22/10/2018
Hair loss..! It's a pretty common subject in the ketogenic community. There are a few reason you might be experiencing hair loss while on keto! Ill go over a few with you.
Rapid weight loss - When we experience rapid weight loss it is a shock to our system. The body will shed hair, but it will start to grow back within a couple of months, the easiest solution is to wait it out!
Low protein and calories - This is the most common reason I see for hair loss on keto! A well-formulated ketogenic diet is not meant to be low calorie. If you are not eating to your BMR (Basal Metabolic Rate) Your body will sacrifice from somewhere. Hair and nails are the first to go. This will also happen if you are eating too low protein. Women need to be close to 45 grams or more protein daily, and men at 75 grams or more. Your overall caloric intake depends on your BMR.
Thyroid - Keto is known for regulating hormones, but if you have a thyroid issue, hair loss on keto can be corrected by having your thyroid medications adjusted. If you are eating enough, and have not experienced any rapid weight loss, I highly recommend having your thyroid checked.
Low Zinc and Biotin - These can both be causes of hair loss. Minerals are very important for maintaining health. If you have access to a doctor willing to test minerals in your blood I suggest getting that done.
Overall the most common problem I see is lack of protein and calories! :) You can get your BMR from tdeecalculator.net
This website gives a lot of numbers! Read carefully to find your BMR, that should be your minimum caloric intake. If you've been extremely low calorie for an extended time your body will need to heal itself a bit, you might not lose quick, but you won't be bald, and your hormones will regulate. Weight loss will start again once the metabolism heals.
Another thing to add, If you are not hungry enough to eat all your calories in a day, you should just fast! The body will thrive fasted, and fed. It's that low calorie intake when your body starts to suffer. In a fasted state the body will pull what it needs from your fat stores and preserve the lean tissues, hair, and nails. You can easily fast for over 24 hours on keto, then be hungry enough to eat a proper caloric intake.
