Are Fad Diets Causing Excessive Hair Loss? Read This!

Who wouldn't love to lose weight and look fit? Well, we all do. However, it is not an easy task to cut down on those kilos, as it needs immense amount of hard work, patience and dedication. A balanced diet and exercise along with other factors help lose weight. Nowadays, most of us lose patience and resort to easier ways of shedding extra weight, one of them being following fad diets. These fad diets promise to help you lose weight in less than a month or a week. You tend to achieve your goal, but what goes wrong is that it starts showing up on your skin and hair. Most people experience sudden hair loss, which is directly related to following such diets. What really causes hair loss when you lose weight? Experts reveal.

According to Consultant Nutritionist, Dr. Rupali Datta, "Following fad diets may cause hair loss and other problems, as you are malnourished. Following a balanced diet loaded with all essential nutrients including vitamins and minerals, micronutrients like phosphorus, iron, et al will help you lose weight in a healthy way. If you are losing weight the wrong way, chances are your skin health and hair health may go for a toss." Dietitian Nidhi Sawhney agrees, "Hair loss after losing certain amount of weight is the effect of following a diet that lacks vital nutrients. Deficiencies of macro and micro nutrients in the body may lead to some symptoms including fatigue, hair loss, dull skin, et al."(Also Read: Which Cooking Oil Is Best For Weight Loss?)

_{Following fad diets may cause hair loss and other problems, as you are malnourished}Fad diets are diets that include consuming fewer calories to lose weight quickly, which is mostly why they include food groups that may not have all the essential nutrients that your body may need. It is important to load up on all the nutrients to maintain a healthy weight and body. Moreover, most health experts claim that the pressure to lose weight, forming an unrealistic body image and an intense fear of gaining too much weight may lead to mental disorders like stress and anxiety and in some cases depression. Excessive stress may also cause hair loss.

Here are important points to keep in mind in order to lose weight healthily and not lose hair at all.

1. Make sure you are eating enough calories for the day. Too less calories will mean intake of fewer nutrients, further causing hair loss.
2. Even if you are dieting, make sure you load up on more protein than anything. Protein is one of the major components that is essential for hair growth.
3. Incorporate whole grains, fruits and vegetables into your diet. All of these will ensure that your body is full of vital nutrients.

In case of excessive hair fall, do consult a doctor. In fact, if you are looking at losing weight, do it under the supervision of a dietitian who will help you with a diet plan having all important food groups; further making sure that you lose weight in a healthy way!