Hair Care
10 Reasons Your Hair Is ThinningWatching your hair go down the drain -- literally? Find out what's normal, what's not, and what you can do about it |
Suspect #4: Not enough protein You know when someone goes on a temporary "cleanse" (read: doesn't eat solid foods to fit into that dress) and the starvation mode argument naturally arises -- i.e., when you don't eat, your body thinks you're starving and holds onto any fat it can find? The same logic can be applied to the relationship between your protein intake and your hair. When you skimp on protein, your body rations off any remaining sources of it in the body so that it can be used toward more essential bodily functions. That means your 150,000 strands (give or take) get pushed to the back of the soup line. A lack of protein tells the body to pull the plug on way more hair follicles than usual by pushing them into the "resting" phase.
Solve It:
That protein bar you had during your lunch break isn't going to cut it. Adult women need about 46 grams of protein a day, and if you're pregnant or lactating, the recommended intake jumps to 71 grams a day. For meat eaters, this means making sure you're getting an adequate amount of meat, fish and dairy into your meals. Vegetarians should make sure they're getting protein in the form of beans, whole grains, nuts and eggs.
SEE NEXT PAGE: Suspect #5: Too much vitamin A, not enough vitamin D
Solve It:
That protein bar you had during your lunch break isn't going to cut it. Adult women need about 46 grams of protein a day, and if you're pregnant or lactating, the recommended intake jumps to 71 grams a day. For meat eaters, this means making sure you're getting an adequate amount of meat, fish and dairy into your meals. Vegetarians should make sure they're getting protein in the form of beans, whole grains, nuts and eggs.
SEE NEXT PAGE: Suspect #5: Too much vitamin A, not enough vitamin D