There are many things you can do to try and help your hair grow, and one doctor has revealed a simple breakfast food that you can add to your dietwhich could help boost hair growth
If you’re battling hair loss, there are steps you can take, say experts.
When your locks are looking less luscious, it’s bound to set alarm bells ringing. Thinning tresses or stunted growth can be unnerving, but what causes it?
There can be several culprits like hormonal changes, over-stressing your scalp with tight styles, and even serious health issues such as thyroid diseases or autoimmune disorders.
The NHS tells us shedding 50 to 100 strands daily is normal but if you’re apprehensive about hair fall, consulting a GP should be your first port of call.
In the quest for Rapunzel-esque hair, diet comes into play, too. Before you reach for supplements or magic potions, an NHS expert suggests getting a blood test to check ferritin levels that influence hair growth.
In a viral video posted on TikTok, Doctor Shireen said there is a healthy range your ferritin levels should be in for hair growth, and if yours are too low, you can change your diet to increase them.
The doctor made her TikTok cip after she saw a trichologist about her hair. She said many of the things she was told were new to her – they were not taught in medical school – and even the blood test surprised her.
She said: “The first thing she told me to do, which I did know, was a blood test to check specific things in my blood that can affect hair.
“The most important one in women of childbearing age is your ferritin level. But what I didn’t know about ferritin is that as a GP, anywhere between 13 to 150 is considered normal, but for hair growth, you want that level to be between 60-80. So if you are losing hair or your hair is thin, and you’ve had a ‘normal’ ferritin blood test, it’s always worth checking that with your GP.”
To boost ferritin levels, which are crucial for hair growth, incorporating iron-rich foods into your diet can be beneficial. For those who consume meat and animal products, lean red meat, oysters, and eggs are excellent options.
A simple way to increase ferritin levels is by switching to a fortified breakfast cereal, such as Weetabix, Kellogg’s Special K, or Kellogg’s Rice Krispies, which are all enriched with vitamins and iron. Additionally, dark leafy greens like spinach, kale, and broccoli, as well as lentils, beans, tofu, and raisins, are good sources of iron.
However, before taking iron supplements, it’s essential to consult with a doctor. Dr Shireen has shared some surprising tips for those struggling with hair growth, despite having healthy ferritin levels.
She revealed her trichologist’s advice, adding: “I used to let my hair air dry thinking that I wasn’t using any heat so I wasn’t damaging it, but that dampness in the scalp becomes a breeding ground for fungi, which can cause a flaky and irritated scalp.”
Moreover, she was advised to wash her locks “at least every other day” – a step up from her previous routine of once or twice a week. Dr Shireen explained the change: “You need to clean out all of the debris and the product and everything that builds up in your hair every other day at least. So, as crazy as this hair growth looks, I’m very grateful because these small, easy changes to my hair routine mean that my hair has become so much thicker.”
For those seeking more advice on hair loss, the NHS website is a recommended resource.
