So why am I talking about hair loss on a healthy lifestyle, weight management blog?

Our hair is an indicator of our health and genetic characteristics and frankly I am a bit of a lay science, reference information, geek and I am often curious when research scientists come out and contradict each other as they are currently doing with hair loss.   
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As you can see, J, God only made so many perfect heads, the rest he put hair on, and my man has one of the perfect heads. J.  It is believed by most people, that baldness in men, and to a lesser extent in women, is hereditary. Not only hereditary, but strangely enough, the gene for baldness comes from the maternal gene, from the mother’s side, not the father.  Genetics is as fascinating to me as science.

For a while it was believed that higher levels of testosterone, in men was what caused baldness, then it was found that it was not the testosterone itself but dihydrotestosterone  or DHT,  a by-product of testosterone,that over time, leads to the hair thinning and this along with the inherited genetic tendencies, general nutrition and health, may lead to baldness.

Now given the connection of testosterone with baldness, even if indirectly, I read that testosterone is being marketed in testosterone cream ,which is fine,  I know there are uses for hormonal creams, I’m just fascinated that one of claims is that testosterone creams are known to help people treat ,hair loss. Perhaps this is something along the lines of homeopathy where you treat a condition with a small amount of the same substance which in larger amounts has been said could cause the condition, or does it show that science still has an awful lot to learn about the causes of baldness .

One researcher in this field is Neil Sadick, M.D., Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Dermatology at Cornell University Medical College, states that most men who lose their hair have a hereditary condition called androgenic alopecia. If such men indeed have increased levels of a hormone known as 5-alpha reductase and this transforms testosterone into dihydrotestosterone (DHT), then they may suffer from hair loss. This DHT subsequently causes follicles to sprout shorter, hair to thin, and hair growth phases to shorten.  So it does appear, it is NOT testosterone that causes hair loss, but the way some peoples bodies manage this testosterone. I doubt that buying creams marketed to assist baldness, is going to help them very much, aside from the stimulation of the blood supply to the scalp, from rubbing them in. J  I’m not the research scientist, just the questioning geek, J lol.

So is there anything at all people can do, to help prevent baldness?

A Healthy diet of fish, eggs, beans, because hair is made of protein, therefore, it makes sense to eat healthy protein foods if you are trying to maintain your healthy hair. However, eating cholesterol high red meat every day is not going to help you. Cholesterol and high-fat diets will result in increased testosterone levels, which have been linked to hair loss -- so steaks are not among the foods that prevent hair loss. Stick to leaner proteins such as fish (which has a myriad of health benefits beyond just maintaining your hair), chicken, calf’s liver, brewer’s yeast, low-fat cheese, eggs, almonds, beans, and yogurt. Soymilk and tofu are also smart to add to your diet because they are high in protein and low in bad fats.

Iron plays a key role in manufacturing hemoglobin, the part of the blood that carries oxygen to your body’s organs and tissues. When your hemoglobin is at healthy level, oxygen is properly, dispersed. This means your scalp is getting a good flow of blood, which will stimulate and promote hair growth.  Eggs; dates; raisins; dark green, leafy vegetables such as kale; and whole-grain cereals are all high in iron.  

Vitamin C improves the absorption of iron, so fruits such as oranges, strawberries and lemons should be on your grocery list of foods that prevent hair loss. 

Silica is something a biochemist advised my husband to take, years ago, for his arthritis. The body uses silica to help it absorb vitamins and minerals. Silica is found in bean sprouts and the skin of cucumbers, red and green peppers, and potatoes. Remember, when you eat these foods raw, as opposed to cooked, you’re getting more nutritional value out of them.

Zinc plays a key role in many of the body’s functions, from cell reproduction to hormonal balance, and all these functions affect hair growth. Perhaps most importantly, zinc manages the glands that attach to your hair follicles. When you are low on zinc, these follicles become weak, causing strands to break off or fall out. To combat this problem, eat zinc-heavy foods such as red meat, mussels, shrimp, nuts, and oysters. Excessive amounts of zinc can eventually lead to hair loss, so it is best to stick to a zinc-heavy diet rather than eat these foods and take a zinc supplement. It is always a case of all good things in moderation. 

a balanced diet

Just as your overall health will benefit from eating a balanced diet, so too should the health of your hair. Once it’s gone, it’s gone, so don’t put foods in your body that speed up hair loss. You may be experiencing a thinning on top already, but you can counteract this (or at least slow it down) by eating from every food group daily. 
 


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    _Happy New year :-)
    I am going to combine several seemingly contradicting eating and exercise programs and put together my own Artslim Naturally slimming and Gray-Nomad fitness program.  I plan to bring these out as a low cost EBook and small paperback. They will suit anyone interested in managing weight with son=me difficult health conditions such as metabolic syndrome and past injuries.

     I'll be showing you some of the books I am reading that have some excellent qualities, although they will not be exactly what I am putting together to suit me and my style of doing things.
    I will be focusing on eating and exercising for wellness, weight loss if obese, weight management and balanced fulfilling lifestyle..

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