Hair Loss

THINNING on top has been linked to low self-esteem, anxiety and in more extreme cases even isolation and depression.

From products to procedures, men are willing to go to extreme lengths to maintain their locks.

A recent study found over half of British men would rather have a full head of hair than a promotion or supermodel wife.

Health experts have linked diet to hair health, as being deficient in certain nutrients can cause hair to thin. 

And it seems what you do at the gym can also accelerate thinning on top.

According to Dr Hair Transplant Surgeon at The Private Clinic of Harley Street, there has been a surge in men experiencing accelerated hair loss due to the use of powdered protein and the activity they participate in at the gym.

Reportedly, certain ingredients in protein shakes increase testosterone and a chemical called DHT, which has been linked to hair loss.

Dr said: “Protein shakes will very often contain growth hormones such as Creatine and DHEA, which not only increase muscle mass, but also increase testosterone levels in the bloodstream.

“Testosterone produces a chemical known as DHT, which actually contributes to baldness when the hair follicles become exposed to too much. Sadly, this is something that most men are unaware of, until they notice that their hair loss has already become more apparent.”

Dr said 70 per cent of male patients who come into her clinic are avid users of protein shakes.

However the expert explained protein shakes are not the root of hair loss.

She said: “It is important to distinguish between cause and effect here. Protein shakes do not cause hair loss.

“They do, however, accelerate hair loss for those men who suffer with androgenetic hair loss or alternatively, those who are predisposed to balding, as many men are.”

And as for the choice of exercise? Lifting the heaviest weights may not always be best, according to the expert.

“Interestingly, the activity that men do in the gym can also potentially impact hair loss. While cardio will reduce the levels of DHT in the blood stream, excess weight lifting can increase testosterone levels and therefore accelerate hair loss.

“I would therefore also advise those men who focus on lifting weights in the gym, to be mindful of just how much lifting they do and, where possible, to do more aerobic exercises.”

While the effects of protein on hair follicles cannot be reversed, the acceleration will be slowed down.

Dr said: “I would advise men who are pre-disposed to balding to stop using protein shakes that contain growth factors and hormones. Instead, they should try and incorporate natural sources of protein into their diet such as chicken, fish and eggs.

“Men should also ensure they are eating a healthy and balanced diet, which contains essential vitamins and minerals.” *

Men who actively keep fit may be inadvertently speeding-up hair loss.

According to experts, weight-lifting in the gym may play a key role in a man’s receding mane – especially if combined with the consumption of popular protein powders.

The theory is based on the belief that, when combined, these two factors increase the body’s testosterone and Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) levels, which are considered key causes of baldness.

Although naturally-produced, DHT – which is a converted version of testosterone – quickly attaches itself to a man’s hair strand’s receptor cells, blocking the absorption of essential nutrients.

Over time, this gradually causes the follicles to shrink and the hair to wither until it eventually dies.

Thus, by fitness fanatics increasing their exposure to DHI, gym-goers are also risking an earlier on-set of shedding and loss.

Dr Hair Transplant Surgeon at The Private Clinic of Harley Street, told the Daily Express: ‘Protein shakes will very often contain growth hormones such as Creatine and DHEA, which not only increase muscle mass, but also increase testosterone levels in the bloodstream.

‘Testosterone produces a chemical known as DHT, which actually contributes to baldness when the hair follicles become exposed to too much. Sadly, this is something that most men are unaware of, until they notice that their hair loss has already become more apparent.’

However, this can be side-stepped if people swap weights for cardio – and skip the shakes.

Additionally, the issue will only manifest if a person is already predisposed to male pattern baldness.

‘It is important to distinguish between cause and effect here. Protein shakes do not cause hair loss,’ Dr continued.

‘They do, however, accelerate hair loss for those men who suffer with androgenetic hair loss or alternatively, those who are predisposed to balding, as many men are.’

Currently, there are a relatively limited treatments available. Clinical trials repeatedly prove that the only real options are Minoxidil and Finasteride.

At the moment, over 90 per cent of hair loss treatments contain the compound Minoxidil, which was originally created as a blood thinning agent but works in some men to reduce hair loss.

It can be effective if used early to prevent hair loss rather than to grow new hair and is found in the UK in products such as Regaine.

Meanwhile, Finasteride – an oral tablet – reduces DHT by blocking 5-alpha reductase.

It was not originally designed to combat baldness, but began to appear in pharmacies when some men being treated for enlarged prostates – also thought to be caused by increased levels of DHT – noticed their hair had not only stopped receding but had begun to grow back thicker and stronger than before.

Some users have complained that the drug causes permanent and unwelcome side-effects – including impotency – but the pharma company which produces it, Merck, claims this happens with just 2 per cent of users.

Thankfully, hair transplants are an increasingly-viable.

The principle behind most surgeries is to move hair from an area of thick hair to an area of thinning hair or bald skin.*

What do you need to stay healthy as a vegan?

As is true of any diet, if the food consumed is not balanced, nutritional deficiencies are likely to occur, which can affect both health and energy levels. Veganism eliminates animal produce from the menu, which means that a vegan diet is in fact more susceptible to being nutritionally poor. However, there is plenty of choice when it comes to vegan specific food, to ensure a nutritionally rich and balanced diet is achieved. Dr Hair Transplant Surgeon at The Private Clinic of Harley Street talks us through her top tips on how to be a healthy vegan:

Iron

Red meat is a great source of Iron, but this is not part of a vegan’s diet. It is therefore important as a vegan to ensure you make up for this by eating other Iron rich foods, as well as foods rich in Vitamin C; which dramatically improves Iron absorption. Luckily, much of a vegan diet is plant based. Leafy green vegetables, lentils and fortified foods that make up a large portion of a vegan diet are rich in Iron. Iron is an essential mineral for several reasons including that it helps to make red blood cells which carry oxygen around our bodies. Iron is also important for healthy hair quality and hair growth. As a vegan if you feel you are not getting enough important vitamins and minerals through consuming these food products, I would advise speaking with a doctor. A doctor can recommend blood tests in order to check the levels of vitamins and minerals and in case there is any deficiency, which supplements you could benefit from taking.

Protein

Protein builds and repairs muscle and often the elimination of animal protein as part of a vegan diet results in rapid weight loss. Weight loss such as this can have negative effects on health, which is why is it important as a vegan you ensure optimum levels of protein intake in the form of nuts, seeds, legumes, fortified cereals and beans.

Lifestyle

Certain lifestyle factors such as excess alcohol consumption and smoking, negatively affect the body’s ability to absorb important nutrients. This malabsorption deprives the body of the vitamins and minerals it needs to stay healthy. Because a vegan diet is more susceptible to nutritional deficiencies anyway, is would be wise to avoid smoking and to keep alcohol intake at a minimum.Zinc and Vitamin B-12.

Zinc and Vitamin B-12

Zinc and vitamin B-12 are sometimes lacking in a vegan diet because they are found in abundance in foods such as beef, pork, chicken and fish. Luckily, as Zinc can be found in a number of plant based food products, it is important as a vegan to eat nutritionally sufficient amounts of these. Vegans can also consume enough vitamin B-12 by eating fortified foods, and by taking a Vitamin B-12 supplement.

Fresh Soy

Soy is one of the most popular meat substitutes loved by vegans and vegetarians alike. However, fresh soy contains inflammatory lectins and Phytic acid, both of which have negative effects on the body because they bind with minerals and prevent the body from using them. This can lead to nutritional deficiencies in the long run and so it is important that fresh soy not be overeaten.

Supplement your diet

As a vegan, if you feel you a lacking nutritionally in some way and are not substituting this adequately through diet alone, suppliments  such as a multivitamin can be taken. However, it is important to consult a doctor before deciding which supplements to take, and to always strive to maintain a well rounded diet.