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Folic Acid and Hair Loss - Can Folic Acid Cure Hair Loss?

Hair loss is scary when it happens to you!  For some people, hair loss is a direct result of their genetic code and the aging process. For others, hair loss is because of other things. Hair loss can have many causes. One often ignored cause of hair loss is a poor diet, or poor nutritional habits.   A diet that is deficient in folic acid can cause hair loss that ranges from simple hair thinning to patchy hair loss or even to total baldness.

It is essential to visit with your doctor or dermatologist to determine the exact cause of your hair loss. If your diet seems to be a factor in your hair loss, make sure it is rich in B vitamins, including folic acid to help re-grow your hair.  It is surprising how many people do not get enough B vitamins in their daily food intake.

All of the B Vitamins help make your hair healthy. These important vitamins include folic acid, vitamin B3, which is niacin, and inositol. Vitamins B5, which is pantothenic acid, and vitamin B6, which is biotin, are also necessary for proper health. B vitamins are known to restore hair and nails and contribute to a healthy circulation system.

The good news is that foods usually contain more than one type of vitamin, so if you eat a food for specific vitamins, you are getting the benefits of other vitamins and nutrient as well.  B vitamins are found in a variety of foods such as: leafy green vegetables like spinach, in oranges, rice, beans, peas, carrots, cauliflower, soybeans, bran, nuts and eggs.

If you have diet induced hair loss, it is also wise to take a B vitamin complex daily. Remember vitamins are not magic cures. The results and benefits of vitamins are not immediate. It usually takes three to four months before a difference is noticed. It is also important to take vitamins as directed. Do not overdose with mega doses of any vitamin, as this can be harmful to your health. Just because a little is good, does not mean that a lot is better.

The regular dosage for folic acid for adult men is 400 mcg. and the regular dose for adult women is 200 mcg. Women of child-bearing age should always make sure they are getting enough folic acid in their diet because it prevents birth defects in addition to promoting healthy hair.

Many other nutrients are important for healthy hair such as the minerals magnesium, sulfur and zinc. Healthy fatty acids from fish like salmon and tuna are also very good for your hair, making it shiny, elastic and hydrated.

Of course, if you are taking vitamins, take the opportunity to wash them down with plenty of water. Water is one of the most important building blocks of life. People who drink water and stay hydrated almost always have attractive healthy hair and luminous skin.