Welcome to Lillian Te’Laurie Clinical Insights

Healthy hair begin long before it reaches the scalp. One factor that is often overlooked is the digestive health.  Your gut is very important because it helps absorb nutrients, regulates hormones and supports the immune system that hair follicles need to produce strong and healthy hair. When gut health is compromised, the body struggles to supply essential building blocks for healthy hair growth. Why Gut Health Matters for Hair.

1.  Absorption of Nutrients

Hair follicles depend on continued nutritional support for their activity.  If you have an unhealthy digestive system, your body will be less capable of absorbing essential vitamins and minerals. When you are not getting enough of those vitamins and minerals, it is possible that the strength of your hair follicle(s) can decline; this can result in excessive hair loss, reduced rate of hair regrowth and/or decreased density of your hair.

2.  Chronic Inflammation

Your poor digestion and the resultant inflammation could lead to chronic inflammation in other parts of your body.  It is also possible that chronic inflammation (in addition to disrupting the normal cycles of hair growth), could cause damage to your hair follicles and possibly exacerbate some forms of hair loss.

3.  Hormonal Balance

Hair growth can be regulated by hormones produced through an interaction of the gut and hormones (such as androgenic hormone levels) which may be disrupted if there is an imbalance of gut bacteria.

4.  Immune System Function

Almost seventy percent (70%) of the total immune system is located in the gut. Inflammation may occur when the immune system has been compromised. Inflammation can be a contributing factor in certain individuals experiencing auto-immune conditions of hair loss such as alopecia areata.

5.  The Gut & Hair Connection

The relationship of your gut and your hair is significant.  Stress effects the digestive system and the hair growth cycle.  Prolonged periods of stress will disrupt the good bacteria in your gut while causing high levels of cortisol.  These factors can lead to an increase in hair loss (Telogen Effluvium) due to increased hair shedding.

While these factors individually typically don't result in hair loss alone; they can be indicative of other digestive-related issues that you should have checked out by a doctor.

Creating a healthy digestion environment to promote optimal hair growth requires attention to improving your overall gut health.  Some suggestions include:

·  Eating a diet rich in nutrients and has 

   anti-inflammatory properties 

·  Eating enough protein at each meal for 

   optimal digestion and nutrient 

   absorption.

·  Adequate amounts of fiber from 

   vegetables, fruits, legumes, and whole 

   grains. 

·  Adding fermented foods (yogurt, kefir, 

   sauerkraut, kimchi etc.) into your diet 

   when suitable. 

·  Drinking plenty of water to stay  

   hydrated.

·  Reducing or managing chronic stress. 

·  Obtaining sufficient restful sleep. 

·  Identify and treat any underlying

   nutritional deficiencies under the      

   supervision of a healthcare provider.

Hair is made from Keratin which is the main protein in your hair; protein supplies you with all the Amino Acids you need to make it. In addition to providing Keratin, protein also has an important role in repairing damaged cells at the base of your hair follicles to help promote a normal, continuous hair growth cycle.

If you get enough protein in your diet, you can benefit by:

• Building thick, long-lasting hair
• Supporting good functioning of your hair follicle
• Lessening hair breakage & brittleness
• Supporting normal hair growth
• Building thicker and stronger hair
• Aiding in healing or restoring damage to the scalp tissue

Every hair follicle is constantly producing new cells. To keep up with this process, your body requires a steady supply of amino acids from dietary protein.

When protein intake is sufficient, the hair follicle can:

• Produce stronger keratin
• Maintain healthy growth cycles
• Repair damaged hair structures
• Support thicker, healthier hair

When protein intake is inadequate, hair growth may slow, and more hairs can enter the resting phase, leading to increased shedding.

Signs You May Not Be Getting Enough Protein

A protein deficiency may contribute to:

·  Increased hair shedding

·  Slow hair growth

·  Thin, fragile hair

·  Hair that breaks easily

·  Loss of hair volume

·  Dry, dull-looking hair

·  Brittle nails

·  Muscle loss or weakness

·  Slow wound healing

Iron is one of the most important nutrients for healthy hair growth. The majority of hair follicles require an ongoing source of both nutrients and oxygen to develop healthy, strong hair.  Iron supplies the needed oxygen for red blood cells which circulate through out your body, including your scalp and hair follicles.

Once the amount of iron available has decreased to low amounts, the body will allocate what little oxygen there is first to those parts of the body that are considered "vital" such as the heart, brain, and lungs.  Hair is not necessary for survival so when it comes to providing these areas with oxygen and other resources the hair follicles have limited access to them.  This results in some disruption to the typical hair growth cycles.  Typically, once a hair becomes dormant (enters telogen), it cannot be stimulated into active growth again until after the new hair begins growing from the same follicle.  Therefore, premature entry into the telogen stage can cause excessive loss of hair (shedding), slower regrowth, and at times visible thinning.

Hair follicles require oxygen and nutrients to grow hair.  Iron supports the process of delivering oxygen via red blood cells throughout the body to areas including the scalp/hair follicles.  If iron levels fall below optimal levels in the body, it will prioritize sending oxygen to non-vital organs such as heart, brain/lungs etc., and deprive other systems (hair/follicle system), which will cause a disruption in normal hair growth cycle and more hairs will go into telogen (resting phase)prematurely.  This can lead to increased shedding, slower regrowth, and thinning over time.

In addition to hair loss, low iron may also

cause:

• Fatigue or low energy
• Weakness
• Pale skin
• Frequent headaches
• Dizziness
• Shortness of breath
• Brittle nails
• Difficulty concentrating
• Cold hands and feet

Maintaining healthy iron levels is important for promoting healthy hair growth. This involves eating foods rich in iron and making sure you have enough vitamin C to improve absorption of iron. Working with your healthcare provider is also important to identify and treat iron deficiency if it is present. Because too much iron can also be harmful, supplements should only be taken after appropriate testing under medical guidance.