What causes hair loss?
Although hair loss can be blamed on your mom and dad (i.e., genetics) there are other causes -- preventable ones -- that include nutritional deficiency, infection, prescription drugs, chemical hair products, and even emotional stress. Taking care of these, while focusing on ways to stimulate growth, should keep you well ahead of the pack in your hair-loss-prevention quest.
Eat more fish
Not only are fish loaded with protein and minerals, but they’re also an excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin D. Both nutrients have been linked to preventing hair loss in chemotherapy patients. That holding true for healthy men hasn’t really been studied, but both nutrients offer a host of other health benefits so there should be nothing stopping you from including more fish in your diet.
Keep your iron levels in check
Iron-deficiency anemia, which is more common in women, is a well-known cause of unexpected hair loss, but the loss may be so slight that you barely notice it. Adding some iron-rich foods to your diet like pumpkin seeds, quinoa or tofu may help if you run into any problems. This is particularly important if you’re a vegetarian looking into hair loss prevention, since it can be harder to get enough iron when you have to avoid red meats or eggs.
Don’t forget your vitamin B
Also important for hair growth are B vitamins biotin, folate, B2, and B12. In fact, some, like biotin, are so important that they’re prescribed alongside medical treatments for hair loss (like Rogaine). If you think you’re lacking vitamin B or any nutrient for that matter (like iron), speak to your doctor before you get yourself tested or go down the supplements route. An even simpler solution is to structure your diet accordingly, although getting enough biotin may be a challenge.
Manage your stress
At any one time, about 85% of the hair on your head is in its growing phase while 15% is in its final “death” stages. Amazingly, certain stressful events can actually produce a "shock to the system" that alters this natural cycle causing as much as 30%–40% of the hairs to start to die. The result: three months later, you start to shed like a dog does its coat. Although the events that cause these are usually major life stressors, like a severe illness, it’s possible that chronic, prolonged stress could have a similar, though lesser, effect. Finding ways to manage stress should therefore be a top priority for any man stressing to find ways to prevent hair loss.
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