hair

Diet for healthier hair

Hair

The hair is hair, that is, keratinized cutaneous appendages (keratin is a protein) that originates at the horny level (one of the various layers) of the skin of mammals (commonly called skin); the skin appendages are different (hair, nails, sweat and sebaceous glands) and differ in terms of their structure and function;

the hair, therefore the hair, is intended to amplify the tactile perception ... but they are not all the same! There are two very distinct categories, the terminal hairs (large and pigmented) and the hairs of the fleece (thin and almost colorless); the hair is terminal hair which, if it undergoes regression (alopecia), does NOT LOSE (it does not fall) but becomes much more similar to that of the fleece (see baldness / alopecia).

Healthy hair

Hair is part of the integumentary system (skin). They are defined as "cutaneous annexes" as they "arise" (or better originate) from the skin and (while representing structurally independent units) they constantly draw nourishment and feed-back of growth or degeneration.

The disorder / blemish that most frequently affects the scalp is alopecia, especially the androgenic one. This condition is indirectly influenced by inheritance; the factor responsible for "hair loss" is a dysfunction of dehydrotestosterone (DHT) metabolism, a testosterone metabolite. Ultimately, the concept that testosterone can be responsible for baldness is DISAGREED and it is realized that, in scalp degeneration, they can participate: 1. Excess of DHT production. 2. Excessive uptake of DHT by receptors.

It turns out that, for having healthy hair, it is ESSENTIAL first of all to have a certain amount of luck!

Currently, the ANDROGENIC alopecia (and not the telogenic one - induced by one or more stressors both psychologically and physically) is evaluated as an irreversible condition, even if, thanks to the pharmacological avant-garde, with the use of some active ingredients it may be possible to reduce the degeneration times ( minoxidil and finasteride ).

In the event that the hair is not healthy, and taking for granted: a) Impeccable genetics. b) The possibility of using the best drugs for topical and oral use, it would be appropriate to evaluate the nutritional intake as a whole, since, being the scalp a "living and integral part" of the organism, it needs the supply of different molecules essential to the own growth and its maintenance.

Ultimately, a nutritional deficiency could contribute to determining the prevalence of such a so-called catagen (degenerative) phase, compared to the anagen phase (pro-structural); the impoverishment and thinning of healthy hair due to food defects is clearly visible in people suffering from malnutrition, for example caused by anorexia nervosa (AN - restrictive eating behavior disorder), by the lack of financial resources (third world) or from the compulsive drugs of alcohol abuse syndromes.

Vitamins and amino acids for healthy hair

It is true that healthy hair is nourished hair, but unlike what "television" claims may believe, the nutrition of the hair takes place through the blood circulation of the scalp (therefore from inside and not from outside). It goes without saying that: if the dietary intake is insufficient, together with all the other tissues, even the scalp could be affected PROPORTIONALLY by the seriousness of the state of malnutrition.

What are the most important nutrients for maintaining healthy hair?

Sulfur amino acids:

The sulfur amino acids ( cystine and methionine ) are real "bricks" for the synthesis of keratin, a structural protein of the hair; without these molecules anabolism does not take place and the relative nutritional deficiency can determine: I) A decrease in growth II) Fragility III) Thinning of the hair.

The sulfur amino acids are contained above all in the cereal proteins.

Vitamins:

The important vitamins for healthy hair are above all those of the B complex and vitamin C. Among the vitamins of the B complex we mention the well-known Pantothenic acid (B5); in the past, B5 has been named "anti-fall vitamin", thanks to its protective effect on the scalp. On the other hand, today we know that these results were found ONLY on the guinea pig and NOT on humans. In food, vitamin B5 is widely distributed both in plant and animal products.

Pyridoxine (B6) allows the use of sulfur amino acids by the hair and, in some respects, is "protective" from androgenic alopecia as it counteracts the action of 5-alpha reductase, an enzyme that converts testosterone in DHT (it is more present in foods of vegetable origin).

Biotin (vitamin H) and Niacin (vitamin PP), in the synthesis of the hair, contribute to the metabolism of fats and proteins, and participate in maintaining the cutaneous integrity of the growing tissue. They are both found in meat and eggs.

Ascorbic acid ( vitamin C) promotes the synthesis of many structural proteins, so its deficiency could negatively affect the "resistance" of all skin appendages (including nails). Vitamin C is widely contained in foods of vegetable origin: especially in chilli, parsley and citrus fruits.

Ultimately, it is difficult to establish which vitamins are more important and which are superfluous, therefore, in general, it is advisable to at least follow the minimum recommended rations in order to avoid and prevent any deficient or sub-deficient form.

Other factors that affect healthy hair constitution

Among the nutritional factors that can compromise hair health we cannot forget the insulin resistance. This condition of "reduced glucose tolerance" determines the functional ineffectiveness of insulin which, pathologically, is not effectively picked up by peripheral receptors and persists (together with glucose) in the bloodstream; insulin resistance is a bitter enemy of healthy hair and contributes to the development of androgenic alopecia.

On the contrary, a reasonable preventive efficacy has been observed on female androgenic alopecia by phytoestrogens (for example isoflavones and comustadi, also called weak estrogens - very different from the endogenous STEROID IO); it is known that, among the various manifestations and clinical signs of pre-menopause, the thinning of the scalp and / or the increase in the predisposition towards androgenic alopecia are also frequently revealed. Well, thanks to the intake of phytoestrogens (which interact with the physiological hormonal axis) it is possible to reduce these unpleasant consequences and also many other symptoms such as hot flushes, dry skin, mood swings and so on. Phytoestrogens are of various kinds and are found in foods of vegetable origin. Good sources of phytoestrogens: red and yellow fruit and vegetables, legumes (especially soy), red clover, etc.