The Basics Of Vitamins For Hair Loss

Introduction

A wide variety of factors can cause hair loss.  The treatment for this are still mostly regarded as an art form; however, the list of treatment options are steadily increasing and vitamins to stop hair loss are becoming more popular and acceptable.  Vitamins and minerals can be used to control the hair loss and even reverse the effects of male pattern baldness and thinning of the hair in women also.

Using these Vitamins Recommended for Hair Loss - A,C,E

The primary type of supplements that are used for hair loss are that mainly of   antioxidants.  The use of Vitamin A as and antioxidant can help produce healthy sebum in the scalp, while Vitamin C can also be used, which will help maintain the general health of the hair and the skin.  Vitamin C is found in common foods such as oranges, apples, grapes, strawberries, banannas, pineapples, tomatoes, green peppers, potatoes and dark green vegetables.  These will help in all the aspects of hair loss and should be an inclusion in your day to day diet.

Food sources of Vitamin A include liver, fish oil, eggs, milk fortified with vitamin A, red, yellow and orange fruits and vegetables, and many dark-green, leafy vegetables. Be careful if you take vitamin A supplements, as vitamin A is fat-soluble and allows the body to store it and making it easy for the body to overdose on vitamin A. Vitamin A overdoses can cause severely dry skin and inflamed hair follicles, and in some cases can even cause hair loss. Consult with a specialist first if you choose to take supplements of this vitamin.

Vitamin E is also a great antioxidant for the scalp, it helps with the circulation and can also help to reduce blood clotting. One minor problem with this type of vitamin is that if the recommended daily allowance is exceeded on a regular basis it can cause a raise in blood pressure.  If you are already taking a medication that can cause an increase in blood pressure, you should consult with your doctor before you start to take this type of vitamin.  There is an alternative to Vitamin E, which is known as Niacin (Vitamin B3).  This type of vitamin also improves the circulation around the scalp, but also has some possible minor side effects.  The most common side effect is called "niacin flush," which is a burning, tingling sensation in the face and chest, and red or "flushed" skin. Taking an aspirin 30 minutes prior to the niacin may help reduce this symptom.  I would still recommend consulting your doctor before taking any form of vitamin for hair loss.

Not all vitamins are called vitamins though. What? I hear you ask.  Yes that's right, there is biotin for one example, which aids in producing keratin, which will also help prevent graying and hair loss.  Pantothenic Acid (Vitamin B5) also may prevent graying of the hair.

B Vitamins For Hair Loss

B-vitamins work together and therefore all levels of B vitamins needed to prevent hair loss have to be sufficient in order to maintain a good health condition. Vitamins B-6, folic acid, biotin, and vitamin B-12 are all key components in maintaining healthy hemoglobin levels in the blood, whose primary function is to carry oxygen from the lungs to the tissues of the body, so if these vitamins were deficient in one’s body, then hair and skin would suffer. Fortunately some of the tastiest foods contain these hair loss vitamins. Vitamin B-6 is found in protein rich foods, which is excellent because the body needs a sufficient amount of protein to maintain hair growth as well.

Liver, chicken, fish, pork, kidney, and soybeans are good sources of B-6 and are relatively low in fat when they are not fried. Folic acid is found in whole grains, cereals, nuts, green leafy vegetables, orange juice, brewer’s yeast, wheat germ, and liver again. Meat, fish, poultry, eggs, and other dairy products provide healthy amounts of B-12. Biotin deficiencies are rare unless there is a severe case of malnutrition or a serious intestinal disorder, since a healthy gut produces biotin through good bacteria found there.

Copper

Copper is an important mineral that is also required in the production of hemoglobin. Hemoglobin as mentioned earlier is essential to the process of carrying oxygen to tissues such as the hair. However it does not breathe as other components of our body do, because the oxygen must get to the shaft of the hair. Good sources of copper are liver again, seafood, nuts, and seeds.

Iron

Iron is another key mineral crucial in producing hemoglobin. Iron is found in two forms, heme and non-heme; heme iron is much easier to absorb into the system and this is where the problems occur. Although most people know that red meat is a good source of iron, however red meat is non-heme iron and is difficult for the body to assimilate, as in the case of many other iron supplements. Rich heme iron sources are green leafy vegetables, kidney beans, and bran. Furthermore, one can increase the assimilation of non-heme iron into the body by consuming non-heme food sources and vitamin C sources in the same meal.

Zinc

Zinc is another vital element to a healthy hair. It has an important role in the cell production, support of the oil-secreting glands of the scalp and tissue growth and repair. It also plays a large role in protein synthesis and collagen formation. Therefore, zinc is important for both hair maintenance and dandruff prevention. Most foods of animal origin, especially seafood, contain good amounts of zinc. Oysters are particularly rich in zinc; it can also be found in eggs and milk, yet in smaller amounts. Zinc from nuts, vegetables and natural grains is of a different type than those found in animal sources and is not easily used by the body, even if oats are a rich source of zinc that is readily used by the body.

Shen Min Advanced Essential For Vitamins and Hair Loss

If you are suffering from minor alopecia or are using chemical popular products such as propecia or rogaine, then you may want to try this hair loss supplement, it includes silica, biotin, zinc, follic acid and the herbs Saw Palmetto and He Shou Wu all in one tablet. These are ingredients that are proven to promote hair growth and sustain healthy thick and fuller hair. Shen Min Advanced is available for men and women and is reasonably priced at $28/£14. If you want to purchase individual viatmins that is upto you, but the cost is going to be above the price you will pay for this product, and the mens includes the herb Saw Palmetto which is a main ingredient in many of the more popular hair loss treatments available. Shen Min Advanced Hair Nutrient for Men Includes the Saw Palmetto which is known to treat symptoms of male pattern hair loss and Shen Min Advanced Hair Nutrient for Women includes horse chestnut extract which is essential for treating the thinning of the hair as it provides thickness and fullness which is something the hair needs to regaine its volume. It also includes essential vitamins for hair loss in women.

Treating Hair Loss with Natural Products

There are also natural remedies which can be used aswell as the vitamins for hair loss.  For example, Ginkgo biloba is, which is a very popular herbal remedy that some believe delivers nutrients to the hair follicles and therefore increases the chances of re-growth of the hair.  Shou Wu is another form of natural remedy, which is mainly found in all the main commercial products for hair loss.  It is an ancient chinese herb that has been used for hair loss and baldness for centuries.  You can take this form of herb in tea or in a capsule form.

Two other remedies that are quite popular are, Saw Palmetto, which has the ability protect the prostrate and can slow the process of hair loss down as well as re-grow it.  The other is known as the stinging nettle, yes that horrible leaf that caused so much pain when you were younger can help you later on in life.  It is a well known fact that DHT attacks the hair follicles and causes hair loss in both men and women, but it is not well know that the stinging nettle can block the conversion of testosterone into DHT. This natural remedy can be taken in both pill and capsule form.  In conclusion, using both natural remedies and vitamins together can provide a strong treatment to prevent hair loss, as remedies and vitamins for hair loss are becoming much more of an alternative form of medicine, and are becoming much more documented and as a result, they are regarded safe. So there are far more options open than just vitamins for hair loss.

Vitamins are good for hair loss, but how does hair loss occur? Read Causes Of Hair Loss to find out more. There are many causes of hair loss and they can be different in women, men and children. It is important to know what is causing hair loss as medication can be at the cause and not an illness. You must read hair loss causes to be fully aware of how your hair loss started.