Hair is undoubtedly one of the key attributes of both femininity and masculinity. Lush, shiny hair is a sign of youth, vitality, and strength. It is an object of interest, care, and ongoing desire. Beautiful, perfect, and strong hair is proven to be the combination of two factors: great body and conscious practices related to its external care.
Quality of hair can be traced back to medical and dietary history. The hair follicle is a dynamic structure with a high turnover. In order to keep strong and healthy hair, a good supply of nutrients and energy is required to maintain its demanding metabolism. Many nutritional deficiencies may lead to worsening hair shaft quality with negative impact on its composition and longevity. Malnutrition, malabsorption, or use of medicines are among the three most important deficiencies that impact the health of our hair.
Let’s break it down. Malnutrition occurs when the body doesn’t receive enough nutrients. This may be due to:
- poor diet, highly refined, or processed food intake
- eating disorders such as anorexia
- malabsorption of the nutrients related to age, sickness, or medications
Medicines may also have an impact on the hair quality due to their specific ingredients.
Diets for weight loss may lead to hair loss too, especially if the calorie intake is less than 1 000 kcal/day and if protein intake is insufficient.(1)
(1)Nutrition and Hair Deficiencies and Supplements, Andreas M. Finner, MD, Trichomed Clinic for hair Medicine and Hair Transplantation, Berlin, Germany, 2013
