Stop and Reverse Hair Loss in Women Caused by Low Iron Levels vs Underactive Thyroid vs Insulin Resistance and Inflammation

See your doctor to determine the physical reason for your hair loss. When a woman experiences hair loss, the cause is usually an underlying medical issue. Once the health issue causing the loss of hair is addressed, the hair often grows back. However, with men, the hair loss is often permanent. That is why it is very important for any female experiencing hair loss to visit with her physician to find out why she is experiencing this distressing symptom and if it can be remedied with hormonal treatments or iron supplementation. These two treatments specifically reverse hair loss in women. Correcting insulin resistance may or may not restore lost hair in women and men.

Once you visit your physician he will administer blood tests to see if your hair loss is due to any of the following three reasons:

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   Low iron levels

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   Low levels of iron in the blood cause hair follicles to be malnourished as red blood cells are starved by deficiency.

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2. 2
   Underactive thyroid

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   The thyroid is key to producing the hormones that help all cells in your body renew and repair themselves and if thyroid production is low it can cause hair follicles to shrink and grow less hair.

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3. 3
   Insulin resistance and inflammation

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   If your blood sugar levels become elevated then inflammation occurs everywhere in the body including in the hair follicles on the scalp, causing you to grow less hair.

   

   A close-up photograph of hair follicles.

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The mineral iron is crucial to growing and maintaining a lush and healthy head of hair. Iron nourishes the red blood cells that carry nutrients to your hair follicles and if you are iron-deficient your hair follicles shrink and produce tinier strands or no strands of hair at all.

Anemia can be detected with a simple blood test.

It is recommended that women consume 18 mg of iron a day, preferably from food sources, in order to stay healthy. Pregnant women require at least 27 milligrams. Normally your body stores iron in the form ferritin. When you are sick or nutritionally deprived of this essential mineral these stores are depleted and you begin to lose your hair and feel unwell.

Lips with cracked corners can signify anemia.

Aside from the hair loss, symptoms you may experience, in order from mild to severe include:

• weakness
• headaches
• pale skin
• chronic fatigue
• insomnia
• spoon-shaped fingernails
• inflamed tongue
• sores at the corners of the mouth
• shortness of breath
• severe leg pains

Headaches and fatigue can mean low iron levels.

If it is confirmed that your hair loss is caused by low iron levels then your doctor may also want to treat you for the most common underlying causes of this condition which include:

• Overuse of NSAIDS, which causes bleeding in the stomach and intestinal tract
• Taking Ace inhibitors, which are a type of medication used to treat high blood pressure
• Acute blood loss, which can occur after major surgery, labor or a massive injury
• Anorexia or Bulemia, which can cause bleeding in the stomach as well as a lack of iron in the diet
• Breastfeeding, which can deplete iron levels in the body
• Chronic blood loss, caused by issues such as gastrointestinal bleeding
• Dental problems, such a gingivitis that cause chronic bleeding of the gums
• Type II Diabetics taking medications known as Alpha-glucosidase inhibitors that delay the delivery of glucose into the blood
• Fungal infections that cause bleeding beneath the skin such as hookworm and ringworm
• Inflammatory bowel diseases such as celiac disease which cause spontaneous bleeding in the intestines
• Malignancies of any kind anywhere in the body that often bleed as part of their growth pattern
• Menstruation, which can cause anemia as the body loses blood on a monthly basis
• Peptic ulcers, which bleed periodically in the stomach
• Taking tetracycline antibiotics, prescribed for infections and acne, as they interfere with iron absorption
• Vegan diets as only meat consumption can supply humans with enough iron to function properly

If your doctor confirms that your hair loss is caused by low iron levels, he or she will usually take a three pronged approach towards correcting them

1. 1
   Increasing your iron intake through diet

   

   Steamed Spinach is a great source of iron.

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2. 2
   Improving iron absorption by eating heme-based (animal) sources of iron

   

   Steak is a heme-based source of iron.

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3. 3
   Taking iron supplements but only if necessary [

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The best way to absorb iron is through diet as supplementary iron is not as available to the human body for absorption. It is highly recommended that you take these foods with supplemental Vitamin C or a food source of Vitamin C such as a citrus juice as this enhances the absorption of the mineral Exceptionally rich sources of iron include:

• Breakfast cereals fortified with iron (read the labels to make sure you are eating a fortified cereal)
• Beef
• Blackstrap molasses (mix it into warm milk to get 3mg of iron
• Cashews
• Cherries
• Chickpeas
• Kale
• Kidney beans
• White beans
• Lentils of all colors
• Organ meats such as liver, heart and kidneys
• Oysters
• Pumpkin seeds
• Baked potatoes
• Soybeans
• Spinach (cooked)
• Tomatoes (stewed)
• Watermelon
• Guinness beer (famous for it's high iron content)

Guinness beer is an age old remedy for anemia because it is rich in iron.

Sometimes decreased iron levels are the result of getting the mineral from only plant-based sources. The human body only absorbs up to 12% of the non-heme sources, which are the plant-based foods. If you get your iron from heme sources, which are the animal-base foods then the human body absorbs up to 35% of the iron. The bottom line is that if you want your hair to grow back faster, the most bioavailabe sources are from animal sources.

Increase your iron levels fast and stop and prevent female hair loss by eating these foods, that are specifically rich in heme:

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   Eat beef and chicken livers

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   These are two of the riches sources of iron at 25mg per 3 ounce serving.

   

   Chicken livers are a great source of heme iron

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2. 2
   Eat lean a lean cut of organic beef as often as possible

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   If you eat this daily, you will soon no longer be anemic. Be sure to cut off any fat or strain fat from beef as it is saturated. Beef is not only high in the easily absorbed heme iron, it is also high in the B vitamins that can help encourage hair growth.

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3. 3
   Eat clams or oysters

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   Five oysters contains 3mg of heme iron plus zinc, a mineral that also helps grow hair.

   

   Oysters are a good source of both iron and zinc. Both minerals encourage healthy hair growth.

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4. 4
   Eat egg yolks at least three times a week

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   Egg yolks contain biotin and omega-3 fatty acids that help lower inflammation in the body.

   

   Be sure to eat your egg yolks along with your egg whites to get enough biotin.

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5. 5
   Eat baked chicken

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   Chicken is very high in iron and also protein and the B-vitamins needed to nourish hair growth.

   

   Baked chicken is a good source of iron.

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Foods that decrease iron absorption an therefore must be avoid are:

• Coffee
• Tea except for green tea
• Colas both regular an diet
• Psyllium husk

Avoid drinking coffee because it can prevent iron absorption and slow hair regrowth.

• Do not take more that 45 milligrams per day of supplemental iron as it can cause nausea and constipation
• Keep all iron supplements away from small children as just 20 mg can cause death in a small child
• Taking more than 1000 mg of Vitamin C to help increase your iron absorption may cause diarrhea, but it is recommended to take at least that much to help you absorb iron from food

The thyroid gland produces the thyroid hormone, which impacts your entire metabolism and all of the organs including your pancreas, liver, kidneys, adrenals, heart and pituitary glands. When your metabolism is slow, also know as hypothyroidism, your body is less able to renew and repair itself.

An underactive thyroid affects hair growth by:

• Restricting circulation to hair follicles thus causing them to shrink and become unproductive
• Causing hormone imbalances with progesterone and testosterone production which in turn causes hair follicles to shrink and the shedding of hair.
• Affecting the body's ability to fight off fungal and bacterial infections that can affect hair follicles
• Causing anxiety, mood swings and stress which in turn raises cortisol levels, which then also causes hair loss
• Provokes insulin resistance, which is an inflammatory immune response that causes hair follicles to shrink and become less productive

An underactive thyroid makes you more prone from hair loss due to scalp infections such as scalp ringworm.

For many women with an underactive thyroid, the first symptom that they notice is hair loss. Then more obvious symptoms may occur that might confirm your initial suspicion that you have an underactive thyroid including:

• Constipation'
• Depression
• Dry skin
• Feeling cold
• Fatigue
• High cholesterol
• Heavy menstrual periods
• Memory problems
• Mood swings
• Muscle weakness, aching and tenderness
• Puffy face, wrists and ankles
• Swollen joints
• Weight Gain

Constantly feeling chilled and tired may be a sign of an underactive thyroid.

It is very common for women over the age of 60 to develop hyperthyroidism. Hypothyroidism and it's accompanying hair loss can occur on its own simply as a matter of aging or it can also be provoked by:

• Hashihimoto's disease when your immune system produces antibodies that attack your thyroid gland
• Iodine deficiency, which is rare in the United States but found in some parts of the world where there is no iodized salt
• Pituitary disorders such as Cushing's Disease or benign pituitary tumors
• Pregnancy that results in postpartum hypothyroidism, a condition where the mother's antibodies attack her thyroid and cause hair loss
• Radiation therapy for cancer. The thyroid may be greatly affected by hypothyroidism especially if the cancer treated was in the head or neck
• Rheumatoid arthritis sufferers tend to develop hypothyroidism
• Treatment for hyperthyroidism with radioactive iodine. Hyperthyroid conditions, where the thyroid produces too much hormones, may result in a permanent lowering of the thyroid's ability to produce hormones and push the body into a state of hypothyroidism.

There are also hundreds of street drugs, recreations drugs and medications that cause low thyroid levels and consequential hair loss.

There are usually two approaches to treating an underactive thyroid: medication and lifestyle and diet changes. Medication is recommended for all individuals who suffer from an underactive thyroid. Lifestyle and diet changes can help deal with the weight loss, depression and underproduction of the thyroid hormone as well.

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   Your doctor will prescribe a blood test for you that checks your THC levels and also your cholesterol levels as high cholesterol signifies hypothyroid issues

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   Your doctor will then prescribe synthetic thyroid hormone to reverse the symptoms of hypothyroidism in a dosage that is appropriate for you. If you are seeing a naturopath you may be prescribed desiccated thyroid which is made from the thyroid glands of pigs and considered to be a more natural source of thyroxin.

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2. 2
   If you experience side effects taking the medication, then you will return to the doctor to have the dosage checked as it may be too high

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3. 3
   You will avoid supplements that block the absorption of thyroid medication

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   This includes iron supplements, antacids and calcium supplements

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4. 4
   You will avoid foods eating walnuts and soybean flour, both of which can interfere with the absorption of thyroid medication

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5. 5
   Visit your doctor every three to six months to have your blood thyroid levels checked to make sure that the dosage of thyroid you are on is correct.

   

   Avoid eating walnuts while on thyroid medications as they can prevent absorption.

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The health of the thyroid gland and therefore the health of your scalp and hair can be very dependent on diet and many of the foods on this list

Foods that support the optimal performance of a thyroid gland are high in iodine and selenium. Recommended foods for an underactive thyroid that is causing hair loss are:

• Beef (lean), especially steak
• Brazil nuts
• Dairy products
• Iodized salt
• Celtic sea salt
• Clams
• Crab
• Garlic
• Lobster
• Onions
• Oysters
• Salmon
• Seaweed
• Shrimp
• Scallops
• Tuna
• Sushi

Sushi contains both seafood and seaweed, both of which are beneficial for the thyroid gland and supporting hair growth.

These foods either aggravate the inflammation of the thyroid gland or they halt the body's ability to absorb iodine:

• Bamboo shoots
• Bok Choy
• Canola oil
• Cassava
• Cauliflower
• Canola oil
• Coffee
• Horseradish
• Kale
• Mustard Greens
• Peaches
• Peanuts
• Rutabagas
• Spinach
• Sweet Potato
• Tempeh
• Turnips

There are some general lifestyle changes that you can make to improve the performance of your thyroid and thus help your hair growth:

• Make a serious effort to lose weight as it can help ward off and reverse the condition of hypothyroidism which in turn helps reverse hair loss
• Try eating five to six smaller meals a day rather than three big meals as this helps you lose weight and your thyroid is not overwhelmed
• Cut out all sugars from diet
• Get regular exercise to help offset the effects of your damaged metabolism

Cutting out sugar supports and underactive thyroid.

• If you smoke or do recreational drugs no thyroid treatment is going to help you regain your hair and in fact, these hair drugs cause nutritional deficiencies that cause hair loss on their own.
• Most antidepressants cause weight gain because they affect the thyroid, which in turn causes hair loss
• If you notice that you have hair loss and thyroid symptoms as described then you really do want to treat the hypothyroidism as fast as possible because if it is left untreated it can lead to goiter, heart problems, depression, nerve damage, infertility and birth defects
• Thyroid supplements made with pig gland concentrates sold in health food stores are not recommended for self-treatment of a thyroid disorder because the potency and purity of these products are not regulated by the FDA
• Avoiding foods with gluten may help your thyroid function and avert hair loss

Insulin resistance is a condition where the blood sugar in the body is in a state of chronic elevation which throws all of the hormones in your body out of whack and affects the functioning of the main organs in the endocrine system including the pituitary, thyroid and pancreas. Your pancreas still produces insulin but the body's cells become resistant to its effects so sugar in your body is never processed or used for energy but ends up in the body until it is excreted by the body.

Insulin resistance causes female pattern balding.

When hair loss is caused by insulin resistance, inflammation occurs everywhere in the body and women experience hair thinning and balding. If your hair is thinning at the crown it is likely caused by insulin resistance and inflammation.

Hair loss occurs because:

1. 1
   Insulin resistance causes blood vessels to thin, which in turn causes less blood to reach scalp follicles so they can be nurtured with oxygen and nutrients
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