Taking Too Much Vitamin C Can Cause Digestive Issues
Overdoing water-soluble vitamins is less dangerous than overdoing fat-soluble ones, but overdosing on vitamin C, for example, while rare, can still cause nausea, diarrhea, and stomach cramps, according to Lambert.
Vitamin C has many benefits, including keeping the immune system healthy, but most people don’t need a supplement if they’re eating a decent amount of fruit and vegetables, she said.
An orange or a cup of strawberries, chopped red pepper, or broccoli provides the recommended daily 65-90 milligrams of vitamin C, according to the Mayo Clinic.
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Lambert and other experts recommend a “food first” approach to nutrition, because it’s easier for your body to absorb vitamins from food, rather than in supplement form.
Some capsules don’t disintegrate quickly enough for the body to use the nutrients, especially if the coating is shiny or waxy, she said.
How Does Vitamin D Affect Hair
Vitamin D affects the health of many parts of the body, including the skin and hair.
Vitamin D plays a role in the creation of new hair follicles. Hair follicles are the tiny pores from which new hairs grow. New follicles may help hair maintain thickness and prevent existing hair from falling out prematurely.
Because of this link, getting adequate amounts of vitamin D can support hair growth and regrowth.
People with a vitamin D deficiency may have no symptoms, or their symptoms may be nonspecific and change over time.
Symptoms of a vitamin D deficiency include:
- changes in mood, including depression or anxiety
- infertility
A lack of sunlight or not eating enough foods rich in vitamin D are the most common causes of a vitamin D deficiency.
However, some people may have vitamin D deficiencies because of another underlying condition, including Crohns disease or celiac disease, which prevent the body from fully absorbing nutrients.
People with an underlying medical condition will experience symptoms of the primary cause and symptoms of a vitamin D deficiency, as well.
Certain medications may also cause the body to break down vitamin D before it can be used. Medications that may cause a vitamin D deficiency include:
- antifungals
- medications for HIV
- anticonvulsants
If a medication is causing a vitamin D deficiency or hair loss, a person should speak to their doctor about alternatives.
- some fish, include salmon, trout, and sardines
- nuts
- cheese
So We Really Have Two Separate Kinds Of Vitamin D3 That Perform Two Functions Simultaneously
We have the more water-soluble calcitriol. It interacts with the kidneys and the parathyroid to control calcium.
And the less modified calcifedioloperates more in the fat and muscle cells regulating metabolism and heat production.
So if you have excess body fat, taking too much vitamin D3 will keep you from being able to burn it off.
And even if youre skinny, too much vitamin D3 will still lower your general metabolism, making you tired.
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You’ve Been Super Stressed Or Ill
Stress or illness can cause hair lossit’s a process known as telogen effluvium, or the excessive shedding of hair induced by stress, Michelle Henry, MD, a dermatologist based in New York, previously told Health.
“Our bodies perceive mental stress the same way it perceives physical stress, and any dramatic stressor on the body can cause hair growth to become arrested,” Dr. Henry said. “And when hair growth is arrested, it sheds.” Specifically, when the body is stressed it released the hormone cortisol, which can then affect the hair follicle and result in shedding or hair loss. That shedding typically occurs at least three months following a stressful event, Angelo Landriscina, MD, a Washington, DC-based dermatologist, previously told Health.
Of course, preventing stress is the easiest way to help prevent stress-induced hair lossbut that’s not always an easy thing to do. If you experience hair loss of any kind, it’s wise to check in with your dermatologist. Should they determine that your hair loss is stress-related, your derm may recommend a treatment called minoxidil, a vasodilator that improves circulation around the hair bulb at the base of the hair follicle, to help grow hair back that you’ve lost. Also important: having patience and allowing time for hair growth.
Vitamin C Deficiency Hair Loss
Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant and integral vitamin to the immune system. It plays a role in collagen production and the absorption of iron. A deficiency in this vitamin may contribute to hair loss or brittle, weak hair.3 Vitamin C deficiency is known to cause scurvy, an ancient disease that resulted in poor gum health and other connective tissue problems.
Vitamin C is necessary for the development and repair of all tissues throughout your body. It helps with the production of collagen, an essential protein to make healthy skin and strong hair. Vitamin C is also needed for healing wounds and maintaining healthy teeth and bones.1
Vitamin C deficiency causes dry, breaking hair, rough skin, and bleeding gums.2 Along with other nutrients, vitamin C helps support hair growth by assisting with collagen production and supporting the absorption of non-heme iron3 .
Because Vitamin C is a water-soluble vitamin, your body cannot store excess amounts of it so it must be replenished through your diet. Good sources of vitamin C include dark leafy greens, green and red bell peppers, potatoes, broccoli, brussels sprouts, spinach, and citrus fruits.
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Are The Two Related
Research shows that the lack of vitamin D can lead to hair loss. Vitamin D plays a major role in the creation of new hair follicles. Thus, vitamin D deficiency can lead to stunted hair growth. Also, did you know that vitamin D deficiency is linked to alopecia a condition that causes hair to fall out in patches?
While the lack of certain nutrients and vitamins in the body can cause hair loss, you should know that it can also be caused due to the bodys natural aging process. You should know that losing about 100 strands of hair a day is pretty normal. Anything more than that is a cause for concern and should be communicated to your doctor who may conduct tests to get to the root of the problem.
If you spend most of your time indoors, apply too much sunscreen and dont consume food rich in this vitamin, it could explain the sudden hair loss. Hence, apart from spending 15 minutes out in the sun daily , you should also include foods rich in vitamin D in your diet.
Can Vitamin D Deficiency Lead To Hair Loss Find Out
There are many factors that can lead to hair loss some of the most common ones being stress, bad hair care habits, excessive use of heat styling tools and frequent chemical treatments. However, at times, the lack of certain essentials vitamins in the body can also result in unexplained hair loss.
Vitamin D is essential to keep the bones, teeth and muscles healthy. A lack of this sunshine vitamin can cause problems bone deformities, rickets or osteomalacia. But another sneaky symptom of the lack of vitamin D in the body could be hair loss. Yes, you read that right. Ahead, everything you need to know about the connection between vitamin D deficiency and hair loss.
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Vitamin D Deficiency Hair Loss
While the main role of vitamin D is to maintain healthy levels of calcium and phosphorous in the blood, research shows that vitamin D has important roles in hair growth.7 Vitamin D plays an important role in maintaining immune health. Immune systems can sometimes attack the bodys own hair follicles, causing poor growth and hair loss. Some of these autoimmune conditions include alopecia areata and alopecia totalis. Supplementation with vitamin D can help blunt inflammatory responses that impair hair growth.
Vitamin D is synthesized endogenously when your skin is exposed to UV rays from the sun. This means that you probably dont need vitamin D supplementation if you spend a lot of time in the sun. Since vitamin D aids hair growth, if you arent outside much or its during the dark days of winter, consider investing in a sun lamp or taking a vitamin D supplement.
Vitamin D is not found in many foods naturally, though beef liver, salmon, and eggs are good sources of vitamin D. Most of the vitamin D in the average American diet comes from fortified foods, including milk, breakfast cereals, and some brands of yogurt, orange juice, and margarine. The two most important forms of this vitamin are D2, which is obtained from plant foods, and D3, which is made by animals and by the skin when exposed to sunlight. Most supplements contain vitamin D3.
Is It Good To Take Vitamin B12 Tablets
For women who are pregnant or breastfeeding, the recommended daily intake is 2.5 mcg, which is higher than for most adults. It is possible to benefit your body in a number of ways, such as by boosting your energy, improving your memory, and preventing heart disease with the help of vitamins B12 and C.
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Can Supplements Cause Hair Loss
While we most often suffer from nutrients deficiency, too much of a vitamin can cause hair loss too. To avoid the problem, maintain a balanced diet, consult your doctor regarding taking the vitamins and minerals for hair and carefully follow the dosage prescriptions.
If your hair receives all necessary nutrients, it will look shiny, healthy, and appealing. Thus, start your hair care with adopting a healthy diet or taking carefully selected supplements.
Best Vitamins & Nutrients To Fight Hair Loss
Besides caring for your overall health, there are certain vitamins to look for in haircare products that can help reduce hair loss and increase hair growth over time. Vitamin A is your best friend when it comes to stronger and healthier hair. Biotin, Iron, Zinc, Vitamin E, Protein, and Vitamin D also contain many benefits for hair growth and combatting hair loss.
Being conscious about which vitamins and nutrients are included in the things that you consume can make all the difference in the appearance of hair – and combat the vitamin deficiencies that cause hair loss.
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Vitamins For Hair Loss: Do They Work
Many vitamin formulations and supplements are popularly believed to slow, stop, or reverse hair loss. However, the vast majority of them arent supported by scientific evidence. Only vitamin D and iron have data supporting their use. One popular supplement, biotin, can be particularly dangerous when taken in high levels because it can interfere with other lab test results.
You Lost A Lot Of Weight Very Quickly
Sudden weight loss is a form of physical trauma that can result in thinning hair. This could happen even if the weight loss is ultimately good for you. It’s possible that the weight loss itself put unnecessary stress your body, or that not eating right can resulted in vitamin or mineral deficiencies. Loss of hair along with noticeable weight loss may also be a sign of an eating disorder such as anorexia or bulimia.
This type of hair loss, too, will correct itself once after a while. “Sudden weight loss seems to shock the system and you’ll have a six-month period of hair loss and then it corrects itself,” says Dr. Hammonds.
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Uncoupling Protein Is A Misleading Name It Makes It Sound Like Something Its Not
Thats because shortly after a scientist named David Nicholls discovered it in the late 1970s in brown adipose tissue, he started calling it uncoupling protein.
Originally it was called thermogenin because of its ability to raise body temperature in fat cells in mice.
But Dr. Nicholls wrongly assumed that the mice were creating heat without affecting their metabolism in any way.
He thought the heat was created by uncoupling the mitochondria from ATP synthesis and energy production.
How To Treat Vitamin B12 Deficiency
It is essential to spot the early signs of vitamin B12 deficiency. If not identified and treated, its lack can lead to more severe health problems, including neurological disorders. If youre experiencing any of the above symptoms, we recommend you speak with your doctor and get your vitamin B12 levels checked at the earliest.
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What Is Vitamin D
According to the National Institutes of Health, Vitamin D is an essential, fat-soluble vitamin that plays a role in numerous biological processes within your body.
Unlike most vitamins, vitamin D isnt commonly found in foods. While some foods, such as milk, soy and certain types of fish, contain vitamin D, most vitamin D is produced endogenously when UV rays from sunlight come into contact with your skin.
In its natural form, vitamin D is biologically inert. To use vitamin D, your body needs to convert it into a usable form using the liver and kidneys.
This complex, multi-step process is referred to as hydroxylation, and allows your body to use vitamin D for a variety of important processes.
Vitamin D plays a role in countless biological processes within your body. Its responsible for:
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Promoting calcium absorption
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Ensuring healthy bone growth and remodeling
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Modulating cell growth
-
Reducing inflammation
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Maintaining a healthy immune system
Vitamin D also plays a key role in preventing certain diseases. People with low levels of vitamin D have an increased risk of developing rickets and osteomalacia two diseases that can affect the health and integrity of your bones.
Low levels of vitamin D are also linked to certain forms of hair loss a topic weve discussed in more detail below.
Are You Vitamin D Deficient
If youre shedding more hair than normal and think that you could be deficient in vitamin D, the best thing to do is to talk to a healthcare professional.
Your healthcare provider will be able to diagnose vitamin D deficiency via a 25-hydroxy vitamin D blood test.
This is a type of blood test that checks for 25-hydroxyvitamin D a common form of vitamin D that circulates in your blood.
Vitamin D deficiency is surprisingly common. According to the book, Vitamin D Deficiency, up to one billion people worldwide, approximately 13 percent of the worlds entire population, are deficient in vitamin D.
If youre severely deficient in vitamin D, you may notice certain symptoms other than hair loss. According to the Cleveland Clinic, common symptoms of vitamin D deficiency include:
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Fatigue
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Slow healing of cuts and wounds
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Changes in your mood
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High blood pressure
Certain factors, such as your age, ethnicity and habits, may increase your risk of being deficient in vitamin D. You may have a higher risk of vitamin D deficiency if you:
Vitamin D deficiency is also common in breastfed infants. If you have an infant who is breastfed, your healthcare provider may recommend providing them with a vitamin D supplement to avoid developing a vitamin D deficiency.
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