Can What You Eat Affect Your Hair: The Manual

The Manual features Dr. Green this week in “4 ways your diet is destroying your hair” focusing mainly on what she says about diet and hair health: Dr. Green’s key points include emphasizing that certain micronutrients are vital for healthy hair — especially iron, protein, and vitamins (A, C, D, E, zinc) — because deficiencies in these can weaken hair follicles and lead to hair thinning or loss.

She points out that iron deficiency is particularly important because iron is needed to make hemoglobin, which carries oxygen to hair follicles; without enough oxygen, follicles can struggle and hair can thin. Dr. Green also reminds readers that diet isn’t the only factor affecting hair health — genetics, hormones, and environmental stressors also play major roles, so if you’re seeing breakage or hair loss you should talk to a dermatologist to explore all possible causes.

“A balanced diet rich in essential nutrients such as protein, iron, vitamins A, C, D, E, and zinc is vital for healthy hair,” says Dr. Green, MD,  and that “these nutrients are important because deficiencies can weaken hair follicles, leading to hair thinning or loss.”  Overall, hair loss or thinning can result from various causes, including genetics, hormonal changes, and environmental stressors. If you are experiencing hair breakage or hair loss, it is always best to consult a board-certified dermatologist to determine the underlying cause and whether it may be linked to your diet.

Find out more at https://www.themanual.com/grooming/4-ways-your-diet-is-destroying-your-hair/