DR. ATKINS DIET AND HAIR LOSS

[JEANIE]

I READ WITH INTEREST THE TOPIC ON ATKINS DIET AND HAIR LOSS. NO ONE MENTIONED HOW LONG IT TOOK FOR HAIR TO START GROWING BACK AFTER INCREASING CARBS.

A RESPONSE COULD BE HELPFUL.

JEANIE

[Tim]

Originally posted by JEANIE
I READ WITH INTEREST THE TOPIC ON ATKINS DIET AND HAIR LOSS. NO ONE MENTIONED HOW LONG IT TOOK FOR HAIR TO START GROWING BACK AFTER INCREASING CARBS.

A RESPONSE COULD BE HELPFUL.

JEANIE

That's interesting. I've been low carbing, be it Atkins or other variations since 1968, And I still have my full head of hair at age 55. I think the hair loss thing is a myth. It is probably genetic. My sister started losing her hair (thinning) at age 40, and it had nothing to do with Atkins although now she is doing Atkins at age 53.

[SomeGuy]

Not a myth. My bathroom sink, wastebasket and tub are full of hair with my wife on the diet. One thing though, I can always tell when I have a home-cooked meal--it's the one full of my wife's hair.

Yeah, I'd say the Atkins diet causes hair loss.

[heyheyhey]

I am seriously hoping that Atkins causes hair loss. I say this because I am only 20 years old and in the past few months have been noticing dramatic hair thinning, and it's really scaring me. Tonight it finally occured to me that I have also been on Atkins these past few months, and maybe there's a link. I did a search and found a lot of threads like this one. So I'm saying right now - Forget Atkins. I'd rather be fat and have great hair than be thin and bald. Here's hoping it starts growing back once I go back to eating "normally" . . .

[Guest]

I have lost a LOT of hair since being on this diet. Not making me happy at all. My hair has always been a source of pride. Has anyone had success having the hair grow back? Think I will have to switch to Weight Watchers.

[studiotonya]

i went on the atkins diet last year and lost like 50% of my hair, no joke-
i went off it as soon as i discovered the link. well its a year later and my hair has not grown back in.......and whats worse its still falling out!

[Kathy]

I need help, Ive been on Atkins or some variation for approximatley 1 year. I lost the weight that I desired however, I am defintily losing my hair. I have read up on hair loss and have found a lack of vitamin B could be to blame, and I belive on Atkins, from what I have read, you do experience a defficeincy. I am hopeful, I have lost at least 40% of my hair Im 36 and very vain. Any other sugestions would be appreciated.

[REGINA]

I DID LOSE A LOT OF MY HAIR ON THE ATKINS DIET. IT WAS FALLING OUT IN HAND FULLS AFTER A COUPLE OF MONTHS. I LOST AT LEAST HALF OF IT. I SURE AM GLAD I HAD A LOT. I EVEN BURNED UP A VACUUM CLEANER BECAUSE OF MY HAIR LOSS. I STOPPED THE DIET AND WITHIN A FEW MONTHS I COULD TELL IT WAS GROWING BACK. I WENT BACK ON THE DIET AND WITHIN 3 WEEKS, MY HAIR STARTED COMING OUT AGAIN. I WILL HAVE TO FIND ANOTHER WAY TO LOSE WEIGHT. IT IS NOT A MYTH.

[/i][/b]

[Diet guy]

Actualy it's a big problem!

--------------------------------------------------------------
Best diet for You!
http://www.healthsolutions4u.org/diet/weight-loss-diet-plan.htm

[Guest]

I need help, Ive been on Atkins or some variation for approximatley 1 year. I lost the weight that I desired however, I am defintily losing my hair. I have read up on hair loss and have found a lack of vitamin B could be to blame, and I belive on Atkins, from what I have read, you do experience a defficeincy. I am hopeful, I have lost at least 40% of my hair Im 36 and very vain. Any other sugestions would be appreciated.

Hey kathy,
As with any diet plan, it is very important to include vitamin and mineral supplements. Dr. Atkins advises this 'strongly' in his plan as well. I would suggest a good B-Complex vitamin...also add to that a 400 I.U. Vitamin E , and Garlic capsule. Don't forget the multiple vitamin that should be taken daily as well. Whether on a specialized diet or not.........the food we eat now days does not have the essential vitamins and minerals that our bodies need to maintain or promote good health.

[Jess]

I too experienced hair loss on the Atkins diet. I was on the diet at age 22, and after a couple months on the diet I began losing my hair. I lost a good amount of my hair. After stopping the diet, it took about 3 months for my hair to begin growing back. It has been almost 4 years and my hair has grown just past my shoulders, still not the same length as the rest of my hair;which I did chop off about a year into the growing back stage.
I am no advocate of the Atkins Diet. For anyone who wants to be healthy on a diet, I reccommend ww, as I have had greater success with that.
Good luck to everyone,
Jess

[chummer]

The two are definitely linked. I was on atkins before getting pregnant with my daughter and noticed I was losing hair constantly. It's normal to lose up to 80 hairs a day - I didn't count, but it sure seemed like a lot... I stopped atkins while I was pregnant, and have just started the induction 3 days ago and noticed this morning several hairs while in the shower... I'm not ready to give up on Atkins, I think this is a problem with not consuming enough calories (starvation), or not getting enough nutrients. I will try Lecithin to see if that helps.

[JenMK]

I am writing to say thank you, I thought I was the only one!!

I have been on Atkins for 3 years, I lost 7st the first year and 2st in the second. My hairdresser found a small bald patch at the back of my head and now 3 months later I am thinking of buying a wig now I can no longer style my hair to cover the patches.

After seeing this site I feel cheated, after years of being fat I am going out and enjoying myself again to now have this, not very happy!!!

I am going to try the vitamin B and go back to a normal diet and see if my hair grows back. I am 31 and like most women like to look good and this is really denting my confidence.

I will carry on trying to lose the last few stone on another method now, I will let you know of my progress...if there is any!!

[Di]

I have been on Atkins for 2 1/2 years and just love how it makes me feel, but as of this week I am bringing some carbs back into my diet because I am soooooo close to BALD!!! At first I thought it was just the usual thinning at the crown that sneaks up on some of us gals as we approach 40. But this isn't that type of hair loss...it's all-over shedding...the kind that makes people look twice. I started noticing it about two months after I went on Atkins. Vitamins have not helped and thyroid is normal. But now it's really bad and very embarassing. I'm really bummed about it too, because Atkins has been really good for myself and my husband. We have lost alot of weight and never felt better. But, as of this past Monday I have added some carbs, and am praying for regrowth!

Does anyone know if South Beach diet has the same problem? I love low carb and hate to let it go entirely!

Thanks much, Di-Ellen

[Krsi]

I am a 23 year old who has had very long and thick hair for ALL of my life. I started Atkins just 3months ago and stuck to it like I tee! YEs I took my vitamins daily while consuming 22 carbs a day and just TWO days ago I noticed that within a week a entire square in the back of my head was missing. My hair is to my chest. I thought I was absolutely crazy...there's no way I could lose this much hair and not notice it. I had visited the hair dresser two weeks prior and my hair was there. As of today I am off of the Atkins diet!!!!!!!!!!! I will try my hardest to discourage any and everyone to STAY OFF or lose something they never thought they would. THANK GOD for the Internet. Something made me think just maybe my diet has something to do with it....

[Lonnie]

I had been on the Atkins diet for about a month. I was doing a lot of cheating but I did stick with it once for about a week. I went to the hairdresser one week and all was fine. Two weeks later, my haridresser said your hair is thinning. I looked up to see that I had loss huge amounts of hair. I ran home thinking all sorts of things. I will never be on this diet and will discourage all others. I am going to get some B-Complex and start using a protien hair conditioner.

Can anyone suggest a good diet? I have heard good things about WW.

[BJ]

Does this imply that any lost weight due to Atkins is due to hair loss?

[Guest]

Not a myth. My bathroom sink, wastebasket and tub are full of hair with my wife on the diet. One thing though, I can always tell when I have a home-cooked meal--it's the one full of my wife's hair.

Yeah, I'd say the Atkins diet causes hair loss.

Very none scientific observation.

Most likely I would guess the hair loss is due to a food alergy. When ever you change your eating habits, you run the risk of introducing or increasing the levels of something you are allergic to. Your best bet is to get her back to her normal eating habits and then change the types and quantities of the foods she eats one at a time. When you think you've found the food she is sensative to, get her tested. BTW. Don't forget, it could also be one of the subliments she is allergic to. My wife is very sensative to wheat germ.

Bill

[Guest]

I was on Atkins for 1 1/2 years. I had a lot more hair then most people and started noticing my hair coming out at an unbelievable rate. My neighbor said her friend had to stop atkins because of that happening to her. A friend at church told me that it also happened to her . I had tried the Vitamins and the vitamins for hair and even atkin vitamins. I am wondering if it may be as some hair loss specialist suggest about some hair loss being from your white blood cells wanting to attack the root thinking the protein is a bad protein. Since I was eating 5 times more protein that I would have every day I also wonder if maybe my body is trying to fight their being too much protein.....I also note every time I touch my hair and a few more pieces fall into my hand...I note the cuticle on the end of the hair is so tiny it is almost non existant, I can barely feel it. .....I lost 40 lbs on atkins and when I am not on it I struggle to maintain.I am now a woman in my early thirties with about 1/3 the hair I had before starting atkins. I may try Overeaters Anonymous.
A Very Disappointed Would Be Atkins Advocate for Weight Loss

[VANESSA]

A DIET RICH IN PROTEIN FOODS IS ESSENTIAL TO HAIR AND NAIL GROWTH AND HEALTH. IF YOU HAVE EVER SEVERLY RESTRICTED YOUR CALORIE FOOD INTAKE PARTICULARY PROTEIN YOU WOULD NOTICE A TREMENDOUS CHANGE IN YOU HAIR AND NAILS. PROTEIN INTAKE IS NOT THE CAUSE OF HAIR LOSS BUT THERE ARE MANY OTHER CAUSES SUCH AS BIRTH CONTROL PILLS, MEDICATION, HORMONE IMBALANCE, STRESS AND POSSIBLY MORE SERIOUS CONDITIONS. EXPLORE THE POSSIBILITES WITH YOUR DOCTOR HAVE YOUR BLOOD WORK DONE AND IF THE RESULTS PROVE TO BE NEGATIVE WITH RESPECT TO ELEVATED OR LOW LEVELS OF PARTICULAR HORMONES ESTROGEN, TESTOSTERONE OR PROBLEMS WITH THYROID FUNCTIONING THEN PROCEED TO INVESTIGATE FURTHER THROUGH READING MATERIALS OR GO TO A NATUROPATH. DO NOT STOP LOOKING FOR AN ANSWER OR REASON TO YOUR PROBLEM. YOU NEED A GOOD DIAGNOSTICIAN IF YOU CANNOT FIND ONE DO THE RESEARCH AND LEGWORK YOURSELF.

[Jenny]

I started the South Beach Diet about a year and a half ago. At first I was extremely strict about the "right carbs" and "right fats" as the book instucts. I lost 35 lbs. and it was fabulous!! As time went on, however, I somehow wandered onto the Atkins diet, eating much more fatty proteins and less carbs of any kind. The weight loss slowed and the hair loss began. I am only 28 years old and in the last several months, their is so much less hair on the top of my head. I even stopped going to get my hair cut because I'm so embarrassed about it. I have tried vitamins and nothing is working. The hair continues falling out. Its weird though, because the root is still attached and large. I don't understand what's happening. I don't want to go off the diet because each time I do, I gain the weight back and, so far, no other diets have worked for me. Any suggestions?

[Guest]

Hair loss is primarily genetic. I'm 29 and have been on low carb for three years and my hair couldn't be thicker. As for the color, well, that's a whole other issue! If some of you feel that you are losing your hair due to the diet plan, contact the Atkins center and get their opinion. You also must read the book. Atkins does not recommend that you eat nothing but bacon and eggs. Both SB and Atkins recommends that you eat the right carbs and the right fats.

Please also keep in mind that the induction period should last only 14 days. I don't think it is that complicated to understand that a meal that consists of fresh fish, a full serving of vegetables, and a salad is good for you. These foods cause hair loss? I suppose I should go back to eating 7-8 servings of processed carbs a day in the form of white bread and start buying fruit loops again.

[liz777]

Two years ago I went on Atkins well my hair too started falling out like crazy. I had my hormones tested and here my testosterone was high. All of the animal butter, and meat on the diet converts into testosterone which converts into dhea/dht which attaches to your hair follicle and kills it. Well I went on spiranolactone and finally my testosterone levels are normal but I have lost a considerable amount of hair. It takes several months for spiro. to lower your testosteroen. The reason your hair never grows back after being on atkins is because testosterone hair loss is permanent.

[NINA]

I HAVE BEEN ON AND OFF THE ATKINS FOR A YEAR NOW AND HAVE HAD A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF HAIRLOSS. I COULDN'T FIGURE IT OUT, THOUGHT I WAS ALLERGIC TO MY SHAMPOO. WHEN I TOLD A FRIEND OF MINE WHO ALSO DOES ATKINS, SHE SHOWED ME HER THINNING SPOTS ON THE BACK OF HER HEAD. I DO BELIVE ATKINS DOES CAUSE HAIR LOSS.

[plums]

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This is what I have been using ..so far for 3 months now & I can see new hair that is about a cm long.. its amazing stuff.. quite a hefty price at about £50 per month but i would rather spend thatthan be the baldy I was.. as a 28 year old girl its just not on having thinning or no hair...

anyone who has serious issues with no hair - try this - you wont be dissapointed...

cheers