Eating Disorders : Hair Loss
“The only way to keep your health is to eat what you don’t want, drink what you don’t like, and do what you’d rather not.” ~Mark TwainDear Readers,
Bulimia Nervosa: Excessive Hair Loss
By: Susan Kelly
The human body suffers from many harmful diseases which have their own complications and after effects. Today, most of the complicated diseases are identified, diagnosed, and treated with the help of these complications. These complications are actually the symptoms of these diseases and everyone can know and find out the disease if one is careful about these complications and symptoms. Bulimia is a major heath related disease which is registering a faster presence everywhere these days. The treatment of the disease is possible by identifying the visible symptoms among the suffering people.
Bulimia is a unique psychological disorder which is caused by bad or harmful eating habits. Both boys and girls, in their adolescence, can suffer from this disease. As a matter of fact, the initial signs and complications appear in the late adolescent period and continue till the early adulthood. The body suffers from many visible symptoms among which excessive hair loss is one of the most significant one. Most of the patients suffering from Bulimia show a faster tendency of hair loss and in a very short period of time, they can even face complete baldness.
Reasons Of Hair Loss Due To Bulimia:
As Bulimia is a massive body ailment related with the diet and food habits of the people, it often leads to many situations where a body might face different deficiency diseases which are the most important caused of hair loss. Some of these problems are as follows:
Deficiency Of Vitamins:
Bulimia is one disease which draws out major vitamins from the body, which is responsible for keeping one healthy. As the patients of Bulimia suffer from vomiting tendency, so it takes out the essential quantity of salts and sugar in the body. Due to this, the body loses a large quantity of vitamins and other ingredients which are necessary for hair growth. As a result of this deficiency, people start losing their hair profusely. It has a double impact upon the bodily health as well. Apart from losing excessive amount of hair, people also suffer from stunted hair growth.
Dehydration:
As a person suffers from excessive amount of water loss in the form of vomits, dehydration is almost inevitable for bulimics. This can lead to a serious amount of dehydration. This lack of water due to dehydration makes the body, especially the skin, quite dry which actually makes the scalp lose its grasp over the hair and they start falling very fast.
Stress is an essential outcome of Bulimia which is extremely harmful for the entire body. This stress is a psychological ailment. Due to higher amount of stress, the scalp loses its grasp over the hair and they start falling out quite fast. This situation is not only bad for the hair but for the entire body also. The treatment of stress and anxiety must be made available to the person who is suffering from bulimia. Reducing stress can show remarkable amount of development as far as hair loss is concerned.
Acidity:
It is an admitted fact that Bulimia is a health disease or disorder which affects the human body quite adversely. As a person suffers from indigestion so he is likely to get affected by acidity as well. This situation is worsened by the vomits and vomiting tendencies. This finally leads to hair loss at an alarming rate. Treatment of high acidity must be provided at the initial stages otherwise the patients take more time to recover from acidity.
Poor Blood Circulation:
As a patient of bulimia often shows complications of heart related diseases so the occurrence of problems of blood pressure are quite normal. As blood circulation is directly related with blood pressure so any problem in blood pressure can make the patients suffer from poor blood circulation. This is just a symptom of Bulimia which can develop into more complicated diseases in the long run. Due to this, the constituent of blood also gets imbalanced. Hence, the skin loses its grasp over the hair and hair loss starts in its due course of time.
Most of these hair loss situations due to Bulimia are controllable only if proper amount of care is taken to overcome the disease. Though it takes a little time to recover, it is still controllable and curable.
Source: Overcome Bulimia
Eating Disorders And Reversing the Damage
For the hair to grow strong, thick and shiny, it has to contain ample amount of vitamins and minerals. When a person lacks the essential nutrients because of poor diet and eating habits, the hair becomes brittle, thin, and no luster and shine can be seen. In severe conditions, it can even lead to baldness. It’s all about balance when it comes to optimal nutrition for maintaining healthy hair. “Hair is a fast-growing tissue and it’s likely to make demands on your body,” According to Brian Thompson, principal trichologist and director of product development at Philip Kingsley Trichological Centre in New York and London. “You need a mixture of protein, complex carbohydrates, and vitamins and minerals. But if you consume too much of any one thing, particularly certain vitamins and minerals, you can create problems with hair growth.”
Foods for Healthy Shiny Hair
Lean Meat: Too little iron can cause baldness. Try lean meat. Other iron-rich options include Turkey, Egg yolks, Whole grains, Dried Fruit and Dried Beans.
Eggs: Eggs are packed with Biotin; they contain a B vitamin that promotes hair growth and overall scalp health. A deficiency can cause brittle hair. Other high-biotin foods include peanuts, almonds, wheat bran, salmon, low-fat cheese and avocados.
Silica foods, such as Bananas, Oats and Raisins. Silica is a mineral that improve hair thickness.
Dark Green Veggies: Such as spinach, broccoli and Swiss chard. They’re packed with vitamins A and C, which help produce sebum, scalp oil that works as a natural hair conditioner.
Oysters: Opt for these to get plenty of zinc, a mineral that helps regulate the production of androgens. These are hormones that, in low levels, are associated with hair loss. The content of Omega-3 in it can increase hair sheen, and vitamin B12 is also shown to reduce hair loss.
Sweet Potatoes: These are packed with beta-carotene, which your body converts to vitamin A, a nourishing agent for your hair and skin. Vitamin A protects against dull hair and dry skin, a leading cause of dandruff.
Fruits and Veggies: They’re full of vitamin C, which helps your body absorb iron. Getting too little C makes hair dry and weak. The best sources? Broccoli, leafy greens, green peppers, citrus fruit and strawberries.
Omega-3 Fatty Acids: They support scalp health; a deficiency can lead to dry scalp and dull hair. Good sources include salmon, sardines, herring, mackerel, flaxseeds and walnuts.
Fats: No one wants dry, lackluster hair. But if your diet is too low in fat, that’s what could happen. Healthy oils like olive, peanut, safflower and sunflower can restore the shine. About a teaspoon a day will do the trick.
Power of Walnut
Did you know?
Having a walnut every day keeps you sharp, fit and in good shape. Walnuts are a key ‘hair food’, as they are an excellent source of biotin, an essential nutrient known to strengthen hair, improve hair growth and reduce hair fall. Walnuts are also a rich source of copper, which helps erase wrinkles and keeps your skin youthful.
Give Your Hair TLC- Salon Money Saving Tips
DIY Hair Massage
Massage your scalp at least twice a week with a few drops of wheatgerm oil, Argon oil, Almond oil, Mustard oil or any hair oil you fancy. A scalp massage releases tension in your forehead and scalp to aid blood and nutrient flow to the follicles. Using your fingertips, massage in small circular motions near your temples, then move your fingers out over the rest of your scalp.
Brush before shampooing. A few gentle strokes on dry hair will help remove product build up and scalp flakes, as well as stimulate the scalp and promote blood flow (which delivers nutrients like oxygen) to hair follicles.
Add Volume With Food. Dry, brittle hair?
Your kitchen is like a one-stop-shop when it comes to hair care. Apply mayonnaise liberally to hair until completely coated. Cover with plastic wrap and a warm towel and let set for at least 20 minutes, then rinse and shampoo as usual. The longer you leave it on, the more conditioned your hair will be. The oils in the mayonnaise will leave hair silky and shiny, setting the stage for natural volume.
Want Shiny Hair?
Mix honey with warm water and apply it after shampooing to create more shine.
Egg yolks mixed in warm water can do the same.
Or try mixing a mashed avocado with coconut oil and leaving on the hair for 10-15 minutes.
Be Creative!!
You can also create your own conditioner by mixing olive oil, sandalwood, rosemary, and aloe vera gel. Leave on the hair for up to an hour, then wash off.
Or simply apply jojoba oil to the hair and let sit before shampooing.
Gorgeous Hair Smoothie
Jam Packed with Vitamin A and C, Iron, Protein, Vitamin E, Omega 3, Calcium and Biotin to keep your hair in top condition, prevent hair loss, brittle hair, and to give you much needed shiny zing in your hair.
Ingredients
- 1 avocado
- 2-3 handfuls of baby spinach
- 1 banana
- 1 tablespoon of orange juice concentrate
- 2-3 tablespoons of yoghurt
- ¼ cup almond milk
Put everything in a blender, taste and adjust to your preferred sweetness. Enjoy!
3 Comments
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