premature grey hair |
Other Terms : | Nutrition-related Causes of Grey Hair |
Hair colour or pigment, called melanin, is produced by pigment cells within hair follicles called melanocytes. When melanin production is reduced or stops, the hair becomes colorless or white, which, mixed with surrounding darker hair, results in a ‘grey hair’ effect.
So a drop in melanin production is what causes grey hair. Causes of melanin reduction include aging. As we age, melanocytes become less active, so less pigment is produced. Graying is generally a part of aging.
However, when more than half our hair is white by the age of 40, we are considered to have premature grey hair. Premature grey hair can be due to genetics, which causes some people to grey earlier than others.
What causes grey hair can also be factors such as stress and smoking. In addition while there is no scientific evidence that any herb, supplement or product can reverse grey hair or stop grey hair forming, some nutritional deficiencies can cause conditions that result in premature gray hair.
Scientists have found thatgrey hair follicles have far fewer hair-repair enzymes, which in turn drives down production of melanin, and is what causes grey hair. Addressing these underlying conditions may helpstop grey hair or reverse grey hair formation.
What nutrient deficiencies can lead to premature grey hair :
DIETARY ELEMENT | DEFICIENCY SYMPTOMS | FOODS | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Folic Acid | More on Folic Acid
Deficiency of folic acid is what causes grey hair in some instances. Folic acid promotes healthy hair, skin and nails due to its role in synthesis of protein and cell growth, and lack of folic acid can lead to
High folic acid foods that may help in preventing grey hair or reverse grey hair causes include · organ meat like animal liver or kidney · legumes (peas and dried beans such as adzuki beans, black beans, cranberry beans, chickpeas or garbanzo beans, dal, kidney beans, lentils, mung beans, navy beans, pinto beans) · dark-green leafy vegetables including asparagus, beets, broccoli, collard greens, cauliflower, mustard greens, parsley, romaine lettuce, spinach, turnip greens. |
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PABA | More on PABA
Deficiency of PABA may be what causes grey hair in certain cases. PABA helps in the utilization of pantothenic acid and is important for healthy hair pigment. A lack of PABA is one of the possible causes of grey hair.
PABA-rich foods that may help reverse grey hair or stop grey hair causes include · brewer’s yeast · molasses · organ meats like animal liver and kidney · wheat germ. |
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Copper | More on Copper
Copper deficiency may possibly be what causes grey hair in some cases. Copper is needed for production of melanin, the pigment that gives skin and hair its color. A lack of copper can result in
Copper-rich foods that may help in preventing grey hair, and reverse grey hair causes include · cashew nuts · dried beans like soybeans, adzuki beans, garbanzo beans (chickpeas), lentils, lima, navy beans · dried spirulina · crimini mushrooms · shiitake mushrooms · sesame seeds. |
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Manganese | More on Manganese
Manganese deficiency may also be one of the causes of grey hair, due to its importance in enzyme activation. Lack of manganese can adversely affect many bio-chemical processes in the body and lead to loss of hair colour and premature gray hair.
Foods rich in manganese that may help in preventing grey hair or to stop grey hair formation include · dark green leafy vegetables (broccoli, chard, collard greens, kale, mustard greens, romaine lettuce, spinach) · avocados · pineapple · raspberries · nuts (almonds, peanuts, pecans, walnuts). |
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