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How To Reduce Hair Loss Due To Iron Deficiency

Iron deficiency is the most common nutritional disorder in women. Menstrual blood loss, pregnancy, and gastrointestinal bleeding are causes of low iron levels. If the hemoglobin level falls below 10 mg/dL, it leads to iron deficiency anemia. This increases the risk of excessive hair loss in women.

Thankfully, consuming iron-rich foods and supplements can help reverse hair loss due to iron deficiency. Read on to explore the foods rich in iron that prevent anemia hair loss Scroll down to know more!

Iron Deficiency Anemia And Hair Loss

Iron deficiency anemia is the most common type of anemia. It is a condition in which the body does not produce enough RBCs (red blood cells). The RBCs contain hemoglobin (an iron-rich protein) that helps carry oxygen to the body (even to the hair roots). Optimum RBC levels help keep the body, skin, hair, and nails healthy.

However, a low RBC count can lead to low iron levels in the body. Scientists speculate that iron deficiency could be the reason for excessive hair fall in women.

Clearly, iron plays a crucial role in promoting the health of hair follicles and may cause hair fall when the levels plummet. The question is, why does iron deficiency occur in the first place? Scroll down to know.

Causes Of Iron Deficiency Anemia

  • Heavy menstruation
  • Pregnancy
  • Physical wounds
  • Surgery
  • Gastrointestinal diseases
  • Stomach ulcers
  • Vegetarian diet
  • Frequent blood donations

These are the possible causes of iron deficiency anemia. People with this type of anemia show the following symptoms.

Symptoms Of Iron Deficiency Anemia

  • Headache
  • Dizziness
  • Fatigue
  • Pale and dry skin
  • Fast heartbeat
  • Hair loss
  • Craving for ice or clay
  • Smooth tongue
  • Brittle nails

Get your iron levels checked to detect any deficiency. Here are the tests that your doctor may ask you to get done.

Tests To Know If You Have Iron Deficiency

Two tests have to be done. The hemoglobin concentration test helps measure the iron levels, and the serum ferritin concentration test confirms its deficiency. However, the serum ferritin levels may be high in people with inflammation and infections. In that case, erythrocyte zinc protoporphyrin concentration, serum iron concentration, transferrin concentration, and transferrin saturation must be tested to determine iron deficiency.

Scroll down to know the ideal iron level required for hair growth.

What Is The Ideal Iron Level For Hair Growth?

The normal serum ferritin level ranges from 10-120 ng/ml for females between 18 – 39 years of age and 12-263 ng/mL for 40 years and older. Serum ferritin levels equal to or below 30 ng/ml can lead to hair loss.

Fortunately, proper diet and supplementation can help reverse anemia hair loss. Scroll down to know which foods can increase iron levels and stop hair fall.

Foods To Increase Iron Levels

Foods To Increase Iron Levels

Animal Sources Of Iron – Meat, poultry, and fish are rich sources of heme iron, which gets absorbed easily. A few more examples of the animal sources of iron are:

  • Chicken
  • Beef
  • Ham
  • Pork
  • Lamb
  • Turkey
  • Tuna
  • Mackerel
  • Haddock
  • Scallop
  • Clams
  • Shrimps
  • Oysters
  • Eggs

Plant Sources Of Iron – Plant sources contain non-heme iron that does not get easily absorbed. However, it is necessary for a balanced diet. Your body absorbs about 10% of the non-heme iron you consume from the plant sources. Here’s a list of plant-based foods rich in iron:

  • Spinach
  • Broccoli
  • Peas
  • Kale
  • Sweet potatoes
  • Chard
  • Beet greens
  • Collard greens
  • String beans
  • Tofu
  • Tempeh
  • Lentils
  • Kidney beans
  • Garbanzo beans
  • Strawberries
  • Watermelon
  • Dates
  • Prunes
  • Figs
  • Apricots
  • Raisins
  • Pepita (Pumpkin seed)
  • Sunflower seeds
  • Red rice
  • Oats
  • Quinoa
  • Amaranth
  • Cashew
  • Almond
  • Rye bread
  • Whole wheat bread

Merely consuming foods rich in iron is not enough. You must also include foods that help in iron absorption. Foods rich in vitamins A and C enhance iron absorption. Scroll down for the list.

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