Can Hair Loss from Malnutrition Be Reversed?

It is important to note that a balanced diet, exercise and a good hair care routine are crucial to maintaining healthy hair. If you are experiencing hair loss, its reason must be identified and treatment should be decided accordingly. For the correct diagnosis and treatment for your hair condition, you should consult a dermatologist. Is hair loss from malnutrition reversible? Yes. How should hair fall caused by nutritional deficiencies be reversed? Once you know which nutritional deficiency is the reason behind your hair loss, increasing the intake of the deficient nutrient helps restore hair growth.

Can malnutrition cause hair loss, if you ask, the answer is a resounding yes? The deficiencies of vitamins B12, riboflavin, biotin and folate can cause hair loss. The deficiencies of minerals like iron, zinc and selenium lead to hair loss.

Inadequate protein intake is another reason behind hair thinning and hair loss. Vitamin E deficiency can cause hair fall. Since vitamin C helps the body generate collagen, which plays a role in hair growth, a deficiency of vitamin C can lead to hair loss. Omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids help in hair growth and reduce inflammation, so an inadequate intake of these can cause hair fall.

• Increase the intake of B-complex vitamins through foods or nutritional supplements. Consume foods rich in vitamin B, like avocado, broccoli, asparagus, leafy greens, almonds, rice, poultry and fish.

• Since vitamin C aids hair health by maintaining the collagen levels in your body, increasing the intake of this nutrient promotes hair growth. Include foods like lemons, citrus fruits, strawberries, guavas, and tomatoes in your diet.

• If vitamin E deficiency is the reason behind your hair loss, up the intake of this vitamin, and you will see a positive difference in the thickness and volume of your hair. Consuming almonds, green leafy vegetables, olives, bell peppers and avocados, and using sunflower oil or wheat germ oil in cooking, help increase the intake of vitamin E.

• Vitamin D deficiency is one of the most common causes of hair loss due to malnutrition. Getting adequate amounts of vitamin D through foods like egg yolk, salmon, cheese and milk can be helpful in keeping your hair healthy.

• Since iron deficiency is linked with hair loss, up the intake of this mineral through foods like spinach and other leafy greens, tofu, lentils, beans, beef, ham and chicken.

• Legumes, pumpkin seeds, chickpeas, dark chocolate, yoghurt, eggs and oysters, are some zinc-rich foods. Including some of these in your diet can help restore zinc levels in the body and give you healthy hair.

• To consume good amounts of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, which play an important role in promoting hair health, include foods like flaxseeds, fatty fish, walnuts, soybeans and eggs in your diet.

• Eggs, chicken, brown rice, beef, tuna, lentils, beans, oatmeal and yoghurt are good sources of selenium, because of which including them in your diet can help reverse hair loss from malnutrition.

• As keratin, a fibrous structural protein is a vital component of the hair, getting adequate amounts of protein in the diet is of prime importance for keeping the hair strong and healthy. So, include protein-rich foods like cottage cheese, eggs, tofu, chickpeas, yoghurt, lentils and quinoa, in your diet to promote hair growth.

• A balanced diet that includes all the essential nutrients in adequate proportions is of utmost importance in keeping the hair healthy as well as maintaining overall health.