If you’ve spent any time reading about health and wellness, chances are high that you’ve come across the discussion of hair loss. It is a hot topic, mostly because so many health conditions can cause it. But in mid-life it is a common symptom of perimenopause and menopause often not discussed. And because it’s just so personal it can really have devastating effects on self-esteem.

My personal experience

During menopause my hair thinned a lot and I was worried about all the hair I was losing. Every time I showered or brushed my hair I was losing so much hair. Quite the shock. My hairdresser even noticed. It was so upsetting.

As a nutritionist, we use many things to understand the state of your health. Hair is but one. It might indicate you are stressed, have nutritional deficiencies, issues with your thyroid, hormones, iron levels, gut absorption and more. Read on to learn more.

Your hair is part of your integumentary system, which also includes your skin and nails. This system is not essential to life. If you get stressed or suffer from various deficiencies, your skin, nails and hair will be sacrificed before your cardiac or nervous systems. Your body prioritizes the survival functions of your heart and brain so you can survive. Your body will shunt blood to various vital systems, leaving others less nourished. So although your hair might be the most expensive part of your body, it could be said its health is the first to go.

“After hitting menopause, my hair shed was extreme due to my hormones being confused and all over the place, hence the search for the best supplement possible. I tried a few supplements but they did not help with the shedding. However, I kept coming back to Wellbell and checking out their reviews. Now three bottles later, I can say it truly works. My shedding has reduced significantly and my hair is so strong”

Heather, The Glow Wellness

Keep reading for a solution I have found: Wellbel+ is a physician-formulated vegan supplement that nourishes thinning hair and promotes healthy hair growth. women 45+

Underlying conditions and hair health

Research shows that changes in the look of your hair texture or thickness can be signs of underlying health conditions. You can tell whether your hair changes are due to a health problem, stress, hormonal imbalances or a nutritional deficiency. If it’s falling out, changing color or texture, that’s your body asking you to look within.

Key Drivers of Hair Loss

To understand hair and follicle growth, it’s important to understand some of the root causes of hair loss. Hair loss can have various causes, including: 

1. Genetics: the most common cause of hair loss is hereditary, known as androgenetic alopecia or male/female pattern baldness – but this doesn’t mean you can’t slow or prevent hair loss or thinning.
2. Hormonal changes: hormonal imbalances, such as those that occur during pregnancy, childbirth, menopause, and thyroid disorders, can cause hair loss.
3. Medical conditions: certain medical conditions, such as alopecia areata, scalp infections, and autoimmune disorders, can cause hair loss.
4. Medications: certain medications, such as those used for cancer, depression, heart problems, and high blood pressure, can cause hair loss as a side effect.
5. Nutritional deficiencies: a lack of essential vitamins and minerals, such as iron, biotin, and Vitamin D, can contribute to hair loss.
6. Physical or emotional stress: physical stress, such as surgery or illness, and emotional stress, such as grief or anxiety, can cause temporary hair loss.
7. Hairstyling and treatments: over-styling or chemical treatments, such as frequent coloring, straightening, perming, and extensions can damage hair and lead to breakage and hair loss; and
8. Poor blood flow to the scalp: Hair follicles require a steady supply of nutrients and oxygen to remain healthy and to grow. These nutrients and oxygen are delivered to the hair follicles via the bloodstream. BUT when blood flow to the scalp is limited, the hair follicles may not receive an adequate supply of these essential nutrients and oxygen, leading to hair follicle miniaturization, a process in which hair follicles shrink in size, and produce thinner, shorter, and finer hair strands. This process ultimately leads to hair loss or thinning hair. 

The health of your hair is closely connected to your overall health.

So what can you do?

1.Increase Trace Minerals: Thinning hair triggered by low thyroid can cause sudden hair loss caused by the immune system attacking the hair follicles. Low thyroid can often be rebalanced with plants. Adding seaweed to your diet can be a considerable health benefit. Further, buy organic vegetables.

2. Mineral Deficiencies Linked to Hair Loss: Many of my clients with falling or dull brittle hair is due to mineral deficiencies. With over-farming, it is easy to experience deficiencies of trace minerals. Still, many clients experience significant vitamin and mineral deficiencies despite eating a balanced diet. Even when trying to eat well, it is their food’s nutrient density that is the issue.

We suggest eating from the rainbow to ensure you are getting enough vitamins and minerals. Adding in two portions of good fats each day, such as nuts, seeds and avocados, is also essential, so you nourish your hair from the inside out. If anemic, be vigilant with your dark green leafy vegetables, dark red foods like beetroot and pomegranates.

Digestive support is something we all need because we now know that we are what we absorb. Chewing your food around 20 times per mouthful is said to improve gut function, and absorption.

3. Mitigate Stress: If you feel under much stress, it would be great to embrace mindfulness and adopt some good habits to support a balanced and joyful lifestyle. Befriend your vagus nerve!

4. Protein Deficiency: Protein is essential for hair health and growth. This is why it is important to choose a good quality organic free-range animal protein and chew your food well to increase absorption. Pumpkin, sunflower and flaxseeds are also highly recommended. 

5. Stop The Heat: Many people are overdoing head heat exposure and their hair is suffering as a result. Although it may not directly cause hair loss it can change the scalp health, and cause your hair to become brittle and break. Examples would be high-heat sauna, blow dryers, and very hot showers.

6. Listen to the unique language of your body: It’s a quiet, ever-powerful whisper (that often becomes louder over time – particularly when ignored), and understanding it is a lifelong journey. Decoding your hair can be part of that journey of understanding your health.

7.Add a Hair Support Formula:  With a supplement that is proven to grow and replenish hair, you can be well on your way to having the hair you once knew. The benefit of Wellbel Women + is you can get all the ingredients needed in one formula that are clinically proven to stop hair loss, thicken hair, and regrow hair.

The Glow Wellness Advice: Hair shedding can also happen temporarily with sudden changes in estrogen levels during this life stage. If you feel your female hormonal levels are out, you can take a female panel blood test.

Here is the great new for women going through hormonal changes: Wellbel, an innovator in this space has introduced Women+, a tailored solution for women over 45 going through these significant life changes. 

Wellbel is a physician-formulated vegan supplement that nourishes thinning hair and promotes healthy hair growth. women 45+. Developed with clinically researched ingredients to nourish thinning hair and support healthy hair growth. The vegan formulation provides age-related support for hormonal changes and increases production of proteins to promote healthy hair, skin and nails through and beyond menopause. Wellbel Women+ includes many of the same physician-backed ingredients as our original formula, with the addition of copper and zinc as well as increased levels of saw palmetto and MSM to help directly address women’s hormonal needs as they age (for 45+).

What Can You Expect?

When taken daily for least 12 weeks you can see that your hair may look visibly healthier and thicker. You may notice shedding has stabilized. For me personally, after about 10-12 weeks new fine hairs began to regrow where I had once lost them. Consistency is key!

Special offer!

Wellbel is giving you a special discount code of 10% off any hair supplement on their site with code Heather10.

I hope you found this post helpful.

It is my goal to share what I’ve both personally and professionally found to be successful for myself and the many clients and followers I interact with. We can age WELL with the right tools.