Hair. Some call it their Crowning Glory. Being the perennial optimists, the Chinese named it 3000 Strands of Sorrow. Rapunzel wore hers in a lovely Braid of Golden Stairs. Medusa's head-turning tresses of Serpents could turn one stone cold. Buddhist monks shave their noggins as renouncement of worldliness.
No matter which philosophy, style, length, colour one chooses, those little keratinized, filamentous threads growing out of the follicles on our scalp, at the approximate rate of 1/2 inch per month, have indeed been the originator of many, well, hairy tales! They regularly induce post haircut traumatic stress disorder; can be more powerful than WMD in destructing one's self esteem; and yet, on occasions have been the source of artistic inspiration for drunkard uncles at my family wedding dinners (as evidenced by said uncle's keen observation & deep appreciation that "4th aunty's hairdo bears such striking resemblance to a perfect head of cauliflower").
But I shall not concern myself with such perplexing matters of the hair anymore, because I have decided to chop mine off, to be turned into a wig! You see, I have decided to shed my locks, for donation to Locks of Love, a public non-profit organization that makes hair prosthetics for financially disadvantaged children who have lost theirs due to diagnosed health conditions, or caused by the medical treatments they are undergoing for their illnesses. The hairpieces will go a long way in helping these children restore self esteem and confidence. I think that is really important, for what is health if one does not feel a sense of self worth!
Nutrition is integral in maintaining good hair quality, and malnutrition often presents itself in weak, brittle hair or even pronounced hair loss. Obviously, no amounts of the most nutritious foods in the world can cause hair to sprout if your genome is more akin to that of a smooth, shiny globe than a rambutan! But barring preexisting conditions and dispositions, good nutrition should generally yield hair of higher quality.
Here are some tips I found on nutrition for better hair:
According to an article published by The American Hair Loss Association (1), good nutrition underscores hair growth. A malnourished person who is deficient in Protein, Vitamin A, Iodine and Iron is likely to experience unhealthy hair quality or loss. Additionally, consumption of sugar might be detrimental to the health of one's hair due to sugar's effects on Insulin, vis a vis Insulin's connection to the secretion of another hormone Testosterone. A substance known as dihydrotestosterone, which is a byproduct of Testosterone, is a common factor found in hair loss patterns.
In this area, I found offerings in Traditional Chinese Medicine too. Dr. Maoshing Ni, in his book "Secrets of Self Healing" (2), ascribed hair loss to "a decline of the vital kidney essence". Possible causes might be stress, physical and emotional strain, an unhealthy lifestyle including excessive sexual activity (I can hear loud protests here), and overindulgence in alcohol (more loud protests). Therefore, restoration of kidney essence is vital for healthy hair.
Integrating both western and eastern theories, Dr. Mao named a few vitamins and nutrients which are essential. Methysulfonylmethane (MSM) is a building block of strong hair. Biotin and B Complex contributes to hair growth while Vitamin E improves delivery of oxygen. Zinc is known to regulate endocrine function in relation to hair growth. Vitamin C increases blood circulation in the scalp. Silica is important for building strong hair. Amino Acids improve overall quality of hair.
Further, Dr. Mao recommends including the following foods in our diets : organic vegetables; whole grains; walnuts, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds; beets; mushrooms; fruits such as blueberries, cranberries, raspberries, blackberries, apples, pears, peaches; legumes such as black beans, mung beans; meat such as organic lamb, chicken and deep-sea fish. He also specifies the importance of eliminating or limiting processed foods, artificial additives, bleached flour, sugars, soft drinks (yes, even diet ones), spicy, deep fried and fatty foods.
Additionally, Evening Primrose Oil, Flaxseed and Fish Oils can act as precautionary measures for damaged hair and follicles. Other remedies include Gingko Biloba, Saw Palmetto, Green Tea, Chinese Arbovitae, Eclipa, Chinese Foxglove, Black Cohosh, Vitex, Ginger and Sesame.
With a few tips in our pockets, maybe some of you might join me in eating well and making similar hair donations; or perhaps you could help by forwarding this to someone who might be interested. I wish some of you many good hair days ahead; and to others, some happily hairless ones as well!
References:
1. American Hair Loss Association, http://blog.americanhairloss.org/hair-loss/nutrition-and-hair-loss/
2. Ni Maoshing, (2008), Secrets of Self Healing: harness nature's power to heal common ailments, boost your vitality, and achieve optimum wellness, Penguin Group (USA) Inc, Pp 304-7
