According to the American Academy of Dermatology, the natural hair growth cycle means that you shed 50 to 100 hairs per day. if you’re shedding much more hair than that every day, it could be the result of outside stress, including a dramatic change in your diet can also cause hair loss. A low-carbohydrate diet may temporarily increase the rate at which your hair falls out as your hormone levels adjust and your metabolism shifts to burning more fat. If you are not only losing hair but also experiencing severe baldness, consulting a doctor is the best option.
Hair growth cycle
There are four different stages in the life of a hair. The initial stage of hair growth is when hair growth is most active and this time usually lasts from 2 to 7 years. After this period, the hair follicles will begin to shrink and stop growing, a process that takes 10 days. Next is the resting period, during which the hair rests for about three months; it will attach to your head, but new hair growth will begin underneath it. The last stage is the shedding stage, in which the hair eventually falls out of your body. According to the American Hair Loss Association, at any given time, about 10 to 20 percent of hair is in the resting stage, while the rest is in the growing stage.
Effect of a low-carbohydrate diet on the hair cycle
The normal transition of your hair from the growth stage to the resting stage can sometimes be accelerated due to stress. Stressful events, such as certain medications, serious illness, or major dietary changes, can prompt more hair to go to rest faster, so you’ll experience more hair loss than usual.
This is called “resting hair loss” and is due to a low- carbohydrate diet, which is only temporary and usually lasts for 2 to 3 months. During this period, no one else will notice that you are losing hair; only you see the extra shedding in the sink, shower, and brush.
How to prevent hair loss
You are less likely to experience hair loss on a low- carbohydrate diet if you consume enough calories and don’t go into a state of starvation. On average, women need at least 1,200 calories a day and men need at least 1,800 calories a day- even when they’re on a diet. People with high exercise levels may need more calories to supply the energy needed for activity and to prevent muscle loss. Avoid restricting fat and carbohydrate intake.
Your low- carbohydrate meal plan should include a variety of meats, poultry, and fatty fish; olive and coconut oils; nuts and avocados; butter; and fibrous vegetables.
Other reasons for hair loss
Temporary hair loss can also be caused by anemia, recovery from childbirth, and the after-effects of surgery. If your hair stops growing completely, leaving bald patches, please consult your doctor or dermatologist. Sometimes you can stop this shedding with something as simple as changing your hairstyle or hair care products. In other cases, your hair loss may be hereditary or it may be due to an overactive immune system.
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