How Correct Nutrition can Improve the Health of your Hair

It is normal to lose 50 to 100 hairs a day. Beyond this, hairloss can result from general nutrient deficiency. One of theproblems with nutrition and hair however is that we can'tprogramme nutrients to do what we want - and hair growth is nota priority so nutrients may be used up in other areas first. B vitamins (especially B6, biotin and inositol) have all beenfound to be important in hair growth, so a heavy duty B complexis recommended. Avoid alcohol and caffeine as they destroy B1and other B vitamins. Other important nutrients are manganese,magnesium, silica, kelp and vitamins C and E.Stress worsens hair loss. It can reduce scalp blood flow, inaddition to interfering with digestion and absorption. If stressis a consideration support the adrenals with vitamins B5 and Cor glandulars.Healthy hair needs good circulation and blood supply. Standingon your head - to raise body over head will boost circulation toyour scalp, but ONLY attempt this if you are very healthy andfit! A more practical approach is an Indian head massage -- itincreases blood flow and circulation in the scalp, helpstransport minerals to the scalp and is wonderfully relaxing.Organic cider vinegar massaged into the scalp opens up thepores. If you are actually losing hair from the root (as opposedto brittle hair) then the cider vinegar can help unclog sebumglands that sometime block causing the follicle to die off ashair cannot get through.Essential Fatty Acids promote healthy hair, and water obviouslyis vital to avoid dehydration. Filtered or bottled water is best- glass bottles preferable to plastic to avoid taking inplasticisers.Thinning, dry hair can be a sign of protein deficiency.Increasing protein (possibly as protein shakes) can restorevitality and sometimes colour. But if protein intake is good,another possibility is low hydrochloric acid (HCl), which isneeded to digest protein. If you're low in HCl, proteins are notdigested properly, so the minerals they contain are notreleased. Mineral deficiencies could also be due to absorptionproblems in the gut. A 'leaky gut' can result from foodintolerances, so if you suspect poor digestion, consider a foodintolerance test when other symptoms suggest this.Zinc has, in some cases of alopecia, been found to restorebodily hair growth as well as on the scalp. Iron is oftensuggested after a study attributed hair loss in non-menopausalwomen to lack of iron. Keratin - the hair protein - ispredominately sulphur - which is probably why biotin is souseful as this is also predominately sulphur. MSM may be helpfulfor the same reason. High copper has been associated with hair loss especially inwomen on HRT or who have taken the Pill. Good liver health willhelp keep copper down. Mercury, lead and cadmium toxicity havealso been associated with hair loss. Hair loss can also be due to hormonal imbalance especiallypost-menopausally, or with polycystic ovary syndrome. (PCOS canlead to elevated testosterone and hair loss). Herbal medicinecan help here -- some PCOS clients have had good results fromtaking saw palmetto and agnus castus. Horsetail (a good sourceof silica) may also help, but a herbalist should be consulted ifyou wish to take herbs.Hormone imbalances promote copper retention. A thyroid self-testmay be useful as thyroid activity is reduced in the presence ofhigh copper. Calcium and copper often rise together. The balanceof copper and zinc together is a better guide to copper levelsthan copper alone. Smoking and high consumption of chocolate,white wine and coffee can tip it the wrong way. B3 and zinc aregood antagonists to copper. Essential fatty acids also helphormonal balance.So how do you assess you mineral status? Hair Mineral Analysiscan provide a detailed mineral analysis, plus personalisedsupplement programme designed to address imbalances. Learn moreabout Hair Mineral Analysis and discover how to how check yourlevels of nutrient and toxic minerals on my website below.