I Am Convinced A New Diet Will Regrow My Hair

Trying to research (and in the process, bypass all the websites advertising products claiming to be the “answer” for hair loss) a solution for my thinning spot. There has to be a biological reason this happens and, thus, a biochemical solution. In other words, I’m seeking a connection between foods I eat and regrowing the hair – a natural way that involves my diet rather than expensive pills or surgery. Are you aware of any research in this regard? Where can I find information about their findings?
Thank you!

There are many causes for hair loss and it is well understood. To date, the only “biochemical solution” they have found is a drug called finasteride (Propecia) which is approved by the FDA for the “biochemical” treatment of male pattern hair loss or male pattern baldness (MPB). You are also correct in stating that certain diets (such as poor nutrition) can lead to hair loss. Unfortunately, the only medical solution to MPB is either taking finasteride or getting a hair transplant. Nothing is guaranteed, and you can find out much more about Propecia, here.

You are under the impression that you are what you eat, and there is clearly truth to this concept, but the complexity of the thousands of vitamins, nutrients, protein, sugars, and other things in our diet weighted against the things that are wrong with us is a daunting task. Just above, I discussed the drug finasteride, but did you know that this substance we call finasteride was actually found in the diet of some mountain villagers? It was naturally in the food staple of their daily diet. Because they ate so much of it, the explorers that first found the village noticed that there were no young boys — just what appeared to be girls. On further examination of this situation, they found many, many hermaphrodites in the population that came from ingestion of this ‘natural food’ substance. This later turned out to become finasteride, a drug used for men with prostate problems and/or hair loss. So here are some important lessons for the natural minded herbalist readership:

1. Not all natural foods are safe. Arsenic is natural, but it can kill.
2. There are many good things in what we eat. A good healthy diet will make us healthy.
3. If we eat anything that is not well understood, then we should take the time to learn and understand the issues of safety and effectiveness if we expect some outcome from what we eat.
4. There are many substances that work to produce effects we might want. Some natural substances have steroids in them and they may make us feel better, healthier and look more muscular, but the question that must be asked is what is the real costs of such substances? Steroids are harmful in the long term and are not good things to take whether it be natural or in pill form.
5. Even things like Vitamin A which is healthy in low doses, can cause hair loss in high doses.

If you are concerned about your hair loss or thinning, you should first be evaluated by a hair transplant doctor to map your scalp for miniaturization and the pattern of your hair loss.

Finally, if you find this elusive “cure” to hair loss, please come see me. I would love to be your business partner!