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Brishti
06 September 2012, 08:55 AM
Namaskar,

I have recently decided to cut out meat from my diet. I am very happy with the choice, however after a few months I noticed that my hair is becoming weaker, and falls out easily. I am not of age to begin balding, so this must be the effect of my dietary change.

I am pretty sure that I am not the only with this issue. There must be a way to treat this.

Will my hair eventually adapt to the low amount of iron consumed, and gain back its strength over time?

What are other excellent vegetarian sources of iron?

I do not want to return to meat at all, however I do not want my hair to fall off so easily.

Hopefully someone can help.
Dhanyavad.

Eastern Mind
06 September 2012, 07:29 PM
Vannakkam Brishti: I've never heard of this before, so personally, I think there might be something else going on besides your vegetarian diet.

Aum Namasivaya

ShivaFan
06 September 2012, 07:49 PM
Namaste

This is an unfounded fear. I know lofs of vegetarians, and even "monks" if you will who purposely cut off their hair so I do not know their "hair situation", but for others a few have lost hair, most others have thick set of hair.

No, other factors come into play. Even stress can cause this. If you are having stress, then sing bhajans. Actually, more light will shine from your aura too, if you sing bhajans.

You know, drunks in Russia drink a lot of vodka, and all these drunks have a thick set of shock white hair. But they also have liver disease.

I have thick hair, no problems... but for you, get some Moroccan Argan Oil.

It will work. And sing bhajans.

Om Namah Sivaya

Brishti
06 September 2012, 09:32 PM
Oh this sounds like an uncommon case now, I guess I'm a pretty weak person.

Either way I will try to improve my diet.
And yes, I will definitely apply Moroccan oil to my hair. I have heard great things about it as well.

Thank you for the responses.
Pranam.

Arjuni
06 September 2012, 11:19 PM
Namasté, Brishti,

Yes, I have noticed what you describe. I find that it takes effort to stay strong as a vegetarian; I have to take good care of myself instead of doing whatever I feel like. When I am not eating properly, my hair becomes brittle, breaking and splitting more easily. My eyelashes are affected too, so that I'll tug at the sensation of a falling eyelash and pull away five or six at once; at times this has produced small 'bald spots' around my eyes.

Here are some changes that have helped me:
-As much as you are able, eat more slowly, chew better, and pay more attention during your meals. Eat regularly; feed your hunger instead of becoming ravenous.
-Have a brief prayer or say a short mantra before meals, if you don't already. I like to mentally chant a mantra given in my Ayurveda course, but even a few moments of quiet thought will help. The digestive fire is divine fire, so to feed it with devotion and reverence is a life-giving, health-strengthening act.
-To care for your hair, oil your hair and scalp with coconut oil, and wait a half-hour before washing it. Use warm water instead of hot.
-Take a vitamin B12 supplement. Vegetarians usually don't take in enough of this nutrient. (Vegans certainly do not, unless they eat loads of spirulina daily.)
-Increase fats. Oils, ghee, these are all good for this condition. Omega-3 oil supplements (like evening primrose oil, borage oil, or Dr. Udo's oil blend) are also helpful.
-Increase protein-rich foods. (My own experience is that sour dairy - curd, buttermilk, kefir - is particularly helpful, but your constitution may be different.) A low-sugar protein powder supplement may be useful, too. (I use greens+transform, which is excellent, and have taken some other good kinds as well.)

I hope that at least some of these ideas help you too, and that your hair and health start to improve soon!

Indraneela
===
Oṁ Indrāya Namaḥ.
Oṁ Namaḥ Śivāya.

Sahasranama
07 September 2012, 03:12 AM
-Eat regularly; feed your hunger instead of becoming ravenous.

Good post, although this point may not make a lot of difference. It is natural to have periods of fasts and feasts shifting between insulin dominance and growth hormone dominance. But if you are already fasting regularly, it doesn't really matter, you can eat whenever it suits you best.

http://edrv.endojournals.org/content/30/2/152.long

Brishti
07 September 2012, 07:35 AM
Namaskar,

Yes I will definitely incorporate more healthy food choices into my diet: Omega3, protein, etc. It gives me relief to know that I am not the only one facing this issue.
I will also try to find a mantra that I can say before meals. Would you have any suggestions?

Thank you for the advice.

dhyandev
07 September 2012, 10:19 AM
Before eating food, one should wash their hands and eat meal in silence facing east or north.
One should have their food as Prasad. The food should be wholesome, easily digestible and sattvic food. Prior taking a meal:

One should chant the following sloka:

"Haridata Harirbhokta Hariannam Prajapatih Harih Sarvasarisasto Bhukte Bhojayate Harih"

Read the 15th chapter of the Srimad Bhagwad Gita if possible.

Offer 5 oblations to the pranas with the below mantras:

Om Pranaya Swaha, Om Apanaya Swaha, Om Udanaya Swaha, Om Vyanaya Swaha , Om Samanaya Swaha



अगस्त्यम कुम्भकर्णं च शनिं च बडवानलं |
आहार परिपाकार्थ स्मरेद भीमं च पंचमं ||

Agastyam kumbhakarnam cha shanim cha badavaanalam
Aahaara paripaakaartham smared bhimam cha panchakam

Chant this mantra while caressing your stomach with your left hand in the anti clock wise direction after having your meal. It helps in quick digestion.

since you are a mantra fanatic here is a complete compilation http://www.ashram.org/Publications/MantraVigyan.aspx

Arjuni
07 September 2012, 10:25 PM
Namasté,

The 'oblation to the pranas' that Dhyandev gives is the same mantra I use, Brishti. It was taught to me in a different order, as such:

"...eating is thought to be an offering to the digestive fire, jatharagni. Before we eat, we should pay homage to that fire within us. Mantras to the five pranas may be chanted for offering the prana in the food to the inner fire. These chants are: Om pranaya swaha, om udanaya swaha, om samanaya swaha, om vyanaya swaha, om apanaya swaha."

Indraneela
===
Oṁ Indrāya Namaḥ.
Oṁ Namaḥ Śivāya.

Brishti
07 September 2012, 11:15 PM
Thank you both for suggesting this mantra.
I was browsing for a mantra online, and I came across this very one as well.
:)

Dhanyavad.

Eastern Mind
08 September 2012, 07:21 AM
Vannakkam: Thank you, Brishti, for this thread. It has helped me re-realise the myth of vegetarianism in and of itself being healthy. Because my wife and I are programmed to replace meat with healthy stuff from a long time ago, I forget. So when I researched hair loss and vegetarianism on here, a lot did come up, mostly in regard to B12. There are lots of sources for B12, but many are not found in the typical Indian vegetarian diet.

Some western teenagers, unfortunately, in this country become vegetarians, thinking it means eating just vegetables. Then they suffer nutritionally, and go back to being carnivores for health reasons. So wisdom has to be applied in generous doses.

There are 4 main things in the standard Indian diet that western nutritionalists and health food nuts disapprove of: too much salt, too much sugar, white bread, and white rice. Note it says 'too much of', not suggesting it's poison. But cutting down on some of these is a good idea. You can buy multi-grain breads, brown rice, etc.

One idea, although quite the commitment in sadhana, is to record what you eat for a month, then analyze it with a really good nutrient book. That may give more hints. http://www.livestrong.com/article/113033-foods-containing-vitamin-b12-vegetarians/?utm_source=RELARTICLES_R1

Best wishes in stopping the hair loss.

Aum namasivaya

realdemigod
08 September 2012, 12:26 PM
Hair is one thing which is influenced by wide variety of things and it requires good green leafy vegetables to stress free life :)

Guiding Thoughts
08 October 2012, 06:16 PM
Hi. This is a common problem. As you cut out meat ( protein) from your diet , you have to substitute the loss with a vegetarian protein source. Have one katori daal with every meal. You'll notice a drop in the rate of hair fall in a couple of days itself.

If you want your hair to grow back and become full again...have a glass of carrot juice daily ........you'll be able to feel small stubbles of hair as you run your hand through the scalp after a month of doing so.

Try it....out!

R Gitananda
15 October 2012, 02:55 AM
namaste

Brishti, I had a similar problem but I made adjustments to my diet and supplementation and my hair is growing back thick and full (and I am over 50). You maybe missing something in your diet and/or supplementation. I recommend you read more on what it takes to build a nutritionally balanced vegetarian diet and make necessary changes and/or add supplementation. http://www.pcrm.org/health/diets/vsk/vegetarian-starter-kit-powerful
You can follow up by taking some classes and then (if necessary) the next step would be a consultation with a Registered Dietician. If that still doesn't help then you should see a physician because there may be other things going on.

Hari Aum


Studies have shown that poor nutrition, limited food intake, and deficiencies in certain nutrients can cause thinning. These include deficiencies of biotin, protein, zinc and poor human iron metabolism, although complete baldness is not usually seen. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baldness#Other_causes

Bhagavankibhakt
22 October 2012, 04:35 AM
Namaste,

I've been a vegetarian for the past 5 1/2 years and there has not been any change in my hair strength during that time. I was experiencing hair loss about a few months ago but that was due to stress and poor hair maintenance on my part. It's a widely misinformed opinion that vegetarians lack protein and as such will have weaker hair and nails this I assure you is false. Once you eat enough beans and leafy vegetables (which all contain some degree of protein) you should be fine :)

Regards,
Bhagavankibhakt