Iron, zinc, biotin, vitamin D—your hair follicles need all of them to grow, but gut imbalances block their absorption.
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Hair loss can happen due to many variables, such as genetic factors or predisposition, vitamin and mineral deficiencies, skin problems, hair growth disorders, poor diet, hormonal problems, certain internal diseases, drug use, stress and depression, cosmetic factors, childbirth, and the chemotherapy process.
Hair fall may occur due to several factors such as genetics, hormonal changes like pregnancy, menopause, or PCOS, lifestyle factors like high anxiety, and deficiency of key nutrients like iron, protein, and vitamin D. Harsh hair styling practices may also contribute to hair fall and hair thinning issues.
Other potential factors causing hair fall include medications like antidepressants, chemotherapy, scalp infections, and autoimmune diseases. It is worth noting that hair loss can take place in different ways depending on factors causing it. Hair fall can take place suddenly or gradually and impact either just the scalp or the entire body.
According to a study featured in National Library of Medicine, “Hair loss is a widespread concern in dermatology clinics, affecting both men’s and women’s quality of life. Hair loss can have many different causes, which are critical to identify in order to provide appropriate treatment. Hair loss can happen due to many variables, such as genetic factors or predisposition, vitamin and mineral deficiencies, skin problems, hair growth disorders, poor diet, hormonal problems, certain internal diseases, drug use, stress and depression, cosmetic factors, childbirth, and the chemotherapy process.” 1
Balanced diet plays vital role for healthy hair. Factors like sudden weight loss, low-caloric diets, unhealthy diet, obesity, and higher intake of vitamin and mineral supplements can also contribute to hair loss.
Recently, Ayurvedic expert Dimple Jangda took to her Instagram account and shared the real causes of hair fall. She said, “Your hair isn’t the problem… your gut is. You can spend a fortune on shampoos and oils, but if your gut is inflamed, leaky, or disbiotic, your hair will keep falling because it cannot absorb iron and other key nutrients from food.” 2
Iron, zinc, biotin, vitamin D—your hair follicles need all of them to grow, but gut imbalances block their absorption. Clean your colon, clear the backed‑up waste, reduce inflammation, and then nourish your blood with greens, fruits, nuts, and seeds. Only when the gut heals do your hair follicles wake up again, added Dimple Jangda.
She emphasized, “hair fall is not a scalp problem. It is a gut problem. You can take the most expensive shampoos and hair oils to treat your hair fall, it is of no use. Because, you need to treat the source of the problem, which is your gut. If your gut has leaky gut syndrome, if it is inflamed, if it is disbiotic, if the gut microbiome are not balanced, and if there is any kind of dosha imbalance in the gut, it blocks your ability to absorb iron.”
Now, iron is abundantly found in most of the leafy green vegetables but your body is not able to absorb it. Hair fall happens due to deficiency of iron, zinc, biotin, and vitamin D. You get vitamin D by getting sun exposure 20 minutes per day, and get your biotin from fresh fruits and vegetables. You get your collagen also from them.”
You get your zinc from nuts and seeds and you get your iron from leafy greens like spinach, kale, celery, cilantro, curry leaves, moringa, spirulina, French beans. All of them have iron. You need to pair iron with vitamin C aid absorption. That is number one, added Dimple Jangda.
Dimple Jangda said that number 2 is Triphala Powder. You need to clear your gut and colon. Have one teaspoon of triphala powder at bedtime diluted in half glass of warm water for at least 15 days. This will cleanse your gut of all kind of undigested food, heavy metals, toxins that are getting stuck in your gut. Healthy adults have 10-15 pounds of backed up waste of poop stuck in the system which hinders absorption and assimilation of nutrients from the new food they are eating. So, clean your colon, clean your gut, and reduce inflammation, and then purify your blood.
“You can also take aloe vera juice in your diet every day 20 ml. This will reduce pitta imbalance. Pitta imbalance in the gut can also trigger hair loss because remember hair, skin, small intestine, liver, eyes are impacted due to high pitta imbalance,” divulged Dimple Jangda.
You can also take rosemary, coconut, and castor oil in equal parts, apply it on your scalp to stimulate new hair growth. The hair follicles are the fastest dividing cells in the human body. So even if you lose some hair, don’t worry about it. Focus on preventing further hair loss and stimulating new hair growth, concluded Dimple Jangda.
FAQs
How does gut health influence hair fall according to Ayurveda?
Ayurvedic expert Dimple Jangda explains that hair fall is often rooted in gut issues like inflammation, leaky gut syndrome, or microbial imbalance. These conditions impair absorption of essential nutrients such as iron, zinc, biotin, and vitamin D, which are vital for healthy hair follicles. Treating the gut by cleansing and reducing inflammation can restore nutrient absorption and promote hair growth.
What dietary nutrients are essential to prevent hair fall, and how can absorption be improved?
Key nutrients for preventing hair fall include iron, zinc, biotin, and vitamin D. Iron-rich foods like spinach and moringa should be paired with vitamin C to enhance absorption. Biotin and collagen come from fresh fruits and vegetables, while zinc is obtained from nuts and seeds. Ensuring a balanced diet combined with gut health can significantly improve nutrient uptake.
How effective is Triphala powder in treating hair fall, and how should it be used?
Triphala powder is valued for cleansing the gut and colon by removing undigested food, toxins, and waste that hinder nutrient absorption. Ayurvedic guidance recommends taking one teaspoon dissolved in half a glass of warm water at bedtime for at least 15 days. This gut cleanse can reduce inflammation, improving hair follicle nourishment and potentially reducing hair fall.
Can topical oils like rosemary, coconut, and castor oil stimulate new hair growth?
Yes, applying a mixture of rosemary, coconut, and castor oils on the scalp can stimulate new hair growth. These oils nourish the scalp and hair follicles, which are among the fastest-dividing cells in the body. While they do not address gut-related causes, they support hair follicle health and help prevent further hair loss.
What role does vitamin D and sun exposure play in hair health?
Vitamin D is crucial for healthy hair follicles and is primarily synthesized through about 20 minutes of daily sun exposure. Deficiency in vitamin D can contribute to hair fall. Alongside proper nutrition and gut health, regular sun exposure supports vitamin D levels necessary to maintain hair growth and prevent thinning.
National Library of Medicine|An overview of the genetic aspects of hair loss and its connection with nutrition
Ayurvedic expert Dimple Jangda via Instagram| Real causes of hair fall you ignore
Disclaimer: This content is for general informational purposes only and should not replace professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider with any questions about your health or treatment options.
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