As anyone who has read this blog knows, I don’t believe in fad diets. I don’t believe in losing weight too fast. I don’t believe in eliminating any food groups from your diet.
Besides all the reasons I’ve already talked about in previous blog posts, I’ve got a new reason for you.
It’s a dirty little secret of the dieting industry that’s rarely talked about. At least, not until after the fact.
You see, excess weight may not be the only thing you lose on your diet. You may also start to lose…
… YOUR HAIR. Yikes!
This problem affects both men and women. So if you’re a woman with beautiful, thick tresses, don’t think it can’t happen to you.
If you lose weight too fast, say more than 1 or 2 pounds a week… if you eliminate a food group… or even if you just don’t eat enough from certain food groups… you’re more likely to experience thinning hair.
Of course, there are many reasons you can lose your hair. Illness, stress, surgery, and hormonal changes are just a few.
But with dieting, the reason is usually a nutritional deficiency. The lack of any of these nutrients may be the cause: vitamins A, B, and D; iron; protein; magnesium; zinc; even essential fatty acids.
Diet plans that may cause deficiencies include vegetarian, extremely low-fat, or high-protein (low-carb) weight loss programs. But no scientific study has ever been done to determine which diets are most likely to cause hair loss.
Rapid weight loss also stresses the body and may cause hair loss. That’s why quick-weight-loss diets and diet surgery may result in thinning hair.
Usually, the hair loss is temporary and comes back once you return to a balanced diet. But it can take a while — anywhere from a couple of months to a couple of years.
If you have a family history of thinning hair or baldness, your lost hair may never regrow. But there’s no way to know in advance.
That’s why it’s important to choose a diet plan or weight loss program that results in gradual weight loss with food from all the food groups.
And it’s another reason why you should never start a new diet plan without consulting your doctor.
