No one wants to lose their hair but for 25 per cent of men under thirty, it’s inevitable. That number rises to over 60 per cent by the time you’re sixty. For those unlucky enough to suffer from tonsorial trauma, there’s little to be done to reverse the shedding process altogether.
Why Do I Have Thinning Hair?
As with many medical issues, there can be many reasons why you have thinning hair. From stress, to hair-styling products, to your diet and your genes, it’s important to know the culprit behind your lacklustre locks.
You’re stressed
If your 9-5 is making you feel zero, physical and/or emotional stress can wreak havoc on your system. Usually, there’s a three-month delay between particularly stressful circumstances and your hair falling out, but the correlation between stress and hair loss is well-documented. Why? Because, when stressed, your body enters ‘fight or flight’ mode, producing extra hormones to send around your body — which affects the growth of hair follicles on your scalp.
Your diet
It’s true — you are what you eat. As you’ll know by now, your nutrition is directly responsible for the shape and the function of your body — from your moods to your metabolism — but did you know that it can affect your hairline, too? That’s because hair loss can be caused by dietary deficiencies that can come from a restrictive diet — from ‘Keto’ to ‘Paleo’ to ‘Carnivore’ and more — as you’re depriving your body from certain nutrients that can be found in food groups. Similarly, if you’re not eating enough protein, it’s your hair that will suffer, as hair is made from protein. Omega 3s and Vitamins A and D can all help build a healthier scalp, so foods like salmon, eggs and nuts all need to be on your shopping list.
Your genes
Blame your parents for this one, because male pattern baldness runs in the family. If you’re losing your hair, male pattern baldness is caused by your body becoming increasingly sensitive to androgens — male sex hormones that regulate development and maintenance of male characteristics and reproductive activity. The extent to which your scalp is affected by this process is hereditary, so fighting thinning hair may be an uphill battle for some.
You’re anaemic
A lack of iron, anaemia, can seriously affect your hair growth. As with the lack of correct nutrients in your diet (explained above), making sure your diet is nutrient-rich is important for both fighting hair loss and maintaining energy levels. Unfortunately, this will be more difficult for vegetarians and vegans, but leafy greens like spinach, beans and lentils can all help. That said, steak and other red meats come out on top when it comes to upping your iron intake.
[“source=menshealth”]