Grey Shades Of Hair
“Hair is a good indicator of health. On some days, in spite of shampooing and conditioning the hair, it doesn’t feel good, so know that the body is not happy,” Grey hair is never just caused by stress. Doctors suggest diet and lifestyle changes to deal with it.
Premature greying in children is also called premature canities, premature greying, doctors broadly agree, hits Asians before the age of 25. “In Caucasians, it is before the age of 20, and under 30 in case of those of African origin,” explains a consultant dermatologist. Experts also point out that the age of patients with premature greying is decreasing at an alarming rate. A child with early greying will have one parent with it as well.” Yet genes, need not always be responsible.
The root of the matter An unhealthy, imbalanced diet can lead to a vitamin B12 deficiency which can, in turn, lead to premature greying, There is a lack of greens and coloured fruit and vegetables in our diet. Our Indian dishes have been replaced by cheese and pasta. The carbohydrate and fat content have increased a lot, all of which contribute to greying. Following restrictive diets such as veganism and vegetarianism could be another factor,Due to hectic schedules, one ends up having a vada pav for lunch instead of nutritious food. Any food that’s naturally red or green contains vitamins — one must include more fruits, salads and soups in his/her diet. Having an egg a day helps as it is rich in protein. And non-vegetarians can have mutton and chicken as they are rich in vitamins. fruits and vegetables in our diet.
Studies link extreme cases of iron, protein, and calcium deficiency to premature greying. Hair is made of a tough protein called keratin and it needs another protein called biotin for healthy growth. So, if you don’t consume enough protein and vitamins, it will start greying. Indians don’t consume enough protein. “About 60 to 70 per cent of females have iron, protein, vitamin B12 and vitamin D deficiencies.” Thyroid dysfunction too, can lead to greying and thinning. It is important to get a complete blood count, thyroid and B12 tests done. “Also, vitiligo on the scalp could lead to a patch of grey hair, so it’s important to get your scalp checked by a dermatologist.
Environmental factors could also be responsible for greying of hair, If you are stuck in traffic, and inhale exhaust fumes, it may cause some genetic changes which will make you prone to skin conditions like eczema. These are long-lasting genetic changes — so even if you move from the city to a village, it will have an effect on the next generation. Similarly, there must be something in the environment and pollution levels that leads to premature greying.
Other lifestyle choices, too, like smoking, alcohol consumption and eating junk food can lead to a state called ‘oxidative stress’. Cells can get damaged from oxidative stress. And antioxidants squish those free radicals causing oxidative stress at the tissue level. So when you eat a lot of, say, fries, this creates metabolic and oxidative stress which leads to early greying.” One way to combat this is by having more greens and fruits that are known to be rich in antioxidants.
Stress can trigger a common condition called telogen effluvium, which causes hair to shed about three times faster than normal … But if you’re middleaged and your hair is falling out and regenerating more quickly because of stress, it’s possible that the hair that grows in will be gray instead of its original colour. Stomach ailments like poor digestion, diarrhea, or irritable bowel syndrome, resulting in the mal-absorption of vitamins and minerals could be an indirect cause for premature greying. Regular exercise, at least half an hour a day, boosts immunity.
Reverse greying is it possible?
Including curry leaves in diet. also have curry leaf juice, use to Google herbal, home remedies, like applying amla powder on hair, drink kokum with curry leaves and apply a lot of coffee on hair. None of it helps..The topic of reversing greying and home remedies is, well, a grey area. Greying is a sign of low melanocytes and grey strands are thinner. So, to make them stronger — and not necessarily darker — oil hair a lot more.
Although certain tablets and vitamins can reverse some early greying, it is yet to be seen a 100 per cent reversal in any patient. One or two patients, on tablets, report a 60 to 70 per cent change. Once they stop taking the tablets, 30 to 40 per cent of that change remains. But there are no long-term studies proving this. And remember, only 60 to 70 percent of these synthetic supplements and vitamins are absorbed by the body. So it’s important to take them in the right combination — like Vitamin C with iron tablets — and to take care of our diet.In certain rare cases, like pernicious anemia, once treated, can lead to such a reversal. But it’s difficult to predict a complete reversal. It can only be attempted to stop further greying by following a relaxed lifestyle, eating well, having calcium and other supplements and avoiding pollution as much as possible. Besides supplements, it is suggested by experts that adding green leafy vegetables, egg yolk and natural sources of calcium, such as milk, to one’s diet. “Greying of hair can be reversed if the problem is genetic. However, in cases of nutritional deficiencies, two to three per cent of patients can reverse greying of hair with good nutrition.
