Hair is probably a woman's most important feature. Signs of thinning
hair can take the sail out of almost any woman's day. It may seem vain
to pay so much attention to hair, but signs of thinning hair are really
the first signals of such conditions as hormonal imbalance, vitamin
deficiency, excessive stress or poor nutrition, all symptoms of
declining health status. Paying attention to hair can reveal developing
conditions before they get out of control. When you have restored your
hair to a full head of vibrant healthy strands, chances are the rest of
your body will also exhibit vibrant health.
Nutritional deficiencies may be signaled by thinning hair
Your hair loss may be caused by vitamin D deficiency.
Studies show that a large segment of the American population is
deficient in this essential nutrient, with hair loss being one of the
primary symptoms of this deficiency.
The vitamin D receptor (VDR) is expressed in numerous cells
and tissues of the body, including the skin. Studies of mice and
humans lacking these functional receptors have demonstrated that
absence of the VDR leads to the development of alopecia, a fancy word
for hair loss. Hair loss may be an early warning that you are at risk
of other maladies linked to a deficiency of vitamin D. The list
includes diabetes, high blood pressure, stroke, heart disease,
depression, multiple sclerosis, gum disease, seasonal influenza and
tuberculosis.
Lack of exposure to the sun almost guarantees vitamin D
deficiency. Researchers have mapped the U.S. and found that the farther
north a person lives, the more likely she is to have vitamin D
deficiency. If access to the sun is not an option, supplementing
vitamin D with cod liver oil, or capsules of D3 will help. It is now
suggested that women receive a minimum of 2,000 units of vitamin D per
day. Many cutting edge practioners advocate 10,000 units per day, the
amount obtained from a day wearing a bathing suit in the summer sun.
Omega 3 fatty acids affect the biological process of vitamin
D. They are responsible for producing cholesterol and at the same time
for removing its excess, as well as for most other bodily functions.
In order to manufacture vitamin D, the body needs cholesterol. If the
diet does not contain enough essential fatty acids, the body can't
produce its own vitamin D. In addition to containing usable vitamin D,
cod liver oil also provides omega 3 fatty acids.
Hair loss may also be the result of deficiencies of the
amino acid lysine, copper, and zinc. However, if your diet is comprised
of a wide selection of whole foods including daily servings of fresh
vegetables and fruits, this may not be the cause of your hair loss,
especially if you are getting enough protein. Hair stands are composed
of protein, but if the diet is short on it, the wisdom of the body will
divert its use from making hair to sustaining more necessary bodily
functions. Taking a whole food supplement such as bee pollen, spirulina
or chlorella will help with getting and assimilating needed amounts of
the full spectrum of nutrients.
Thinning hair may reflect hormonal imbalance
A woman's hormones can begin to decline and lose balance as
early as the 30's. One of the most shocking examples of this imbalance
is hair growth appearing on the upper lip or chin, or a coarsening of
hair on the rest of the body while the hair on the head thins. This is
most likely the result of excessive dihydrotestosterone (DHT)
conversion. Although estrogen is the primary hormone of women, they also
produce testosterone and other androgens such as DHEA. As the body
ages women may begin to convert these androgens to DHT just as men do.
Women with a history of polycystic ovarian syndrome tend to have higher
levels of testosterone and DHT than other women, and may be more
susceptible to this excessive conversion.
To find out if hormonal imbalance is causing hair loss,
full range hormone testing can be done. Physicians who administer
bio-identical hormones can provide this testing, as well as physicians
who specialize in anti-aging medicine. If this is not an option, there
are reliable laboratories available online that receive specimens of
saliva by mail and provide complete hormone testing results.
Supplements of saw palmetto prevent the excessive conversion
of androgens to DHT. It is an herb that comes from the flowers of a
beautiful palm tree known as saw palmetto or sabal palm. A dosage of
one 160 mg. capsule daily should effectively block this conversion and
get the hair back on head and off the face. Saw palmetto has been
demonstrated to be safe for prolonged use. If hormone testing is not an
option, another way to find out if excessive DHT conversion is causing
hair loss is to take a saw palmetto supplement for a period of three
months. If hair loss stops where you don't want it and starts where you
do want it, your question will be answered.
Excessive levels of hormonal conversion to DHT are highly
associated with prostate abnormalities in men and may be a cause of
prostate cancer. Saw palmetto has been documented to increase prostate
health. The health effects of this conversion in women are not yet
fully documented, yet common sense suggests that reducing excessive
levels of DHT in women may be helpful in assuring breast and ovarian
health.
Declining levels of thyroid hormone can also spark hair
loss. It's estimated that forty percent of American women are suffering
from significant hair loss related to low thyroid hormones, with
redheads particularly at risk. The hormones produced by the thyroid are
responsible for metabolism, the sum of all the physical and chemical
processes. The thyroid hormones control the efficiency and speed at
which cells work. Every cell in the body including the hair depends on
proper thyroid function for development. If thyroid production is
insufficient, hair growth will slow and hair will eventually thin.
Other symptoms of declining thyroid function are dry skin,
sensitivity to hot and cold, unexplained weight gain, missing outer
third of eyebrows, constipation, brittle nails, high or low blood
pressure, susceptibility to infections, muscle weakness, osteoporosis,
joint or muscle pain, cystic breasts or ovaries, chronic sinusitis,
slow heart rate, TMJ syndrome, dental problems, headache, and increased
cholesterol levels. This list reveals how critical proper thyroid
function is to well being.
The good new is that low thyroid can easily be corrected by
supplementing the body with bio-identical thyroid hormones. Armour
thyroid is the natural form of thyroid hormone. For more information
about the thyroid and hair see http://www.naturalnews.com/024388.html
Too much stress can cause hair to thin
Hair loss may be the first indication that your stress
level is taking a toll on your body. Stress is nothing less than
epidemic today, and this high level can actually cause hair loss along
with many more serious health problems. Excessive physical or emotional
stress associated with illness, injury, and trauma may cause the hair
to stop growing and enter a period of dormancy which is followed two or
three months later by the hair falling out. When physical or emotional
equilibrium is regained, hair will again begin to grow, usually about 6
to 9 months later.
A more serious situation develops when stress is constant
and almost unrelenting as it is for many people in this society. Hair
thinning will continue unless effective means of dealing with the
stress are put in place and calmness can be restored. Prolonged hair
loss caused by chronic stress is a warning that other bodily systems are
in jeopardy.
Cortisol is the stress hormone that gives the body its
fight or flight response to stressful situations. It is an important
hormone secreted by the adrenal glands and involved in maintaining
proper glucose metabolism, regulation of blood pressure, insulin
release for blood sugar maintenance, immune function, and inflammatory
response. When stress is constant and prolonged, cortisol levels stay
elevated and the body enters a state of chronic stress.
Higher and prolonged levels of corisol in the bloodstream
have been shown to have negative effects, such as impaired cognitive
performance, suppressed thyroid function, blood sugar imbalances,
decreased bone density, decreased muscle tissue, higher blood pressure,
lowered immunity, heightened inflammatory response, and increased
abdominal fat. If no steps are taken to reduce the stress level, heart
attack or stroke may follow.
To keep corisol levels healthy, the body's relaxation
response should be activated. Learn to relax the body with various
stress management techniques and make changes in your lifestyle to
minimize the stress. Eat a diet of whole food that emphasizes
vegetables and fruits. Take supplements like bee pollen, spirulina and
chlorella to make sure nutrition is complete. Add alfalfa to keep your
body fully mineralized, as stress raises the need for minerals. The B
complex vitamins as well as vitamin C are needed to support the adrenal
gland while dealing with chronic stress.
Hair products containing toxic chemicals promote hair loss
Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) is the dominant ingredient in
almost all shampoos sold in traditional outlets such as supermarkets,
drugstores and discount centers. In addition to having toxic effects on
your immune system, SLS has been shown to corrode hair follicles and
impede hair growth. It has been blamed for many cases of hair loss. The
Material Safety Data Sheet provided by the U.S. government says
exposure to SLS can lead to burning, coughing, wheezing, laryngitis,
shortness of breath, headache, nausea and vomiting. The American
College of Toxicology says SLS stays in the body for up to five days
and maintains residual levels in the heart, liver, brain, and lungs.
Over-treated hair is another cause of hair loss in women.
Hair dyes, permanents, and relaxers do serious damage to the hair and
scalp whether they contain lye or not. They are made with toxic
chemicals that must be detoxified by the liver, and are identified by
the immune system as foreign invaders. Thus health of the liver and the
immune system are compromised by use of these products. When the liver
is busy trying to detoxify an onslaught of foreign chemicals, estrogen
metabolism may not be properly completed and breast cancer may be
promoted. An immune system busy fighting off an invasion of foreign
chemicals may not be able to prevent infection or identify and destroy
abberant cells. Damage from dyes and relaxers can only heal when those
potions are no longer used on the hair.
