Losing Hair

[Guest guest]

I am having a big problem here that is even making me rethink being vegan and maybe going back to vegetarian, which is sad for me because I love being vegan and have no problem with the lifestyle. I have been vegan for about 8 months now, and my hair is literally breaking off and falling out.

I have always had great hair, never frizzy, never losing it, and suddenly it is crappy looking and breaking off and the new hair is thin and frizzy. We have no history of hair loss and I know it is directly related to my diet. I don't know what to do.

I take vitamins and eat a pretty healthy diet, I try to get plenty of good fats like olive oil and nuts, I eat lots of tofu and vegetables, and I am not a big processed foods vegan. I take B-12, calcium, even silica now for my hair.

Ugh, I don't know what to do. I am really upset about this.

Has anyone had a similar problem? No matter how far you have gone on the wrong road, turn back. -Turkish proverbThere is no more liberating action than sincerely to give people kindness in return for unkindness. Why not be like the flower that gives fragrance even when crushed in the hand? The Gita teaches: "He who is free from hatred towards all creatures, is friendly and kind to all... is dear to Me".-Paramahansa Yogananda

 

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[Guest guest]

Hi Surya

 

Maybe you should eat less tofu as it can interfere with iodine uptake and you need iodine for healthy hair. YOu could also eat dried apricots (unsulphered) for iron, and essential fatty acids as a supplement or in a mixture of ground seeds.

 

 

Jo

 

-

Surya Burdick

Thursday, December 11, 2003 6:44 PM

Losing Hair

 

I am having a big problem here that is even making me rethink being vegan and maybe going back to vegetarian, which is sad for me because I love being vegan and have no problem with the lifestyle. I have been vegan for about 8 months now, and my hair is literally breaking off and falling out.

I have always had great hair, never frizzy, never losing it, and suddenly it is crappy looking and breaking off and the new hair is thin and frizzy. We have no history of hair loss and I know it is directly related to my diet. I don't know what to do.

I take vitamins and eat a pretty healthy diet, I try to get plenty of good fats like olive oil and nuts, I eat lots of tofu and vegetables, and I am not a big processed foods vegan. I take B-12, calcium, even silica now for my hair.

Ugh, I don't know what to do. I am really upset about this.

Has anyone had a similar problem? No matter how far you have gone on the wrong road, turn back. -Turkish proverbThere is no more liberating action than sincerely to give people kindness in return for unkindness. Why not be like the flower that gives fragrance even when crushed in the hand? The Gita teaches: "He who is free from hatred towards all creatures, is friendly and kind to all... is dear to Me".-Paramahansa Yogananda

 

New Photos - easier uploading and sharing

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[Guest guest]

hi surya,

i take several capsules of flax oil every day to help with hair and skin dryness.........also lots of virgin olive oil on my salads......before this my skin had become so dry and tight, and the hair was uncontrollable............

good luck

catherine

ps its not hormonal is it?? or some meds you are taking have caused this as a side effect......

>Surya Burdick

> > > Losing Hair >Thu, 11 Dec 2003 10:44:19 -0800 (PST) > >I am having a big problem here that is even making me rethink being vegan and maybe going back to vegetarian, which is sad for me because I love being vegan and have no problem with the lifestyle. >I have been vegan for about 8 months now, and my hair is literally breaking off and falling out. >I have always had great hair, never frizzy, never losing it, and suddenly it is crappy looking and breaking off and the new hair is thin and frizzy. We have no history of hair loss and I know it is directly related to my diet. I don't know what to do. >I take vitamins and eat a pretty healthy diet, I try to get plenty of good fats like olive oil and nuts, I eat lots of tofu and vegetables, and I am not a big processed foods vegan. I take B-12, calcium, even silica now for my hair. >Ugh, I don't know what to do. I am really upset about this. >Has anyone had a similar problem? > > >No matter how far you have gone on the wrong road, turn back. > >-Turkish proverb > > >There is no more liberating action than sincerely to give people kindness in return for unkindness. Why not be like the flower that gives fragrance even when crushed in the hand? The Gita teaches: "He who is free from hatred towards all creatures, is friendly and kind to all... is dear to Me". > >-Paramahansa Yogananda > > > >New Photos - easier uploading and sharing Send more interesting e-mails - personalise them with graphics, photos and stationery when you sign up for MSN 8.

[Guest guest]

Surya!

 

I am 37 years old...vegetarian since I was 18 and vegan since I was 25.

 

There was a period in my late twenties when I was losing a lot of hair as well. I did some study on the subject and found that for me, it was because my diet was too "yin". I was eating too many sweets, fruits in particular and too much raw food. When I warmed up my diet...ate more warming foods and spices and more proteins my hair and teeth got strong again (my teeth were even loose, now talk about scary!)

 

Now at 37 only a few hairs fall out a day (which is normal) and my teeth are not loose at all and I am very healthy. But I had to work at getting enough protein (in the form of beans for me, more iron than tofu) and eating less sweets.

 

I got my information out of Healing with Whole Foods Oriental Medicine and Modern Nutrition by Paul Pitchford.

 

Kristina

[Guest guest]

, " Catherine Harris " <cait2@h...>

wrote:

> Cat, my sister recommended flax oil too, I eat alot of olive oil

so I am surprised I would been more oil, also oil from nuts. I was

having skin problems a couple months back but it seemed to rmedy

itself.

[Guest guest]

Thanks. I am going to see what things I can change in my diet, I

like the idea of flax, and I do eat plenty of beans and stuff but I

am going to make sure I am getting lots of protein every day.

 

 

, lv2breathe@a... wrote:

> Surya!

>

> I am 37 years old...vegetarian since I was 18 and vegan since I

was 25.

>

> There was a period in my late twenties when I was losing a lot of

hair as

> well. I did some study on the subject and found that for me, it

was because my

> diet was too " yin " . I was eating too many sweets, fruits in

particular and too

> much raw food. When I warmed up my diet...ate more warming foods

and spices

> and more proteins my hair and teeth got strong again (my teeth

were even

> loose, now talk about scary!)

>

> Now at 37 only a few hairs fall out a day (which is normal) and my

teeth are

> not loose at all and I am very healthy. But I had to work at

getting enough

> protein (in the form of beans for me, more iron than tofu) and

eating less

> sweets.

>

> I got my information out of Healing with Whole Foods Oriental

Medicine and

> Modern Nutrition by Paul Pitchford.

>

> Kristina

[Guest guest]

*scratches head*

isn't biotin a member of the b vitamin family...???

isn't it found in most green leafy veggies?

[Guest guest]

protein (and omega 3's in flax, walnuts, etc.) are very important,

but you might also want to see about taking some biotin supplements.

Biotin is a b vitamin very important to hair and nail development and

it isn't in a lot of vegan foods. it usually isn't even in a lot of

multivitamins (possibly because most people get plenty in their

meat).

 

 

, " Siobhan " <californiagnomes>

wrote:

> Thanks. I am going to see what things I can change in my diet, I

> like the idea of flax, and I do eat plenty of beans and stuff but I

> am going to make sure I am getting lots of protein every day.

>

[Guest guest]

Check your multivitamins, my guess is that the biotin content is very

low. You should probably have more than 100%. you can buy biotin

supplements separately in virtually any drug or health food store.

Also, make sure you get enough magnesium and vitamin d, because w/o

these you won't absorb the calcium as well. Multivitamins often don't

have enough calcium, magnesium or biotin. because they're made for

the average meat-eating, veggie-hating american.

 

, Surya Burdick

<californiagnomes> wrote:

> I am having a big problem here that is even making me rethink being

vegan and maybe going back to vegetarian, which is sad for me because

I love being vegan and have no problem with the lifestyle.

> I have been vegan for about 8 months now, and my hair is literally

breaking off and falling out.

> I have always had great hair, never frizzy, never losing it, and

suddenly it is crappy looking and breaking off and the new hair is

thin and frizzy. We have no history of hair loss and I know it is

directly related to my diet. I don't know what to do.

> I take vitamins and eat a pretty healthy diet, I try to get plenty

of good fats like olive oil and nuts, I eat lots of tofu and

vegetables, and I am not a big processed foods vegan. I take B-12,

calcium, even silica now for my hair.

> Ugh, I don't know what to do. I am really upset about this.

> Has anyone had a similar problem?

>

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 12/13/03 8:28:46 PM Pacific Standard Time, dave4sale writes:

here's a list of good sources, note most of them

aren't vegan and the sources that are have relatively little...

except nuts and soy protein;

hey..over half were vegan1

pretty good odds..

and we produce biotin in our own intestines.....

*shrug*

guess it couldn't hurt to get a suppliment..

 

In 1998 the Food and Nutrition Board of the Institute of Medicine felt the existing scientific evidence was insufficient to calculate an RDA for biotin, so they set an Adequate Intake level (AI). The AI for biotin assumes that current average intakes of biotin (35 mcg to 60 mcg/day) are meeting the dietary requirement.

 

Daily recommendations for dietary vitamin B7 are listed below.

 

Children and Youth:

 

Infants 0-6 months: 5 mcg/day

Infants 7-12 months: 6 mcg/day

Children 1-3 years: 8mcg/day

Children 4-8 years: 12 mcg/day

Children 9-13 years: 20 mcg/day

Adolescents 14-18 years: 25 mcg/day (female) 25 mcg/day (male)

 

Adults:

 

Adults 19 years and older: 30 mcg/day (female) 30 mcg/day (male)

Pregnancy all ages: 30 mcg/day

Breastfeeding all ages: 35 mcg/day

[Guest guest]

yes, biotin is a b vitamin, but no, leafy green veggies aren't a good

source of it. here's a list of good sources, note most of them

aren't vegan and the sources that are have relatively little...

except nuts and soy protein; but i assumed not all vegans necessarily

eat either of those daily. the average adult male should get about

450 mcg a day.

 

Peanuts, 1/2 cup: 73 mcg

Filberts, 1/2 cup: 51

Almonds, 1/2 cup: 34

Peanut butter, 2 Tbl: 32

Liver, PIG 27

Soy protein isolate, 1 oz: 8.5

Egg, 1 large cooked: 8.1

Cashews, 1/2 cup: 8.9

Low fat yogurt, 1 cup: 7.4

Haddock, 3.5 oz cooked: 6.0

Sweet potatoes, canned, 1/2 cup: 5.5

Swiss chard, cooked, 1/2 cup: 5.3

Salmon, 3.5 oz cooked: 5.0

Nonfat milk, 1 cup: 4.9

Tomato sauce, 1/2 cup: 4.7

Carrots, 1/2 cup, cooked: 3.9

Avocado, half: 3.6

Carrot, 7.5 " raw: 3.6

Papaya cubes, 1 cup: 3.1

Banana, one: 3.1

Pork, 3.5 oz cooked: 3.0

Tuna, 3.5 oz canned: 3.0

 

http://www.feinberg.northwestern.edu/nutrition/factsheets/biotin.html

 

, EBbrewpunx@c... wrote:

> *scratches head*

> isn't biotin a member of the b vitamin family...???

> isn't it found in most green leafy veggies?

[Guest guest]

Hi Kristina

 

Sounds like an interesting book - thanks.

 

Jo

 

I got my information out of Healing with Whole Foods Oriental Medicine and Modern Nutrition by Paul Pitchford.

 

 

---Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).Version: 6.0.548 / Virus Database: 341 - Release 05/12/03

[Guest guest]

It's from a lack of protein. I was having the same problem initially.

 

There are supplements out there that you can take, but just be

careful to make sure that they are not animal based. I found a really

good powder from Trader Joe's that is soy based. My only problem with

it is that it's a lot to take. So I am still searching fer a pill

form that would work better.

 

 

 

Nikki

 

 

, Surya Burdick

<californiagnomes> wrote:

> I am having a big problem here that is even making me rethink being

vegan and maybe going back to vegetarian, which is sad for me because

I love being vegan and have no problem with the lifestyle.

> I have been vegan for about 8 months now, and my hair is literally

breaking off and falling out.

> I have always had great hair, never frizzy, never losing it, and

suddenly it is crappy looking and breaking off and the new hair is

thin and frizzy. We have no history of hair loss and I know it is

directly related to my diet. I don't know what to do.

> I take vitamins and eat a pretty healthy diet, I try to get plenty

of good fats like olive oil and nuts, I eat lots of tofu and

vegetables, and I am not a big processed foods vegan. I take B-12,

calcium, even silica now for my hair.

> Ugh, I don't know what to do. I am really upset about this.

> Has anyone had a similar problem?

>

>

> No matter how far you have gone on the wrong road, turn back.

>

> -Turkish proverb

>

>

> There is no more liberating action than sincerely to give people

kindness in return for unkindness. Why not be like the flower that

gives fragrance even when crushed in the hand? The Gita teaches: " He

who is free from hatred towards all creatures, is friendly and kind

to all... is dear to Me " .

>

> -Paramahansa Yogananda

>

>

>

> New Photos - easier uploading and sharing

[Guest guest]

dave wrote:

>

> eat either of those daily. the average adult male should get about

> 450 mcg a day.

 

Are you sure about this? The site you quote suggests 30mcg.

 

>

> Peanuts, 1/2 cup: 73 mcg

 

So, we'd need three cups of peanuts to get the RDA?

 

> Soy protein isolate, 1 oz: 8.5

 

Or 52oz Soy protein?

 

> Egg, 1 large cooked: 8.1

 

Or 55 eggs?

[Guest guest]

I don't need any eggs and no any other animal "food".Ian McDonald <ian wrote:

dave wrote:> > eat either of those daily. the average adult male should get about> 450 mcg a day.Are you sure about this? The site you quote suggests 30mcg.> > Peanuts, 1/2 cup: 73 mcgSo, we'd need three cups of peanuts to get the RDA?> Soy protein isolate, 1 oz: 8.5Or 52oz Soy protein?> Egg, 1 large cooked: 8.1Or 55 eggs?To send an email to -

[Guest guest]

You did get that the examples of Biotin sources were just that

(examples), and taken from a list which included many animal sources for

comparison, right?

 

Even if you didn't, you did get that 'needing X or Y or Z' means that

you need neither X nor Y nor Z individually?

 

Right?

[Guest guest]

oops, yeah i think i meant 45, not 450. I always figure a little

extra is beter to play it safe.

[Guest guest]

I'm still not convinced it's protein though. The guy said he eats

lots of tofu. if that's true, then there's no reason he isn't getting

his amino acids, because tofu is a " complete protein " . Perhaps it is

iron deficiency- that can occassionally cause hair loss. I'm not sure

about the iron content of tofu and veggies, but i notice lots of

multivitamins don't have iron because excessive iron is toxic (i.e.

if kids were to eat lots of them). Otherwise i found a site with

some more less common ailments that may cause hair loss; such as

Alopecia Areata and thyroid problems.. might be worth a look...

 

http://www.aad.org/pamphlets/hairloss.html

 

>

>

> , Surya Burdick

> <californiagnomes> wrote:

> > I am having a big problem here that is even making me rethink

being

> vegan and maybe going back to vegetarian, which is sad for me

because

> I love being vegan and have no problem with the lifestyle.

> > I have been vegan for about 8 months now, and my hair is

literally

> breaking off and falling out.

> > I have always had great hair, never frizzy, never losing it, and

> suddenly it is crappy looking and breaking off and the new hair is

> thin and frizzy. We have no history of hair loss and I know it is

> directly related to my diet. I don't know what to do.

> > I take vitamins and eat a pretty healthy diet, I try to get

plenty

> of good fats like olive oil and nuts, I eat lots of tofu and

> vegetables, and I am not a big processed foods vegan. I take B-12,

> calcium, even silica now for my hair.

> > Ugh, I don't know what to do. I am really upset about this.