When someone doesn’t want to or isn’t ready to make big dietary adjustments, they frequently turn to intermittent fasting, or IF, as it is commonly known. For those seeking to reduce weight, IF is more attainable because it only requires a change in regular eating patterns.
Weight loss is not the only reason why people turn to diet change. Beautiful skin, better gut health, and gorgeous hair are common reasons.
In this blog, we will explore whether intermittent fasting has benefits for hair health or whether it could worsen your hair.
Intermittent Fasting’s Affinity With Hair Growth
A nutritious diet is crucial for having healthy hair, and this is common knowledge. Fasting would also have an impact on the health of hair.
Like the rest of your body, your hair follicles require nourishment and energy to grow strong, healthy hair. You must provide them with healthy, balanced food for them to complete the four stages of the hair development cycle: anagen (growth), catagen (transition from growth to resting), telogen (resting), and exogen (shedding).
Significant dietary changes might hamper the hair development cycle. Telogen effluvium is a transient hair loss condition brought on by abrupt calorie intake and nutrition changes.
Does Intermittent Fasting Result In Hair Loss?
To improve hair health, you must know the vital factors of IF fasting. The timing of meals is important in intermittent fasting. It extends the time between meals and allows for any food to be consumed throughout the eating window.
The body responds actively to stress. And because fasting on and off puts strain on the body. Your body will feel stressed out until it adjusts to the calorie reduction.
Additionally, some people who fast report having less of an appetite. Hair loss might occur if you don’t eat enough and don’t choose nutrient-dense calories throughout your eating window.
When you start intermittent fasting, your new meals might temporarily stress your body. This may result in brief hair loss due to nutritional and caloric alterations.
The Best Way To Practice Intermittent Fasting Without Thinning Your Hair
The quality of your diet is more significant than the timing of eating foods for hair growth. You shouldn’t notice significant hair loss if you’re fasting properly and obtaining all the required nutrients. (Remember, it’s typical to shed roughly 50-100 hairs daily, regardless of your diet or lifestyle).
Be sure to continue receiving the nutrients required for healthy hair if you’re experimenting with dietary changes to shed pounds or enhance your health. Numerous nutrients, including protein, biotin, vitamin D, and others, can support hair maintenance.
Eating particular foods may worsen hair loss, so research before creating a diet for healthy hair. Our research shows there isn’t enough proof to say if vitamin supplements stop hair loss. Additionally, it would help to be cautious while taking supplements like vitamin A, as doing so excessively may result in hair loss.
Here is a summary of what you can do to avoid hair loss when practicing intermittent fasting:
- Add a variety of food to your diet that is high in nutrients, such as whole grains, leafy greens, seeds, lean meats, fruits, and nuts
- You can improve hair quality by adding more protein to your diet since your hair is built with protein
- Complex carbohydrates are necessary for supplying the energy required for hair growth
- Supplement your diet with vitamins and minerals
- Avoid using hair dyes and products that include harsh chemicals.
- No restraints on your hairdo. No more tight buns, dreadlocks, braids, or ponytails. Let your hair naturally flow
- Not only may a scalp massage feel pleasant, but it can also increase local blood flow.
In Conclusion
Due to the body’s stress, reduced calorie intake, and insufficient consumption of nutrient-dense meals within your eating window, intermittent fasting may result in temporary hair loss. Unless there are other underlying issues causing hair loss in women, this will often go away on its own within a few months.
Because it stimulates both autophagy and the human growth hormone, both of which have been found to stimulate new hair growth, intermittent fasting may lead to better hair when practiced regularly over time.
Take measures to stop excessive hair loss and practice hair-growing techniques.
