There are many things that can cause hair loss. That includes genetics, a lack of nutrients in your diet, and even bad sleep. It is commonly noted that hair loss is brought on by a bad diet, but could a diet that is high in fat content be causing your hair loss? It is important to know that not all fat is bad for you or your hair. However, there are a few things to keep in mind as you determine if this could be the reason for your hair loss.
What Oils Are a Problem?
There are both healthy and unhealthy fats. Some fats, such as those found in olive oil, nuts, and avocados, are critical to overall health and wellbeing. Good fats like those help to keep your heart healthy, and they help to support your immune system. They can also help improve your hair.
Other fats are not as good. Unhealthy fats, including saturated fats, can cause an increased risk of heart disease. These are fats found in fried foods and red meats. Eating too many of these is not healthy for your body, and research also indicates that these types of fats may be bad for your hair, too.
How a High Fat Diet Could Be Hurting Your Hair
A high fat diet impacts the body in numerous ways. In a study conducted by Tokyo Medical and Dental University and published in Nature, researchers experimented on mice feeding them a high fat diet while others received a standard diet.
In research prior to this, it was noted that people who are overweight are more likely to have thinning hair or hair loss. The scientists in Tokyo then took it one step further by working to determine what was causing this to occur. They expected that people who at a high fat diet, with unhealthy fats, were more likely to be overweight and have hair loss.
How Does It Happen?
Research indicates that fatty foods can deplete the stem cells located in the hair follicles. Stem cells are also called long lived cells, and they are critical to the growth of hair. In the normal hair cycle, these specific stem cells turn on, or activate. When they do, they help to replenish themselves creating new roots for hair. They also help encourage the growth of hair itself.
However, in situations where the hair cycle is not normal, something happens that prevents the stem cells from activating as they should. The research found that those people may have a high fat diet, which contributes to the creation of the abnormal hair growth cycle. This also creates inflammation that occurs in the body. That leads to the development of molecules that cause oxidative stress and block the growth of hair follicles.
So, What Is Happening to You?
What researchers believe may be a bit more complex. However, what we know is that people who eat high fat diets are more likely to have an abnormal hair growth cycle. That may be due to the interaction of that high fat diet and the inflammation it causes on the normal production of new hairs. As a result, your hair may feel thin and over time, may fall out and fail to grow back.
How Can You Fix This?
There is a lot of hope in this situation. When there is hair loss as a result of a high fat diet, it may be possible to reverse this by changing up the diet to be less risky to the body. If this has occurred over a long period of time, it may be significantly harder for that to happen. However, many people may find that it is possible for you to reverse the damage brought on by a high fat diet.
Making the switch to a diet that removes fatty, fried foods and other unhealthy fats from your diet can make a big difference in your hair growth. It may take time, often several months. More so, it may be helpful to also work to reduce other stressors on the body, such as improving nutrient access. If you are unsure if this is a factor in your situation, seek out a doctor to learn more about your diet and health.
More questions about hair loss and how we can help? Contact the team at Unique Hair Concepts for a free, private consultation.
