By: Cat Ebeling, RN, MSN-PHN, co-author of the best-sellers:  The Fat Burning Kitchen, The Top 101 Foods that Fight Aging & The Diabetes Fix

For men and women, aging brings some degree of hair loss or thinning. While we may not all be sporting a shiny bald head, both men and women can lose a significant amount of hair after the age of 40 or so. For women, this often coincides with menopause and declining hormones and can be especially distressing.

Men typically can inherit male-pattern baldness and it’s normal and well-accepted. Hair loss is quite common in women as well, especially if they are post-menopausal. Let’s tackle some of the reasons for this hair loss.

Genes vs. Hormones

Male-pattern baldness, as well as female-pattern baldness can be attributed to a condition called “androgenetic alopecia”. AA is one of the most common forms of hair loss in both men and women. The hormone at play here is a a substance called dihydrotestosterone, which is a form of testosterone.

About half of men over the age of 50 and half of women over 65 have this form of hair loss, while younger people can be affected as well. It’s thought that people have certain hair follicles that are either susceptible or resistant to dihydrotestosterone.

In a study published in the International Journal of Trichology, it was found that female patients with progressive hair loss had a strong correlation between hypothyroidism (low thyroid) and hypertension (high blood pressure). Many of these people were also low in vitamin D as well. So, while many think that genes are the cause of hair loss, hormonal imbalances and nutrition come into play as well.

In fact, many health professionals are beginning to note that hair loss can be due to diet, nutrition, stress, and other environmental factors as well. This means that some degree of hair loss can be controlled after all.

Hormonal Imbalances

Hormonal imbalances most definitely come into play when it comes to hair—for both men and women. Hormones that affect hair loss include:

• Imbalance in estrogen in relationship to testosterone levels in women. After menopause, women’s levels of both progesterone and estrogen decrease significantly. Estrogen affects hair growth and quality. When levels of testosterone are too high, and estrogen is too low, hair thinning, and excessive hair loss can occur—especially post menopause or perimenopause.
• Low levels of thyroid hormone for both men and women affect hair growth and quality as well. As women approach menopause, their levels of progesterone drop drastically. Low progesterone affects thyroid function and can cause hypothyroid conditions. This in turn, can cause hair loss and slow regrowth.
• Testosterone levels in men or women. While this may occur naturally, it also can happen with testosterone hormone therapy supplementation.
• Insulin resistance can cause a loss of hair in both men and women and can be one of the symptoms of pre-diabetes or diabetes.

Hormones that are either too high or too low can affect hair growth. Both hyper and hypothyroid conditions can cause hair loss and thinning. Additionally, too high levels of testosterone or too low levels can also affect your head of hair.

Diet and Nutrition

Nutritional status can affect hair growth and dietary deficiencies will cause hair thinning, breakage, and slow hair growth. Some of the key nutrients that affect hair growth include:

• Iron deficiency or anemia can be one of the primary causes of hair loss in pre-menopausal women, especially. Iron contributes to hemoglobin which supplies nutrients and oxygen to hair follicles. Vegans and vegetarians often report hair loss.
• Zinc is an essential mineral used by hundreds of enzymes. It is thought zinc shortage affects protein synthesis and cell division, affecting hair growth. For many men, it’s a combination of low zinc and copper that causes hair loss. Not only does zinc deficiency cause hair loss, but the remaining hair can be brittle and break off more easily.
• Selenium is an essential trace element necessary for proper thyroid function which affects hair growth.
• Biotin, Folate, and Niacin are all part of the B complex vitamins. Deficiencies can occur in people with gluten sensitivity or celiac disease and other malabsorption conditions. A B vitamin deficiency can also be caused by alcoholism, and certain medications. Vegans often have B vitamin deficiencies.
• Vitamin D plays a role in hair follicle cycling and affects the hair follicle’s growth and dormant states. Low levels of vitamin D may cause hair to thin or stop growing. Risk factors for vitamin D deficiency include inadequate sun exposure, dark skin, obesity, gastric bypass, and fat malabsorption.
• Vitamin A has been shown to activate hair follicle stem cells, however high levels of vitamin A can cause hair loss. Since vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin, too much vitamin A can accumulate in the body, especially when taken as a supplement.
• Protein malnutrition can also result in hair thinning and loss, due to the lack of specific amino acids. Many vegetarians and vegans often notice hair thinning after being on a strict vegetarian diet.

People with vitamin and nutrient-related hair loss may lose more than just the hair on their heads. Damage to hair follicles can also cause the eyebrows and lashes to shed, if bad enough. Eating a diet rich in animal-based protein, healthy fats and fresh vegetables should suffice to help balance nutrient deficiencies. In cases of malabsorption or GI issues, extra supplementation may be necessary if hair loss is a problem.

Health Status

Health status has a lot to do with hair loss and hair growth. There are many contributing factors that can create health conditions that lead to hair loss. Some of those include cardiovascular disease, hypertension, diabetes or pre-diabetes and hypothyroidism. Autoimmune diseases can also be a trigger for hair loss as well, although many autoimmune conditions create more patchy hair loss than just thinning hair. Celiac disease, Crohn’s disease and other GI conditions can also create problems with your hair.

For these, simply getting rid of the sugar, processed grains and gluten can definitely put you back on the path to good health and a shiny, healthy head of hair.

One other health condition that is worth mentioning is having had Covid-19. Having Covid can affect people in different ways. Some can have a more severe version of the disease, while other have had a milder form. However, Covid and other contagious illnesses can have some long-term effects, including hair loss, otherwise known as telogen effluvium.

Many people notice hair loss a few months after recovering from a Covid infection. In fact, for those who were hospitalized, more than 20 % lost a significant amount of hair in the 3-6 months after recover.

Hair loss is a common response to physical stress such as a serious illness, surgery, or other types of physical trauma. Other studies that include people with milder symptoms suggest that hair loss after COVID-19 may be much more common than that.

A healthy, balanced diet that includes naturally raised animal protein, a variety of fruits and vegetables and a healthy intake of fat will help you regrow your tresses. Be sure to supplement if you or your doctor feel you may have nutritional deficiencies. There are other natural methods to help stimulate growth such as rosemary essential oil, omega 3 fish oils, coconut oil and even onion juice. Medical intervention can mean a prescription to Rogaine or Propecia to help promote growth.

Hair is an outward expression of your body’s health in addition to genetics. Take care of your health and your hair and skin will glow.

What’s been your experience with hair loss? Did you notice hair loss if you’ve had Covid? What other health conditions have you experienced that caused hair loss?

References
https://www.webmd.com/connect-to-care/hair-loss/vitamin-deficiencies-that-can-cause-hair-loss
https://www.goodrx.com/conditions/covid-19/covid-hair-loss
https://www.healthline.com/health/regrow-hair-naturally#9
https://www.marksdailyapple.com/hair-loss-looking-beyond-genetics/
https://draxe.com/beauty/hair-loss-remedies/

The post What You Need to Know About Hair Loss and Thinning Hair appeared first on thenutritionwatchdog.com.

By: Cat Ebeling, RN, MSN-PHN, co-author of the best-sellers:  The Fat Burning Kitchen, The Top 101 Foods that Fight Aging & The Diabetes Fix

Back in the days of primal man, they would catch a wild animal to eat and they weren’t just eating boneless, skinless grilled muscle meat. Nope. Primal man basically ate the average land animal from nose to tail. Did you know that close to half the weight of a cow is the ‘non-meat’ stuff? Bones, tendons, skin, cartilage and other connective tissue. There are good reasons for eating all those parts. They are full of collagen. Our bodies actually function best eating not only the muscle meat of an animal but the collagen as well.

While the protein in meat is no doubt healthy, we need the amino acids in the collagenous materials as well. We actually require plentiful amounts of collagen to live longer, healthier, and look and move better.

As we age, we continually lose collagen, so it’s super important to replace the lost collagen. A big part of the aging process has to do with the breakdown of collagen. Sagging and thinning skin, stiff joints, shortened stature, stooped posture, easy bruising are all the visible signs of aging from collagen breakdown.

Collagen actually has far-reaching health benefits that include longevity and protecting your body from some of the more serious diseases of aging.

1. Longevity

Collagen contains the amino acid, glycine, our bodies need adequate amounts of glycine and we cannot create enough on our own. An average person needs approximately 10 grams of glycine to cover all of our physical needs. Unfortunately, our bodies only make about 3 grams per day, most of us only get about 1.5-3 grams from diet—if that. That means we cannot make enough on our own and need supplemental glycine to function optimally.

Collagen is about 1/3 glycine, so a 12 gram serving of collagen—about a heaping scoop of collagen peptides—will give you plenty of glycine to cover the deficit.

Here’s another thing: meat contains a substance called methionine. Studies show that that the more methionine eaten, the shorter the lifespan—unless it’s balanced with glycine. Glycine has been shown in studies with mice to extend lifespan.

There are also some human studies that would suggest this, too:

• People with low glycine levels and high meat intakes have been shown as more likely to have diabetes. However, people with higher glycine levels and high meat intakes had no health issues.
• Meanwhile, high levels of glycine predict better blood sugar control.
• Patients with chronic kidney disease often have low glycine levels.

So, it appears that higher levels of glycine are linked to better health and lower levels of glycine linked to poorer health across a broad range of conditions.

Meat is a very healthy part of a diet, and has been a vital part of the human diet for hundreds of thousands of years, but most of us more modern folks tend to eat just muscle meat—boneless, skinless chicken breasts, lean steak and pork chops—instead of fat, bones, skin, and tendons, etc., and that is just plain not healthy. Increasing your collagen, then, could balance out the meat intake by providing ample glycine.

2. Sleep

Sleep—One of the best, non-drug sleep remedies is a warm drink with collagen before bed. You can also use bone broth which has collagen in it. Why does this work so well?

This goes back to the glycine in the collagen. Glycine enhances our body’s production of serotonin, a brain chemical. Research shows collagen with glycine elevates serotonin, reduces symptoms of insomnia, and improves sleep quality. Other studies suggest it may help you bounce back to a healthier sleep cycle after a period of disrupted sleep or changing time zones.

This is because at night, serotonin is turned into melatonin, our sleep hormone. Glycine also helps to lower the body’s core temperature, which helps someone get to sleep quicker and actually sleep more soundly, with more quality REM sleep. It also helps people perform better the next day as well.

3. Younger, Stronger Skin

Skin contains a lot of collagen. Collagen actually forms the structure of our skin and holds it up and makes it look smooth. Think of the poles that hold up a tent. That’s what collagen does for your skin. It’s when that structure begins to break down that we get wrinkles and deep creases in our skin. The good news is that collagen provides the fundamental substances that help our bodies make more collagen. And the benefits of collagen are well-documented in these two studies:

• This 2014 study, for example, showed that 2.5 grams of collagen a day resulted in a 20% reduction in facial wrinkles from just 8 weeks of collagen supplementation, with the smoothing effects extending even a month or so after supplementation was discontinued.

• Another study found that 1 gram of chicken cartilage daily collagen over 12 weeks led to a 76% reduction in skin dryness and a 13% reduction in wrinkles. Researchers were actually able to see a substantial increase in collagen within the skin dermis that came from the supplementation.

• More good news, 6 months of collagen supplementation even reduces the appearance of cellulite.

However, in order for our bodies to effectively make and use collagen, it’s important to get enough vitamin C in your diet. Vitamin C is considered a cofactor for collagen synthesis and to regenerate collagen in the skin. Collagen also needs the help of vitamins A and E and zinc.

Sure, having smooth skin is great for getting compliments from your friends but it’s not just a superficial benefit. The age of your face is actually considered to be one of the better predictors of your overall health, so the quality of your skin reflects the health of your insides as well.

4. Immune Function

Lately, everyone wants to know how to boost their immune function, and that’s a good thing. Collagen not only helps to reduce inflammation—especially in the gut—which is intricately connected to the immune system, but it also contains amino acids very important to optimal immune function. Glycine, glutamic acid or glutamine, and arginine have been shown to help regulate the inflammatory process and support the immune function.

Glycine as we know is a big part of collagen and has long been considered an amino acid that has strong anti-inflammatory properties. In addition, it also helps to modulate the immune system, meaning that it helps the immune function work effectively without overreacting.

Glycine also helps boost the functionality of macrophages (our cells’ scavengers) , which in turn, go after damaging free radicals and inflammatory cytokines.

In addition, some research suggests that collagen protein may play a role in fighting infection. In a recent study, it was found that collagen has a positive effect on the immune system by activating Natural Killer cells and macrophages in the lymphatic system.

Another amino acid in collagen is L-glutamine. L-glutamine is one of the most abundant free amino acids in humans and has been shown to help regulate the immune system function. Immune cells largely depend on glutamine’s availability to defend our body against pathogens. L-glutamine also supports the immune system by activating lymphocytes and macrophages, and regulating the availability of glutathione—one of our key protective antioxidants.

Glutamine has been shown to help reduce the risk of respiratory tract infections in athletes, (and other folks as well) according to this article published in the Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition.

And then there’s arginine. Arginine is also a necessary amino acid. It serves as a precursor to nitric oxide (NO), a compound that plays an important role in many functions in the body, including immune system activation.

Arginine supports both the innate and adaptive immune systems, and the improves the T-cells’ ability to resist infection. Like glutamine, arginine supplementation may be necessary to maintain adequate levels in the body to support optimal immune function.

5. Gut Health

Our gut health has much to do with almost every other aspect of our health, including brain function, immune function and of course, helping digest and assimilate our food. When the gut is inflamed, due to a poor diet of processed foods, gluten, grains and other inflammatory foods, small holes in the very thin lining of the small intestine can leak undigested food proteins into the bloodstream. This can exacerbate inflammation as well as cause food allergies/sensitivities. This happens frequently in people with celiac disease, IBS and Crohn’s.

These disorders can often become debilitating. These painful conditions cause irritation and inflammation in the gut, leading to painful symptoms and nutrient malabsorption, along with severe nutrient deficiencies. Collagen helps restore and heal the gastrointestinal lining, while glutamine, an amino acid in collagen, reduces inflammation.

6. Brain Health

Collagen has actually been found to have protective benefits for the neurons in the brain. A specific type of collagen, type VI, forms a barrier to help protect the brain against amyloid-beta proteins that are believed to be the cause of Alzheimer’s disease.

Recent studies have also identified collagen’s amazing ability to help repair and regenerate the Central Nervous System (CNS), making it the perfect material for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, traumatic brain injuries, and dementia.

7. Athletic Performance

Collagen plays a fundamental role in the musculoskeletal system including cartilage, joints, tendons, ligaments and bones. To ensure maximum mobility, it is vital that high collagen levels are maintained throughout the musculoskeletal system.

A recent clinical study performed in the UK demonstrated that the subjects who were supplemented with collagen experienced 20% less muscle soreness after intense exercise, compared with those who received a placebo dose. The subjects also reported an increase in sports performance, along with accelerated recovery from training. Because collagen is a protein containing high levels of certain amino acids it offers performance and recovery benefits that go far beyond plain protein supplementation. Collagen not only supplements muscle regeneration, it helps to build and maintain strong tendons, ligaments and other connective tissue.

Studies backing the multiple benefits of collagen peptides in supporting connective tissues include:

• Regenerating cartilage and reducing joint inflammation
• Reducing joint discomfort
• Supporting connective tissues
• Preventing injuries, especially repetitive use injuries

There is good evidence that collagen supplementation speeds up healing time for all types of injuries, whether to the brain, the body tissues, the skin or muscle and connective tissue. It is a safe bet that taking extra collagen can also speed up the healing time from any wound or trauma that requires the laying down of new collagen.

What type of collagen should I take?

Collagen is contained in the skin, tendons and cartilage of meat and poultry–or if you are ambitious you can make your own collagen broth from boiling chicken feet or cooking bone marrow.

If you’re like me, it’s easier to just add collagen powder to your morning coffee, smoothies or nighttime tea. Collagen comes flavored or plain, and generally has no taste.

There are 3 different forms of collagen: hydrolyzed collagen, collagen peptides, and collagen hydrolysate. These types make it easier for the body to break down and utilize. Is there a difference? Not really. All are broken down to make it easier to absorb and put it use.

There are actually 16 different types of collagen, but that being said, types I, II, and II make up about 90% of the collagen in the body. Collagen is made of amino acids. When you ingest any type of collagen, it’s broken down in your body to amino acids so your body can use it. Do you need specific kinds of collagen to work properly for the appropriate body functions? No, not really. The body breaks down the collagen into amino acids and the collagen is used wherever it is needed.

Want to start looking AND feeling younger? Start adding some quality collagen into your daily regimen.

References
https://www.bubsnaturals.com/blogs/blog/collagen-benefits
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/12/081210150713.htm
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/sleep-newzzz/201902/4-sleep-benefits-glycine
https://www.marksdailyapple.com/definitive-guide-to-collagen-peptides-protein/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15490264/
https://www.vitalproteins.com/blogs/wellness/how-to-boost-your-immune-system

The post 7 Things You Never Knew About Collagen appeared first on thenutritionwatchdog.com.

Today’s blog is republished from my friends at TheAlternativeDaily, a leading publisher of daily alternative health tips that I personally read every day. 

By Krista Hillis, TheAlternativeDaily.com

Although conventional hair products offer scents that are “fresh” and floral, don’t let flashy packaging fool you. There are most certainly some great all-natural skin and hair products on the market, so do not discount all brands. However, when purchasing all-natural products, they can be rather costly.

On the other end of the spectrum, there’s the conventional products which fill our drugstores and department store shelves. They are often packed with ingredients that may be doing more harm than good. The sad truth is, a large variety of beauty products contain a long list of toxic additives, including known human carcinogens and endocrine disrupters. There has to be a better way, right?

Why you should make the switch to natural ingredients

Before we jump into the benefits of castor oil — a substance obtained from castor beans — it’s important to stress the fact that natural ingredients truly are superior. As stated by David Suzuki, researchers have reported that one in eight of the 82,000 ingredients used in personal care products are “industrial chemicals, including carcinogens, pesticides, reproductive toxins and hormone disrupters. These products also include plasticizers, greasers and surfactants.”

As you can imagine, these not only harm the environment but your own personal health as well. Instead of exposing yourself to these synthetic ingredients, look to nature instead. There are so many oils and butters that are beneficial for both your skin and hair, especially when applied in their raw or natural state.

Oils, including olive, castor and coconut, are rich in vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. This means that they not only moisturize, hydrate and replenish, but in terms of your skin, they will also offer anti-aging properties. From avocado to sweet almond, each oil offers their own unique benefits — but today, let’s focus on castor oil.

11 ways to use castor oil for better skin and hair

Although fairly common, castor oil is not generally as well known as say olive oil. High in vitamin E, minerals, proteins and even beneficial fatty acids, castor oil is great for both your skin and hair. If you have a bottle lying around your home, it’s time to put it to good use — here’s how.

Related: 9 Ways To Use Castor Oil (Some Are Strange)

1. Enhance the natural look of your hair

Castor oil can enhance the look and feel of your hair, making it look both thicker and richer. Locking in moisture, this oil is what’s known as a humectant, making each strand of hair look that much healthier. After you shower and towel dry your hair, apply a small amount of slightly warmed castor oil, working it into the strands of your hair.

2. Cleanse your skin

Whether you’d like to wash off makeup or benefit from a deep clean, castor oil can help cleanse your pores. In order to benefit from an effective deep cleanse, mix a small amount of castor oil with jojoba oil (1:1 ratio). Massage these oils into your face gently, covering the entire surface of your face. After 10 minutes, wash your face with a warm cloth. This steaming process will help remove excess oil, dirt and other pore-clogging material.

3. Target fungal skin conditions

Whether you’re suffering from athlete’s foot or ringworm, castor oil is rich in a biochemical known as undecylenic acid — which helps target fungal growth. It’s recommended that you mix castor or with coconut oil, applying it too problematic areas repeatedly until cured.

4. Reduce the appearance of stretch marks

There are a number of reasons why one may suffer from stretch marks, including the effects of puberty and pregnancy. Castor oil is high in what’s known as ricinoleic acid, a fatty acid that helps target the appearance of stretch marks. Massage castor oil into the desired area and wrap with a cotton cloth, allowing the oil to penetrate the skin for 15 to 20 minutes. Repeat on a regular basis for three to four weeks.

5. Fade scars

If you have scars from when you had chickenpox or acne,, castor oil can help you reduce their appearance. Due to its high fatty acid content, castor oil will penetrate through the epidermal layer, helping to heal the scar tissue by promoting new skin cell growth. Apply before bed, massaging the oil deep into the skin. Leave the oil on overnight and wash it off the next morning.

6. Treat acne

Speaking of scars from acne, why not treat acne before it has a chance to scar your skin? Once again, the fatty acid known as ricinoleic acid helps fight acne-causing bacteria. This is especially effective for cystic acne, which is generally more severe. Wash your face, then apply a few drops of castor oil, rubbing it into the affected area. Wash an hour later, or leave on overnight before rinsing.

7. Use as all-natural massage oil

Although you can treat many surface conditions with castor oil, the benefits are more than skin deep. When using as a massage oil, you can help enhance circulation and target sore, achy muscles and joints. Your scalp is also a great area to massage, helping target problematic dandruff. Just remember, this oil can stain your clothes. Wear old clothing after applying it to your body.

8. Balance scalp pH

Ricinoleic acid has been found to potentially help balance scalp pH, replenishing natural oils and promoting positive hair health. In turn, this can help undo some of the damage that has been caused by harsh hair products. When the pH of your scalp is either too alkaline or too acidic, this can lead to bacterial or fungal issues, an itching scalp and dandruff.

9. Supports hair growth

There have been many cases where individuals swear by castor oil for hair growth, helping to enhance the growth rate. When applied to the scalp, this oil penetrates deep into the pores of your hair follicles, providing nourishment. Work around three tablespoons of castor oil into your scalp. Leave it on for 20 minutes before washing it out with an all-natural shampoo.

10. Soothe bug bites and stings

When you want to soothe an insect bite or sting, castor oil can help reduce itching and encourage more rapid healing. Offering both anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties, castor oil will help soothe and heal when applied to itchy bites. Simply apply a small amount to the affected area and repeat throughout the day.

11. Combat lines and wrinkles

The fatty acids found in castor oil will penetrate deep into the skin, stimulating the production of elastin and collagen. It will also target dark bags and the appearance of crow’s feet. Since the skin around your eyes is so delicate, it’s more prone to damage. To apply, make sure you cleanse your skin, applying a small amount of castor oil around the edges of your eyes and forehead.

Castor oil is not only effective, it’s cost-effective. It helps you benefit from a wide range of uses with just one bottle. Whether you want to brighten the look of your hair or combat eczema, every home should have a bottle of castor oil in the medicine cabinet. It’s time to re-think not only what you put in your body, but what you put on your body as well.

If you found this article interesting, and want to learn more on how to remove wrinkles naturally, this Beverly Hills doctor explains a unique process with simple steps to follow to erase your wrinkles…from home. Its painless and can get rid of those deepest wrinkles, and the best thing, it only takes 20 seconds, click here to watch this amazing video…

Original article is found here.

The post 11 Ways Castor Oil Makes Your Hair And Skin Rock appeared first on thenutritionwatchdog.com.