Hair loss -The natural approach

When Andre Agassi revealed in his autobiography 'open' that he'd played the 1990 French open Tennis final in a wig held together with pins,owing to the fact that it began to disintegrate in the shower the night before, it reminded me of a comment made about the genetic code

It's hoped that the cracking of the genetic code can help to cure us of our ailments,hair loss included.Until that becomes a reality, you could of course treat your hair loss with products such as provillus,Rogaine or Thymuskin. But if you don't trust any claims made by commercial products or quite simply your budget won't allow for it in these recession hit times, why not try the natural approach?

As to hair loss or baldness itself, it's well documented that DHT ( dihydrotestosterone) & 5 alpha reductase (an enzyme that converts testosterone into DHT) are the major villains responsible. It's also been suggested that it may not be the baldness or hair loss itself that's hereditary, but other health factors, that our body's defenses rush to look after them first & our hair is way down the list of priorities. So what can we do?

Healthy blood is vital for our body to function properly, & this includes giving our hair the maximum nourishment. Phosphorus has been called the brain power of the mineral world & can be found in many foods including red meat,dairy products,fish,bran, cornbread & parsnips. An exhaustive list can be found in Mary Ann Crenshaw's excellent book 'The natural way to super beauty', which devotes a whole chapter to hair & the foods that are good for it.

Plant sources account for 70 percent of the world's protein supply. soybeans have been described as the best possible source of lecithin, which contains two of the B vitamins that are essential to healthy hair.

Phosphorus also makes lecithin which is present in each of our body cells. It contains both choline & inositol, part of the vitamin B complex that's good for the hair. Choline can be found in bran, brown rice,eggs, molasses,mung beans & yellow corn. Bran, whole barley, cabbage,grapefruit & green peas are some of the ways you can get inositol.

Zinc is not only good for our immune system, it is active in cell division & is a vital part of hair growth. You can enjoy it in egg yolk,cheese,garlic,green veg,pumpkin seed, sesame seed & wholemeal bread.

There are good reports of saw palmetto & it is the top choice of Dr James Duke, author of 'The green pharmacy'. It inhibits the formation of DHT & 5 alpha reductase & for men has the added bonus of being good for the prostate.

Our hair is 97% protein & protein needs replenishing daily with such foods as cheese,eggs,fish,fowl,meat & milk.It is the natural,raw value of our food that helps to germinate our hair producing roots, something that's encouraged by Dale Alexander in his book 'How I stopped growing bald & started growing hair'. In it is his hair cocktail which can be taken daily to promote healthy hair growth, & is as follows:- Put three quarters of a glass of whole milk in a blender. For best results use raw certified milk. Add a raw egg,a tablespoon of raw wheat germ oil, & two tablespoons of raw wheat germ. To make it taste better you can add your choice of fruit to it such as banana,orange or pineapple. If you prefer you can add two tablespoons of sunflower seeds. Blend the whole mixture on a low speed for 60 seconds,then drink straight away.This is your breakfast, so don't eat again for two hours. It is best to keep all the ingredients in the fridge. Drink this daily, although once you see changes in your hair you can reduce it to twice a week. Because it's been designed to be healthy you may want to carry on with it daily. Also in the book there is also the mouthwatering 'Alexander salad' that is very nutritious for your hair.

Wheat germ has a protein value of high quality and of a percentage that even exceeds meat,so it's excellent for healthy hair. It is also full of vitamin E, along with plenty of B vitamins, and vitamin A. Mary Ann Crenshaw highly recommends it and enjoys a daily intake of wheat germ to contirbute to beautiful,healthy hair.

A healthy diet is also important in maintaining our natural hair color.Vitamin B, iron & copper are all vital. The B vitamins can be found in brewers yeast,black strap molasses, wheat germ & yogurt. Strawberries,brewers yeast,avocados, wheat germ,cabbage,spinach & sweet potatoes are good sources of folic acid. Inositol is also good for helping to maintain natural color, & apart from the foods listed earlier it can be found in whole wheat bread,brewers yeast, black strap molasses & wheatgerm. Again, plenty of protein is needed if you're trying your best to maintain your hair's natural color.

To make the most of all these vitamins & minerals that you're enjoying in your food, you need to get the blood that carries them to your head. If you're agile enough a headstand is excellent. For most of us a slant board is probably more practical, or using a convenient wall in the house to help you do a form of headstand! 20 minutes a day should be enough. Above all, avoid stress as much as possible.Make time to relax or do something that you enjoy which relaxes you. Anyone for tennis?!!