Top Three Reasons for Premature Baldness
More men in their early 20's are experiencing thinning hair or premature baldness. It is more to do with the way we live our lives than with our genes. The top three reasons are: Stress, Vices, and Poor Nutrition.
Stress
Stress drives our bodies to produce more androgens (male hormones), thereby upping the secretion of the hairloss-causing chemical DHT.
Vices
Smoking: The carbon monoxide inhaled prevents the blood from transporting oxygen and key nutrients to hair follicles. Nicotine narrows the blood vessels, further stalling fresh hair growth.
Drinking: Alcohol is known to suck the body of its iron supply, impeding absorption of zinc. Booze also causes dehydration, stopping the body from absorbing vital nutrients. Since hair is almost one-fourth water, excessive alcohol will invariably leave hair brittle.
Poor Nutrition
The relationship between food and hair is simple. Hair is made up of a protein called keratin. So, it's essential that you include sufficient protein in your diet. Green tea is effective because it blocks out Dihydrotestosterone (DHT), the hormone that causes hair loss.
A hair follicle needs energy to grow. These nutrients help:
- Coenzyme Q10, found in whole grains, fish and meats, boosts the scalp's ability to produce energy, especially in a cell's mitochondria or energy factory. Stress causes oxidation, harming Coenzyme Q10 among other anti-oxidants, thereby accelerating hair fall.
- Vitamin B3, B5, B9 and E (found in orange, spinach, chicken, fish, broccoli and soya beans)
- Zinc (wheat, dairy, oats and egg yolk)
- Magnesium (milk, tuna, banana, cashews)
- Iron (fish, leafy greens, fortified cereals, and beans)
Focusing on improving these areas, although won't guarantee no hair loss, will certainly go far towards giving you a chance to retain and improve the quality of your hair.