Vegetarianism and hair growth

[sunshinelady]

Has anyone here successful transitioned to vegetarianism without losing hair? Or, did you see any additional hair growth? I have seen the hair loss firsthand on a friend and it scared me.

Thoughts?

 

[Duchesse]

How did your friend lose her hair? She must not have studied what type of foods she should eat or wasn't taking B supplements and eating well if that happened to her. If anything I experienced better growth when I was strictly vegetarian a few years ago. A reminder to myself to stick to my 2010 resolution.

If you are deciding to transition to vegetarian foods, as long as you do research and eat lots of different dark greens, nuts, beans, fruits, and eggs(assuming you are not vegan), and take vitamins there should be no hair loss IMO.

 

[sunshinelady]

She went vegan. I saw her about a year in and it looked like she had gone through post-partum shedding. Her hair also changed texture. I didn't say anything to her because I didn't want to hurt her feelings.

Thanks, one vote for growth. That makes me feel better.

 

[Duchesse]

She went vegan. I saw her about a year in and it looked like she had gone through post-partum shedding. Her hair also changed texture. I didn't say anything to her because I didn't want to hurt her feelings.

Thanks, one vote for growth. That makes me feel better.

I used to know this dude who was vegan. He ate noting but cereal and soy milk and wondered why he started looking gross. I'm not saying that's what your friend did, but sounds like she was limited in her dietary choices.

 

[Mz.Shug]

^^ITA. It's completly dependent on WHAT she was eating.You really have to study your food groups and make sure you're getting enough iron, protein and healthy fats just to name a few as far as hair health is concerned.A B12 supp is also crucial.I've seen many switch to a veg. and even raw foods diet and they reaped many benefits!Just study before you dive in....to anything.HTH

 

[sunshinelady]

I used to know this dude who was vegan. He ate noting but cereal and soy milk and wondered why he started looking gross. I'm not saying that's what your friend did, but sounds like she was limited in her dietary choices.

No, I think she ate pretty well. I didn't watch her daily, of course. But, what I know of her, she ate well.

 

[Whimsy]

I think she may have had a deficiency of some sort. My friend is vegan and her hair grows well. I was vegetarian for a few years and my hair kept on growing.

I think the key is eating a well balanced diet full of nutrients/vitamins and supplementing iron if need be.

 

[Opey]

I am a vegetarian & i suffered! hair loss on the sides, chunks of hair coming out and then blood tests to tell me i have anemia.

But thats because i didn't look into it, i saw a chicken documentry that sickened me and i just cut it all out straight away.

 

[testimony777]

I was raised a vegetarian and was one for most of my adult life. I am now an infrequent meat eater (I only have it when I go out to eat or if I visit my in laws) but I guess you can say I transitioned the other way. I can say that there was no difference in my hair. I think this is largely because what remained constant was that I maintained a healthy balanced diet.

I think that what happens to many people is that they become non-meat eaters but not true vegetarians meaning, they cut meat out of their diets but do not replace it with some other source of protein and iron. Because I eat so little meat I eat lots of beans and soy products. I also make sure to eat lots of green leafy vegetables. I think that cutting meat out of your diet could be detrimental if you don't find ways to replace the nutrients that meat provides. That's my two cents .

 

[metro_qt]

I transistioned to vegetarianism 3 almost 4 years ago now.
My hair's growing just as good as ever... A hair stylist told me two years ago, whatever it is i'm doing to my hair, keep on doing it...

My hair is pretty much at waistlength now, grown from bra strap two years ago...
All on a vegetarian diet.
=Leafy greens, A little soy, Plenty of beans... and eggs here and there.
Oh yeah. i was vegan when i first started, with no detrimental effects...

 

[ceebee3]

My family is full of vegans and vegetarians. They key is to have a healthy balanced diet.

If your friends hair was falling out due to diet, she was not eating properly. You don't need meat but you do need protein.

 

[halee_J]

I was vegan for a few years and raw vegan for a few months this year. The only difference I saw in my hair was positive. my hair seemed to be growing in softer and my scalp felt less dry. But like the other ppl said, I did my research and made sure I was getting enough minerals and amino acids/protein. Mineral deficiencies can be just as detrimental or even more so than protein. Make sure you get plenty of B vits, particularly B12 if you are vegan, and iron which you get from dark green leafy veg, and nuts. You can also just take a supplement. Beans are powerhouses of nutrition full of protein, fiber the whole line of B vits and rich in minerals including iron and they're delicious

 

[Ltown]

I'm newly semi vegetarian, still eat fish/eggs but as I transition from those I'm doing the research. I found this link here and they have resource on protein and a chart.

http://www.21stcenturyvegetarians.com/protein.html

 

[sunshinelady]

I transistioned to vegetarianism 3 almost 4 years ago now.
My hair's growing just as good as ever... A hair stylist told me two years ago, whatever it is i'm doing to my hair, keep on doing it...

My hair is pretty much at waistlength now, grown from bra strap two years ago...
All on a vegetarian diet.
=Leafy greens, A little soy, Plenty of beans... and eggs here and there.
Oh yeah. i was vegan when i first started, with no detrimental effects...

Does your hair grow just as fast? Did you see a difference in texture?

 

[Ltown]

oops double post

 

[cmw45]

I was vegan for a few years and raw vegan for a few months this year. The only difference I saw in my hair was positive. my hair seemed to be growing in softer and my scalp felt less dry. But like the other ppl said, I did my research and made sure I was getting enough minerals and amino acids/protein. Mineral deficiencies can be just as detrimental or even more so than protein. Make sure you get plenty of B vits, particularly B12 if you are vegan, and iron which you get from dark green leafy veg, and nuts. You can also just take a supplement. Beans are powerhouses of nutrition full of protein, fiber the whole line of B vits and rich in minerals including iron and they're delicious

I've been a vegetarian since October 25, 2008 and am planning to go raw food vegan on January 1, 2010. I have seen tremendous improvements in my skin, weight and hair. I'm hoping that 2010 will get me to BSB/MBL and my weightloss will stabilize.

As many of the other posters have stated, if her hair is falling out then there is a deficiency in her diet. Being a vegan/vegetarian does not mean just not eating meat. You have to do your work and find ways to get the correct amount of amino acids and proteins.

 

[DMJ's Mom]

I'm a veggie and have been for well over 10 years now and never had a problem with thin, or shedding hair. I agree with some of the other ladies maybe she had a deficiency of some sort.