Photo: Anna Shvets

What foods fight alopecia?

Bright colored fruits and vegetables contain antioxidants that help reduce inflammation. These include apples, strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, pineapple, cherries, broccoli, cauliflower, spinach and green cabbage. And with these, symptoms of alopecia areata might also improve. This contains many antioxidants.

drbatras.com - Diet to follow if you've Alopecia Areata | Dr Batra's™

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You might have heard the old adage, ‘You are what you eat’. Your diet plays a very important role in ensuring good health. Have you been diagnosed with alopecia areata? Well, you should know that anti-inflammatory foods might help to decrease symptoms of alopecia areata. Let’s understand this better.

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Alopecia areata – An overview

Alopecia areata is an autoimmune disease that’s related to unexplainable hair loss. It affects about 2% of the population all over the world. (Source: NCBI) Hair loss in this condition happens to different people in different ways. Alopecia areata can happen to anyone at any age. But it’s more common among persons under 30 years of age. (Source: Medical News Today) One major risk factor of developing alopecia areata is genetics. A person is at higher risk of developing alopecia areata if any family member has experienced this condition. In alopecia areata, the white blood cells attack the hair follicles. And it causes slow production of hair. Also, the hair becomes shorter and this causes the hair to fall.

Diet for alopecia areata

The main goal of this diet is to reduce inflammation. When there is reduced inflammation, then the chances that hair loss would reduce also increases. So, let’s take a look at anti-inflammatory foods and foods that can worsen inflammation.

Foods to eat

Fruits and vegetables

Onions

This contains many antioxidants. The good thing is you can eat onions raw, add them to your soup or make a juice out of them. They help to lessen inflammation. And that’s the reason why it’s a great choice for alopecia areata.

Protein

Your hair is actually a protein. And for it to grow, sufficient protein and nutrients are required. But it’s important to not consume too much. Foods rich in protein comprise of egg, beans and chicken.

Foods to avoid

Dairy products

The protein found in milk is a source of irritation to the immune system. And this worsens the symptoms of alopecia areata.

Polyunsaturated fats

Polyunsaturated fats comprise of corn oil and sunflower oil. These are not good fats. And consuming them worsen the symptoms of alopecia areata. This is the reason why it’s advised to avoid fried foods. You can have boiled or steamed foods.

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Does turmeric help with alopecia?

Turmeric just like finasteride has been shown to inhibit 5-AR which allows the damaged hair follicles to heal and stop hair loss. Also, studies have shown that curcumin in turmeric can inhibit the effects of DHT- which causes hair loss and thus restore hair growth of those with androgenic alopecia.

nowiamnappy.com - Turmeric- The Most Powerful Herb for Healing and Reversing Hair Loss

0.5 milligram manganese (26 percent DV)

2.8 milligrams iron (16 percent DV)

0.1 milligram vitamin B6 (6 percent DV)

170 milligrams potassium (5 percent DV)

1.7 milligrams vitamin C (3 percent DV)

13 milligrams magnesium (3 percent DV)

The active compound in turmeric is curcumin which possesses powerful anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and antibacterial effects. Let’s investigate how these properties in curcumin affect our hair.

Curcumin Research

Laboratory research suggests that curcumin may help to combat hair loss in several ways. In studies where turmeric was consumed regularly, patients noticed a boost in their body’s immune system to fight autoimmune illnesses, arthritis, cancer, etc., this may indirectly stimulate hair growth in those who have hair loss associated with autoimmune conditions such as alopecia areata. Other studies indicated that turmeric has properties like synthetic hair loss drug finasteride. Finasteride works as a 5-alpha-reductase (5-AR) inhibits which reduces the body’s ability to convert testosterone into dihydrotestosterone (DHT). This is important because many patients with androgenic alopecia are shown to have high levels of 5-alpha-reductase. Turmeric just like finasteride has been shown to inhibit 5-AR which allows the damaged hair follicles to heal and stop hair loss. Also, studies have shown that curcumin in turmeric can inhibit the effects of DHT- which causes hair loss and thus restore hair growth of those with androgenic alopecia. In other studies, the antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties in curcumin have shown positive effects in reducing hair loss and encouraging growth by healing the scalp from seborrheic dermatitis and dandruff. In other studies, the antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties in curcumin have shown positive effects in reducing hair loss and encouraging growth by healing the scalp from seborrheic dermatitis and dandruff.

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