrients that allow them to develop and grow.
The hair on your scalp is one of such structures that also need specific nutrients to develop and remain healthy throughout life. While regularly taking them contributes to their proper upkeep, neglecting them leads to the opposite.
Thus, hair loss can be caused by vitamin and mineral deficiencies, and it’s something you would rather avoid. Be sure to know which vitamins and minerals you need to consume.
Hair Loss Can Be Caused by Iron Deficiency
The iron mineral is an essential component of the red blood cells that run through your veins and allows them to carry oxygen. When red blood cells do not have enough oxygen within themselves, your heart will have to work much harder to compensate.
While the heart compensates to keep the blood flowing, it will result in you feeling tired, pale, and having difficulty breathing. If you are also prone to heart disease, this could prove fatal.
Iron doesn’t form in our bodies; we have to get it by ingesting it. Many meals are particularly rich in Iron. Spinach, legumes, red meats, turkey, broccoli, dark chocolate, and oyster are all good sources of it.
Adult men only need around eight milligrams of it daily; adult women, on the other hand, 18ml at minimum. If keeping a vegan or vegetarian diet, iron supplements are an option to meet the recommended daily intake.
Hair Loss Can Be Caused by Zinc Deficiency
Zinc is another important mineral that the body needs. It helps make proteins, regulate your immune system, and maintain a healthy, functional brain.
A lack of zinc is a feature in people that are suffering from Telogen Effluvium, a disorder that leads to hair shedding. Therefore, you need your daily intake of zinc to keep healthy hair properly nourished. Meat, shellfish, eggs, and dairy are all good sources of it.
Adult men require only 8 ml of it, adult women 12 ml at minimum. Vegetarians, vegans, heavy drinkers, and pregnant women often are lacking in it. Zinc supplements can also provide it.
Hair Loss Can Be Caused by Vitamin Deficiency
Hair that does not have enough vitamin C becomes dry and brittle, leading it to break easily. It also helps it’s growth since it helps the body make collagen.
Vitamins B7, B6, and B12 are particularly important also. They reinforce the keratin from the hair shaft (B7), actively helping to produce proteins (B6), and facilitating oxygen to the red blood cells (B12).
Vitamin E helps the production of blood and is also instrumental in delivering oxygen through the body and the hair.
Vitamin A also supports hair growth by supplying its antioxidants, but only up to certain doses. You can actually develop hair loss from overstimulation of the hair due to too much Vitamin A.
The following food supply these vitamins:
- Potatoes, broccoli, spinach, citrus fruits for vitamin C-
- Eggs, nuts, meat, clams, dairy products for complex vitamin B (B7, B6, B12)
- Nuts, Seeds, spinach, broccoli for vitamin E
- Salmon, Eggs, fish, dairy for vitamin A
If your diet restricts the consumption of some of them, there are many individual supplements of each one available.