Dr. Amir Khan posted a video on Instagram this week with useful advice for anyone dealing with hair loss or wanting to prevent it.
Dr. Amir Khan, a doctor and ITV health expert Lorraine And Good morning Great Britain took to Instagram this week to reveal the quintessential causes of hair loss and loss – and the foods we can add to our diets to prevent it.
It is rarely talked about, but many women suffer from hair loss. The NHS estimates that half of all women aged 70 or over will experience female pattern baldness in their lifetime.
“Hair loss is very common and complicated, but it can have huge physical and psychological consequences for those affected by it. There are many different causes: autoimmune diseases such as alopecia areata, stress, hormonal conditions or changes surrounding pregnancy or menopause. Genetics, family history, cancer and cancer treatments, as well as certain medications and surgeries,” he says. But nutrition is also very important for maintaining a healthy head of hair.
Recently Dr. Khan op Lorraine to offer something advice to anyone taking a vitamin D supplement this winter. In this video he says that this vitamin does “a lot of heavy lifting” in the body. “It is essential for the production of keratinocytes, cells that are crucial for hair growth. Most of our vitamin D comes when the sun shines on our skin, but you need to replenish this in the winter months,” he explains.
Essential vitamins to help prevent hair loss include:
- Zinc: “This helps with hair growth and repair, so make sure you’re eating plenty of things like shellfish or meat, or if you’re a vegetarian you can get zinc in things like legumes and seeds,” he says.
- Iron: “Iron deficiency is one of the most common causes of hair loss. Remember, iron helps transport oxygen to our cells, including the cells that help with hair growth. So keep your iron levels up by getting plenty of beans and nuts in your diet and and red meat if you are not vegetarian.”
- Vitamin B: “There are several types of B vitamins that support healthy hair growth, including B12 and folic acid. So eat a balanced diet with plenty of fresh fruits, vegetables, eggs, yogurt, legumes and whole grains, as well as fortified grains for your vitamin B hit.”
- Egg white: “I know this isn’t a vitamin or mineral, but you need it. You need good protein for healthy hair and for healthy hair growth. Your body needs protein to make hair and grow it properly, so a diet without Insufficient protein can lead to hair loss or brittle hair.”
You can get most of these vitamins and nutrients from food. Whether that is the case high protein foods such as lean meat, fish or eggs, or foods rich in vitamin D such as mushrooms, liver and salmon.
“Eat a well-balanced diet without restricting certain food groups,” says Dr. Khan. “That’s the key to good hair growth, but if you have any concerns, always contact a healthcare provider.”
