Poor nutrition can earn you a bald head

An adult has about 100,000 hairs on his head. Most hair loss problems are hereditary and permanent. However, you could lose hair due to other factors like hypothyroidism (or taking very high doses of vitamin A), malnutrition, scalp infections or severe stress. We all have probably seen many cancer patients lose all their hair at some point due to radiation therapies.

Sometimes your hair can thin due to too much combing and brushing. Washing your hair too much can cause problems too, because you deplete it of its natural oil. Metal toxicity can be another reason for hair loss too, so a good detox programme would be a good idea.

No matter how much you try to cover a balding scalp with the rest of your hair, it sadly continues to show. Most people end up wearing a wig permanently whenever they go out. This, of course, makes the problem worse because your scalp needs to air. Hair loss can cause depression, especially in young people, so it is worth knowing how you can improve your hair health.

How to treat it

Some people who eat healthy still lose hair, if they have a problem with their bowel movement. They could be having a problem with absorption of the nutrients that go to the hair roots. It is a good idea to start to clean up your colon first, if you are experiencing hair loss. Wash your hair with a good shampoo that can help you get rid of dandruff, if you have any.

If you have a rosemary bush outside your house, you can boil a half a cup in a litre of water and then use it in your final rinse, massaging as you pour it over your head. This can stimulate the roots of your hair to start growing again, depending on what the problem is. If your hair is experiencing stunted growth you could try that and see if it works for you. 

Other good herbs for stimulating hair are lavender, bay leaves, Oregano and Sage.  Warm Jojoba, castor or sesame oil can then be applied and massaged into the hair and left overnight to absorb. Eat a healthy diet that includes good protein, B complex vitamins and zinc. Avoid hydrogenated oils and animal fats. Avocado is good for you and is loaded with vitamin E.

You can mash it up and use it to treat your hair, and then give it time to absorb before you rinse it thoroughly. Vegetable oil is good for you taken in moderation, as long as it is not hydrogenated. Acidophilus is necessary for your bowel health too, so take some yogurt moderately to help you achieve this.

Eat foods or spices that give you better circulation like pepper, ginger and garlic. This will help your blood flow better especially if you drink enough water. This in turn will bring the nutrients to your needy scalp.

Scalps love massage, so go ahead and treat yourself to a good head massage every so often. This will help open up your clogged up hair follicles, and also help you with releasing stress. Stress is a dangerous affair not only on your hair but the whole body.

Finally, a word of caution for those of you with a severe hair loss problem: please do not hesitate to see your doctor. S/he can identify an underlying cause of your hair loss that may need immediate attention.