Diet against baldness?: Nutrition researcher reveals what really helps against hereditary hair loss
Hopes for a miracle cure for hereditary hair loss are high. But what does science say about this? Nutritionist Uwe Knop provides surprising answers.
The German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) has scientifically assessed whether people with hereditary hair loss medically require additional nutrients and, consequently, whether a special diet could counteract hair loss. This problem affects many people: Around 80 percent of men and 40 percent of women in Europe share the same fate: they lose their hair sooner or later.
They are among the world's leading causes of "androgenetic alopecia," the term for inherited baldness caused by an excessive reaction to male hormones. In men, hair loss, which is primarily genetic and caused by the hair follicle's hypersensitivity to the hormone dihydrotestosterone, can begin shortly after puberty.
In women, it usually only begins after menopause. A fate that many sufferers hope to avoid through all sorts of remedies, from shampoo and hair tonics to a special diet and the use of nutritional supplements. But this is of no use, because the results of the current BfR analysis are clear:
"After reviewing the scientific studies, the BfR cannot identify any special nutritional requirements for this group of people. There is no additional need for nutrients in androgenetic alopecia. A balanced diet with, among other things, sufficient proteins, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants is sufficient."
Uwe Knop, born in 1972, is a nutritionist, author, and speaker for professional associations, companies, and medical training courses. His new book , "FINALLY Eating Right," was published in August 2024.
For healthy people, vitamins and dietary supplements generally play no role in health. There is no reliable evidence that multivitamins or other dietary supplements can prevent cardiovascular disease or cancer, for example.
Only for individuals with a clinically relevant deficiency that has been confirmed in the laboratory can nutritional supplementation be beneficial to compensate for this deficiency. However, this decision should always be made by the treating physician in the context of the overall therapy. Further information can be found here .
That would be nice! But here, too, it must be clearly stated: To date, there is not a single scientific proof that men or women become more beautiful by consuming certain foods, such as by giving them a radiant complexion.
The fact is: You can't eat yourself beautiful - and you ca n't eat yourself smart either . You remain as "pretty and intelligent" as you are, no matter what you eat - if you eat a normal, balanced diet, as is usual and possible in this country, and if you no longer suffer from hunger, that's clear.
Eating right, well, and healthy is very simple. You just need to ensure variety and diversity in your diet and trust your individual intuition and personal ethics —that's all.
Just remember the keyword of the four initial letters: l' AVIE, pronounced like "life" in French – because the meaning is also perfectly fitting: Only with the right, personally tailored eating style does life become truly beautiful. To do this, follow these three simple rules that everyone should know.
" FINALLY EAT RIGHT " Enjoy honestly with a clear conscience - Trust your ETHICS & INTUITION by Uwe Knop
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