My hair has been thinning and falling out

Adpalangi

My hair has been thinning and falling out. I've been told it's from poor nutrition. I feel I am eating healthier than any time in my life. So could this be related, my diet.
I'm trying to remember when it started happening and I'm not sure if it was before This change of lifestyle or during.
I feel that if it is nutrition than before my eating habits were aweful so that maybe what started it, but to continue concerns me.
Has anyone else experienced this and if so what did you do?

BombshellPhoenix

How long have you been eating 1000 calories and why is your fats so low? Your protein and fats are very low, both are essential for overall health. I'm not sure what you're micros look like but you definitely need to be eating more. Some days I'm only seeing 600 ish calories logged? I'm sorry this is happening to you but yes, it does sound diet related

Adpalangi

Thank you for your response. My calories have bounced over and under since I have began. I am just now starting to stay close to my defect, and keeping my fat and sugar down, I had been over on those a lot while staying in my daily/weekly goal. I haven't looked back but I'm not sure I have been low on fat, actually over. Any way is this about my whole diet in general? Or is it specific nutrients? If I'm doing something wrong than I need to fix it.
Thanks for any advice you can and have given me.

Daiako

Things I never thought I'd say in life ever: Maybe you should consider eating less ice cream, whipped cream, cake and quest bars and more meat and veg and fruit and such?

I mean. For weight loss yeah you can eat whatever. I'm a big flexi dieting fan...but you gotta eat your meat and veg before you eat your pudding, you know? So start there and then maybe try eating up to your actual goal?

And fat. And protein. Those are things you may want to consider getting more of

BombshellPhoenix

http://www.mckinley.illinois.edu/handouts/macronutrients.htm

"the Dietary Reference Intakes published by the USDA 20% - 35% of calories should come from fat. We need this amount of fat for:

Normal growth and development
Energy (fat is the most concentrated source of energy)
Absorbing certain vitamins ( like vitamins A, D, E, K, and carotenoids)
Providing cushioning for the organs
Maintaining cell membranes"

not getting enough fat can mean that your absorption of vitamins may be deficient. I would definitely try to keep your intake consistently above 1200 and make sure you're getting around that percentage in fat. If you're decently active about 1g per pound of lean body mass in protein is also recommended.

ILiftHeavyAcrylics

Thank you for your response. My calories have bounced over and under since I have began. I am just now starting to stay close to my defect, and keeping my fat and sugar down, I had been over on those a lot while staying in my daily/weekly goal. I haven't looked back but I'm not sure I have been low on fat, actually over. Any way is this about my whole diet in general? Or is it specific nutrients? If I'm doing something wrong than I need to fix it.
Thanks for any advice you can and have given me.

Aside from the fact that 1000 calories is TOO LOW, especially considering how little you have to lose, you should be aiming for .35 grams of fat per pound of weight. So if you're 125 lbs you need about 45 grams of fat. You should aim for somewhere around 1 gram of protein per pound of lean body mass. For me that's 100 grams. Why did you reset everything so low? Especially since you've been told you have poor nutrition?

I also agree with Daiako. I'm a huge fan of cake, ice cream, and quest bars. All can be part of a healthy diet. But you need meat, veggies, fruits, and healthy fat first.

Can you ask for a referral to a dietician to write you a meal plan?

PikaKnight

I'm going to go with eating less than a 1000 calories a day is your issue.

sympha01

You're eating too few calories, which means even though you think you're eating "healthier than you've ever" eaten before, you're not getting enough nutrients. Not just micronutrients (maybe them too, of course) but particularly macronutrients like protein and fat. Period.

You need an absolute minimum of nutrients, and at 1000 calories a day you're not going to meet that minimum.

There is no magic benefit protecting you from malnutrition just because the too-few-nutrients-you're-currently-eating are coming from less "unhealthy" foods than you are used to eating.

From the Mayo Clinic: http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hair-loss/basics/causes/con-20027666
"Your hair may thin out if you skimp on good dietary sources of iron and protein, such as red meat, nonfat dairy products and iron-fortified cereal. Hair loss related to poor nutrition often accompanies eating disorders and crash dieting."

vhuber

Besides your calorie intake. Have your thyroid tested (for this same reason I just had my thyroid prescription upped & hair loss is back to normal) & also women starting menopause or in menopause experience hair loss!!!

Beewallows

When I lost 40 pounds a few years back (I did it in about 4 months), at the end, my hair was coming out in clumps. It lasted about a 3 to 4 weeks, and went back to normal afterwards when I went back to eating more food. I probably wasn't eating enough, looking back.

love8383

maybe it is due to diet but be sure your doc rules out all the other reasons hair can fall out or thin like thyroid, hormonal changes, lupus, alopecia, medications ect

jrodri0105

My hair has been thinning and falling out. I've been told it's from poor nutrition. I feel I am eating healthier than any time in my life. So could this be related, my diet.
I'm trying to remember when it started happening and I'm not sure if it was before This change of lifestyle or during.
I feel that if it is nutrition than before my eating habits were aweful so that maybe what started it, but to continue concerns me.
Has anyone else experienced this and if so what did you do?

You're not eating enough calories. No way you're getting all your nutrients 20 g of fat & 1000 calories? Increase to 1200!

MrsCot45

I agree. You need to see a doc. About 20 years ago, my hair started to fall out by the fistful. Shortly thereafter I found out I was diabetic. Earlier this year, it started falling out again. My last blood test shows my a1c is creeping up. I may need to switch to insulin from my oral meds.

Adpalangi

Thank you for replying and offering your advice. I suppose you have gone back in my diary from the days my 3 grands were here, I did horrible with all nutrients for those four days. And recently I have been looking for a evening snack, because I read a thread where people were saying about fitting in chocolate, ice cream sandwiches (every night) all kinds of the so called bad food and those people were doing very well on their weight loss. I've been told not to cut foods out, but to have them in moderation. I hardly think 1/4 cup of organic ice cream, or four tablespoons of whip cream on a cup of fruit, is over. Indulging, so I guess in need to look over that.
And someone please tell me why I need to stay away from protien bars. They have really helped me to get close to my protien goal.
Thanks again for your help.

ILiftHeavyAcrylics

Thank you for replying and offering your advice. I suppose you have gone back in my diary from the days my 3 grands were here, I did horrible with all nutrients for those four days. And recently I have been looking for a evening snack, because I read a thread where people were saying about fitting in chocolate, ice cream sandwiches (every night) all kinds of the so called bad food and those people were doing very well on their weight loss. I've been told not to cut foods out, but to have them in moderation. I hardly think 1/4 cup of organic ice cream, or four tablespoons of whip cream on a cup of fruit, is over. Indulging, so I guess in need to look over that.
And someone please tell me why I need to stay away from protien bars. They have really helped me to get close to my protien goal.
Thanks again for your help.

It's not that you need to stay away from any of those things. Check my diary. Ice cream every day, and often other treat foods including protein bars.

It's that you need to include more nutrient dense foods also, and more calories overall.

Adpalangi

I'm so sorry to hear you have had to go through that. And thanks so much for your input. I do have an appt with my dr next week, my hair stylist suggested the same, to see a dr.

PikaKnight

Thank you for replying and offering your advice. I suppose you have gone back in my diary from the days my 3 grands were here, I did horrible with all nutrients for those four days. And recently I have been looking for a evening snack, because I read a thread where people were saying about fitting in chocolate, ice cream sandwiches (every night) all kinds of the so called bad food and those people were doing very well on their weight loss. I've been told not to cut foods out, but to have them in moderation. I hardly think 1/4 cup of organic ice cream, or four tablespoons of whip cream on a cup of fruit, is over. Indulging, so I guess in need to look over that.
And someone please tell me why I need to stay away from protien bars. They have really helped me to get close to my protien goal.
Thanks again for your help.

It's not that you need to stay away from any of those things. Check my diary. Ice cream every day, and often other treat foods including protein bars.

It's that you need to include more nutrient dense foods also, and more calories overall.

^This. Also..you need to really eat more. I went back here and there in your diary from your join date. You've been eating dangerously low for awhile.

Adpalangi

Wow! Thank you.

Adpalangi

Dangerously in the fact of the calorie intake or was there something else?
Also thank you for your input.

Daiako

Thank you for replying and offering your advice. I suppose you have gone back in my diary from the days my 3 grands were here, I did horrible with all nutrients for those four days. And recently I have been looking for a evening snack, because I read a thread where people were saying about fitting in chocolate, ice cream sandwiches (every night) all kinds of the so called bad food and those people were doing very well on their weight loss. I've been told not to cut foods out, but to have them in moderation. I hardly think 1/4 cup of organic ice cream, or four tablespoons of whip cream on a cup of fruit, is over. Indulging, so I guess in need to look over that.
And someone please tell me why I need to stay away from protien bars. They have really helped me to get close to my protien goal.
Thanks again for your help.

you don't need to stay away from those things, you need to temper them with nutrient dense food.

I'll open up my diary if that will help but I, personally, have ice cream and protein bars daily...as well as meat, grains, veggies and occasionally fruit. And I'm not saying eat like me but I'm saying you gotta...you know. Work it all in.

meshashesha2012

hair isnt crucial to your health and from eating so low for so long your body has rightly decided to steer nutrients away from your follicles to make sure you have enough for your vital organs.
oh yeah and another side effect is that you will more than likely start looking 5-10 years older than you actually are, but at least you'll be thin i guess

PikaKnight

Dangerously in the fact of the calorie intake or was there something else?
Also thank you for your input.

Eating 200, 400, 500, 700, 900 calories a day is dangerously low. Because of such a low intake, you are also not getting the nutrients you need..at all. (Both macros and micros).

milocamolly

Have you had any blood work done recently? Hair loss can be something much more. My hair started falling out recently and I went in and had blood work done and sure enough my readings were off and it was just a small symptom to a larger problem. Also I'm a hairstylist and I see this a lot with sudden hair loss and I always recommend getting checked out to my guests. I hope it is just a fluke but its better to rule other factor out than ignore something.

ILiftHeavyAcrylics

Dangerously in the fact of the calorie intake or was there something else?
Also thank you for your input.

As we've already said-- it's a matter of calories, fat, protein, and micronutrients. All of the above.

_benjammin

Dangerously in the fact of the calorie intake or was there something else?
Also thank you for your input.

Eating 200, 400, 500, 700, 900 calories a day is dangerously low. Because of such a low intake, you are also not getting the nutrients you need..at all. (Both macros and micros...

...and your hair is falling out).

jrodri0105

Thank you for replying and offering your advice. I suppose you have gone back in my diary from the days my 3 grands were here, I did horrible with all nutrients for those four days. And recently I have been looking for a evening snack, because I read a thread where people were saying about fitting in chocolate, ice cream sandwiches (every night) all kinds of the so called bad food and those people were doing very well on their weight loss. I've been told not to cut foods out, but to have them in moderation. I hardly think 1/4 cup of organic ice cream, or four tablespoons of whip cream on a cup of fruit, is over. Indulging, so I guess in need to look over that.
And someone please tell me why I need to stay away from protien bars. They have really helped me to get close to my protien goal.
Thanks again for your help.

We keep emphasizing for you to eat more. However, we don't hear you saying " I'll increase my calories." The foods that you're eating are not enough for you to get all your nutrients. On top of that fat is essential for your body. Especially, your "brain cells". Keep under eating and you'll start developing illnesses from the stress you're putting on it.

BombshellPhoenix

Dear OP,

Nutrition is very important. This means getting the proper caloric amount and hitting your macro and micro goals. You cannot do this on the calories you're intaking, as others have said.

Sure, I eat ice cream and cookies. But I also fuel my body and get my Nutrition in first and foremost. I'm also working on 2400 calories not less than 1k.

Perhaps, you should see a specialist. It just seems to be very disordered behavior and there is not much more this community can tell you but to eat more and aim for more nutrient dense foods. Wish you the best.

Adpalangi

Lots of help out there! I have a dr appt for next week, so that's all good.
The program I joined to loose weight has my calorie count to go up, just like someone mentioned. I expect starting Mon measurements I will have a whole new set of goals for the calories and nutrients, so whether or not I want to or not, I will probably bring my deflect away from the 1000 mark. And who wouldn't like that...
I also feel I need to say my diet now is hundreds of times better than what it used to be. My breakfast and dinner used to be honey nut cherrios , maybe three bowls for breakfast and several for dinner. Anything else usually came from a fast food place, not good either. So I have to say, no I'm not thinking I'm eating healthier just because it seems like less, because it really isn't less, and now I'm getting healthy fruits, vegetables, and at least alittle more protien than I was before.
The advice is unamonous, apparently I need to up calories protien and even fat...I know many ways to get high in fat, but can anyone tell me of what healthy fat would be? Thanks

lynn_glenmont

The advice is unamonous, apparently I need to up calories protien and even fat...I know many ways to get high in fat, but can anyone tell me of what healthy fat would be? Thanks

Olive oil, olives, avocados, nuts, nut butters, seeds, whole grains (there is fat in the germ), and fatty fish are generally recognized as healthy fats, but as long as you avoid trans fats and get unsaturated fats in your diet, having some saturated fat (especially prevalent in meat and full-fat dairy, but also found in some plant foods) is OK.

chadya07

eat more, like they said. be honest with your doctor about what you are eating. even if they dont ask.

start eating like an adult again. see if your hair stops falling out.

rhodieridge13

Hi, I agree with increasing your caloric intake. In the meantime, I recommend the following supplements: Fish-oil and BIOTIN (for the hair loss). It's recommended for cancer patients when they lose their hair during chemotherapy......
Anyway, good luck to you.