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Am I losing my hair because of my intermittent fasting?

Hair loss is an issue that can affect us all at one point in our lives and there are a number of different causes and factors with hair loss. One factor that a lot of people do not consider is lifestyle issues, such as heavy smoking and drinking and even diet. Today we’re looking into intermittent fasting and if that can be a cause of hair loss.

What is intermittent fasting

Intermittent fasting is the process of going in and out of periods of eating and not eating the idea is to ‘fast’ (not consuming food) for various periods throughout the day/week.

Intermittent fasting can work in different ways, for example, 5:2, where you eat normally for five days a week and fast for two days, 18/8, where you eat all of your detail calories within a shorter period of time – usually 6 to 8 hours and fast for the remaining hours.

What are the benefits of intermittent fasting

It is often described as a diet, however, intermittent fasting is less of a diet and more of a lifestyle choice which can lead to a number of health benefits, including weight loss when you first make the change. It is thought that results from intermittent fasting can include increased energy, promoting cellular repair and autophagy, lower cholesterol and even promote longevity.

Can intermittent fasting cause hair loss

When looking at different search queries there are a lot of hair related questions around the topic of intermittent fasting. Some people believe that intermittent fasting can cause hair loss and some believe it can actually lead to hair becoming healthier and thicker.

There is no research that backs up intermittent fasting specifically impacts your hair. However, diet does impact your hair in different ways, for example when you start intermittent fasting you could experience temporary hair loss for a number of different reasons such as calorie deficits, there is a chance you could be consuming fewer calories than you are normally used to, this can lead to a calorie deficit which can impact the health of your hair.

Stress is one of the main causes of hair loss and a major dietary change can lead to stress levels to be higher than normal. Your body should adjust to the change pretty fast and you might not notice any impact on your hair. Lastly, you could notice hair loss due to a lack of key nutrients, fasting does not mean you will have to change your diet but you could make small changes without realizing and miss out key nutrients and minerals your body needs to ensure the body and hair are healthy and strong. Take a look at some of our tips for keeping a balanced diet to help hair stay healthy.

If you would like more information on hair loss please take a look at our news section for more articles from the Harley Street Hair Clinic.

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