What Effect Does a High-Fat Diet Have on Your Hair?

what effect does a high-fat diet have on your hair?We know obesity and poor dieting can predispose people to high blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart issues, and many other things. Information in a recent study from the Tokyo Medical and Dental University has found it may also lead to hair thinning and loss.

Does a High-Fat Diet Cause Hair Loss?

Hair follicles exist in a cycle of growth and renewal. On a normal scalp, hair follicle stem cells (HFSC) renew at every cycle of growth. This is what lets hair keep continuously growing.

As we age, this naturally leads to fewer HFSCs and hair thinning. According to the study, a high-fat diet accelerates the thinning process by depleting HFSCs.

Can the Keto Diet Cause Hair Loss?

The restrictive nature of the Keto diet can cause hair loss if you’re not careful. To maintain ketosis (a state in which the body burns fat for energy) requires a specific protein and caloric intake. If you’re not careful, this can lead to eating too few calories and cause a shock to the body that shuts down less important bodily functions like hair growth.

Along with the cut to protein, the quick weight loss that is often reported with the Keto diet can put stress on the body and contribute to telogen effluvium. Most of the hair follicles on a healthy human scalp are actively growing hair with only 10% or so in a resting state called telogen. Telogen effluvium is what happens when – because of stress or some other shock – more hair follicles switch from the active phase to the resting, telogen phase.

Consider taking a multivitamin to help with getting the nutrients you may be otherwise missing on the Keto diet.

Do Fatty Foods Cause Hair Loss?

Yes, fatty food can contribute to hair loss. In fact, it only took the researchers of the study four days to start noticing changes in the skin and hair of the mice that were fed a high-fat diet.

Is a High-Fat Diet Good for Hair?

While the body does need a certain amount of fat in food for a healthy metabolism… extremes can be a problem. An excess of fats or too few calories can both lead to hair thinning.

Does Hair Contain Fat?

According to a different study from 2018, fatty acids make up 85% of the total hair lipid content – and they play a crucial role in keeping hair “healthy, influencing shine, feel, manageability, and strength.” On the molecular level, this layer of lipids makes hair repel water.

Which Fatty Acids Are Good for Hair?

Essential fatty acids are fatty acids our bodies need but do not produce on their own. Not having these can be a health risk beyond hair loss. Food rich in essential fatty acids include fish like salmon and herring, flaxseed oil, various nuts, and avocados.

Does Fat Help with Hair Loss?

Unhealthy fats from red meat and fried food are already known to be associated with some cancers and heart disease. Now it appears it could also be a cause of hair loss as well.

Talk to the Hair Loss Experts at Robotic Hair Restoration Long Island

We offer both surgical and non-surgical remedies and procedures to restore your hair, including the use of our state of the art ARTAS® Robotic Hair Transplant System. This hair transplant procedure is minimally invasive and will get you back to your day-to-day life quickly. Contact us today to learn more and schedule a consultation.

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