Protein for good hair

Hair loss is a normal process. To encourage a healthy growth,
take a diet rich in protein, says Rita Sekhon

IN all societies, including western and oriental, hair loss and baldness are a fodder for bawdy jokes. You may laugh about your hair loss when amidst your peers and friends, but chances are you cry about it when alone. Unless you were trying to make a fashion statement like David Beckham, one is never pleased with hair loss. Fortunately, there are many natural remedies to bring your hair back.

Hair loss is a normal process. The body sheds 100 hair each day and 100 take their place.

However, you are suffering from hair loss only when the hair that are shed are more than the body produces. The hair is comprised mostly of protein. To encourage hair growth, adhere to a diet rich in protein. European studies have found that soy protein reinforces hair and stimulates its growth.

In one study, the hair growth increased by 15 per cent. Tofu and soy milk are good sources of soy protein. Fish is a good source of protein. Essential fatty acids need to come from an outside source because the body does not produce them.

Other good sources of protein are low-fat cheese, eggs, fish, beans, brewer's yeast and yogurt. Green and leafy vegetables, raw oats, dried fruits, cherry juice and beet provide a diet rich in silica, iron and calcium, which is beneficial. Studies in the former Soviet Union showed that silica therapy slowed hair loss. Organic silica added to shampoo was found to help prevent baldness, stimulate healthier hair growth and assure a beautiful shine, lustre and strength.

Some scientists claim that they have effectively stopped further hair loss by adding silica to their shampoo. This can be applied externally to improve hair growth. Silica is found in the outer coverings of potatoes, green and red peppers and cucumbers. Bean sprouts are also high in silica. Eat whole foods, including sprouts. Adding coconut in meals — coconut oil, chutney and milk — is good for preventing hair loss.

A person who is anaemic is more likely to have hair loss and, hence, his diet should comprise iron-rich foods like beetroot, egg, date, raisins. The cause for anaemia needs to be established by a doctor. Sugary foods, bottled cold drinks, alcohol in excess should be avoided. Include brown rice, oats, root vegetables (carrot, ginger, onions), black beans, black pepper, beans, whole grains, nuts and seeds in your diet. Avoid fatty foods, cold drinks, animal protein, excessive raw foods and citrus food.

Amla (Indian gooseberry) is recommended. Vitamin E is important for healthy hair growth. Eat avocados, nuts, seeds and olive oil on a regular basis. If hair loss is due to thyroid dysfunction, eat more foods rich in vitamin A and iodine. Eat vegetables such as carrots or spinach in unrefined, cold-pressed seed oils such as flax, walnut or pumpkin seed and sea salt. Take turnips, cabbage, mustard, soy beans, peanuts, pine nuts and millet if there is a deficiency of iodine.

High fat meat-based diet raises testosterone levels in males, adversely affecting hair follicles. For men, the balding process can be slowed down by taking a low-fat diet. The Japanese now consume a more fatty, westernised diet. Baldness is now increasing substantially among Japanese men. Eating low-fat foods may not stop hair loss; but it might help to slow it down.

Even in India, we are increasingly eating a western diet. This typically American high-fat, high-animal protein and high-salt diet subtly damages the kidneys and creates acidic blood, which is detrimental to the hair follicle. Being away from your loved ones for long periods of time causes stress, which is another reason of hair loss. Control your diet and decrease the stress in your life.

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