Severe shedding from low-carb diet

[axl617]

I read before that insulin plays a big role in hair-loss, so I figured I'd try out a ketogenic diet (high-fat, low-carb) diet which I did before for 6 months for weight loss. That time I didn't focus on hair as I was not losing anything.

Holy ****, 1.5 weeks in to this diet I'm literally losing 50 hairs just shampooing my hair, I can pluck out 5 hairs in one pinch. It's horrible. I figured I was clever trying this relatively unknown diet, as most bald guys probably eat a basic high-carb, sugary diet, but no. I guess my body might have been shocked from the sudden diet change, and need more time to 'adapt', but rather not risk it further. Going to just do with paleo, hopefully get some benefit from the nutrients.

 

[Koga]

High fat diets increase androgen production. The best hair loss diet is, though not easy, high fiber, low fat, low protein, low cal, low GI. High fiber increases SHBG, low GI fights insulin resistance. High protein and fat are linked with higher serum androgen values. If you search PubMed for a while, you'll see this is all scientifically backed up.

EDIT: I'm not claiming, nor believing, that following these eating guidelines will somewhat make you regrow hair or even slow down your hair loss. I actually don't know. But if you're wondering if you're diet is making this worse, it's always nice to check out what science is telling us. This means e.g. I wouldn't go on an extremely high fat diet.

 

[axl617]

High fat diets increase androgen production. The best hair loss diet is, though not easy, high fiber, low fat, low protein, low cal, low GI. High fiber increases SHBG, low GI fights insulin resistance. High protein and fat are linked with higher serum androgen values. If you search PubMed for a while, you'll see this is all scientifically backed up.

EDIT: I'm not claiming, nor believing, that following these eating guidelines will somewhat make you regrow hair or even slow down your hair loss. I actually don't know. But if you're wondering if you're diet is making this worse, it's always nice to check out what science is telling us. This means e.g. I wouldn't go on an extremely high fat diet.

That could work in theory, if testosterone and DHT are the sole culprits of hairloss. Although that diet is possibly the least healthy thing you can do in your life. It's basically starving your body and taking away anything that will make you strong and healthy in the hopes that you become feminized enough to not lose hair, which you probably will either way due to your body starving of nutrients. I'd rather be bald man, or get a hair transplant.

 

[Koga]

That's because you're interpreting this way too extreme. Low protein and low fat doesn't mean no protein or no fat. What I'm suggesting, is actually what a lot of Asian diets look like. Higher SHBG is nothing to worry about either, as vegetarians and vegans always have higher SHBG. Doesn't mean they are feminizing. Low GI is always a good idea, regardless of gender.

 

[Dench57]

That's odd. All of the hairloss people I've spoken to on keto report reduced shedding and itch, as I understand its highly anti-inflammatory. Are you even in ketosis yet?

 

[whatevr]

Then maybe that tells you something about whether a low-carb diet is healthy for your body.

If you really want to throw out a food group, then throw out wheat. Get your carbs from fruits, rice, oats, potatoes, stuff like that. I feel better for not eating wheat.

 

[Dervyx]

I know this may sound silly...

but since studies shown that creatine converts test to DHT and speeds up balding process (people always complain that creatine makes them shed like crazy), and people on keto consume huge amounts of meat (creatine is naturally found in meat) can this mean that hair loss on keto diet is not due to low carb but due to high consumption of meat?

 

[Koga]

I know this may sound silly...

but since studies shown that creatine converts test to DHT and speeds up balding process (people always complain that creatine makes them shed like crazy), and people on keto consume huge amounts of meat (creatine is naturally found in meat) can this mean that hair loss on keto diet is not due to low carb but due to high consumption of meat?

In theory, yes I believe this. IIRC, creatine is only found (significantly) in red meat and fish. Eating a fair - though not even huge - amount of red meat is basically the same like taking a creatine supplement (dosage wise). Creatine supplements have the bad rep of increasing DHT significantly. So yes, I do believe this makes sense. You might wanna shift more towards chicken and/or turkey: these contain only a tiny amount of creatine.

 

[GoldenMane]

Interesting... I've been increasing my protein intake, particularly nuts, legumes, beef and lamb because I naively thought that red meat and protein would be good for my hair...

 

[Molecules]

This whole diet thing fascinates me in a way, its so complex. But i still find it hard to believe that it plays that big of a role in hairloss.

 

[GreekGod_of_Aesthetics]

When you go on a low-carb / Keto / HFLC diet, what happens is that your thyroid functioning and overall hormonal profile is undergoing massive shifts. This is a shock and stressor in the body.
There are a lot of cases of people losing hair in the first months of a low-carb diet.
The consensus is that this is not permanent, and after a few months, a new cycle of growth takes place, after your hormones have readjusted.

 

[INT]

It is 2019 and people still think it is a good idea to remove one of the three macronutrients out of their diet...

You need carbs, you need fat, you need protein.

What you don't need is red meat, processed sugar, dairy.

 

[djhype]

My shedding started a couple months ago during a steroid cycle where I actually did a 4 day fast before.

So I'm not sure if it's Telogen Effluvium from the fast, or AA the hormones itself even though this is the first time I've shed on a cycle.

It may leave behind a bit of damage but I expect it to stop within the next several weeks/months because it was prompted by an external factor and not my own biological clock.

Anyway, if yours was caused by a diet, you should expect it all to come back.