Teenagers aren’t always known for their great eating habits. Between social pressures to remain thin and hectic school schedules, it’s easy for teenagers to fall into a bad-eating routine without realizing it. However, understanding how nutrition relates to hair health is important to preventing and overcoming unexpected teenage hair loss.
Nutrition and Hair Loss
The quality of hair and its volume largely depends on your diet for the protein, vitamins and minerals that hair needs to grow. When teenagers eat largely processed or junk foods, they may miss out on the protein, iron, vitamin D and other minerals hair needs to grow and stay strong. Once hair quality diminishes, hair breakage may cause hair loss or possibly a bald spot to form. It takes some time for hair to regrow once a bald spot forms, so preventative measures are important to maintain healthy hair.
Many teens don’t know how bad their nutrition really is or that it can cause hair loss. However, hair is a great indicator of a person’s overall health. A lack of shine, volume or quality may indicate that something is going on with nutrition or some other underlying health issue.
Eating Disorders and Hair Loss
The pressure to conform to certain body types severely impacts teens, leading some to develop eating disorders such as anorexia or bulimia. The significantly reduced caloric intake caused by these disorders makes it nearly impossible to get the nutrients needed to promote strong hair growth. The severity of the hair loss depends on how long a person suffers from these conditions, ranging from thinning hair to bald spots.
Healthy Foods for Healthy Hair
Even teens that think they eat healthily may not be eating the right foods for healthy hair. Some of the best foods for healthy hair include dark leafy greens that have a lot of iron, such as spinach; foods high in omega-3 fatty acids, such as salmon; and foods rich in vitamin B, such as eggs. The B vitamin biotin, in particular, is important because it is helps grow strong hair and nails.
If you or your teenager is experiencing hair loss lack of nutrition may be a factor. It’s almost time to go back to school so now is the time to do something about it. At Genesis II Hair Replacement Studio we can work with your teen to help discover the root of their hair loss and determine the best way to restore their hair. To schedule a free hair loss evaluation call us at (315) 458-1074 or to contact us via email click here.
Photo Credit: Jan Tik Via Flickr Creative Commons
