What is intermittent fasting?
Intermittent fasting is a cyclical eating method in which you alternate between periods of eating and fasting. Instead of eating throughout the day, you eat during certain times of the day and fast during the rest of the day.
Popular methods include eating within an 8-hour window and fasting for 16 hours each day (the 16/8 method) or eating only one meal a day, several days a week. Intermittent fasting can help improve health, aid weight loss, and increase energy.
Why does hair growth slow down when fasting?
According to Dr. Ritika Dua, Clinical Nutritionist and Ayurveda Expert, Nutrition and Wellness Clinic, New Delhi (India), during fasting, the body switches from using glucose to burning fat for energy. This process releases free fatty acids, which increases the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), causing oxidative stress. This stress can lead to cell death in hair follicle stem cells (HFSCs), disrupting the process of new hair growth.
However, not all stem cells in the skin are affected equally. Epidermal stem cells, which are responsible for maintaining the skin barrier, are still able to recover well during fasting due to their higher antioxidant capacity.
Foods that help hair grow back faster
According to Dr. Dua, a clinical nutritionist, adding the following foods to your daily diet can help keep your hair healthy and promote hair growth:
Eggs: Rich in protein and biotin, which help promote growth and strengthen hair.
Spinach: Rich in iron, vitamins A and C, which help nourish the scalp and improve hair health.
Sweet Potatoes: Rich in beta-carotene, which aids in sebum production to help keep the scalp moisturized.
Nuts (almonds, walnuts): Provide omega-3 fatty acids and zinc, which help keep hair healthy.
Seeds (flaxseeds, sunflower seeds): Contains vitamin E and omega-6 fatty acids, which support scalp health and reduce hair loss.
Coconut water and coconut oil: Coconut water moisturizes the scalp, coconut oil improves scalp health and hair texture.
Greek Yogurt: Provides protein and vitamin B5, helps strengthen hair and prevents breakage.
Lentils: Provide folic acid, which helps regenerate cells and improve blood circulation to the scalp.
Kalonji (black cumin seeds): Contains omega-3, omega-6 fatty acids and antioxidants, which help strengthen hair follicles and reduce hair loss.
Curry leaves: Rich in beta-carotene, protein and antioxidants, help nourish hair, prevent thinning hair and improve scalp health.
