Veganism is the new buzzword in town. With hundreds and thousands of people flocking on the internet to boast about them turning vegan, all the dairy-lovers do feel a little missed out. The effects of a vegan diet have been a little controversial. Let’s decode if a vegan diet can really help in healthy hair and skin.
What is a vegan diet?
Technically speaking, veganism is a way of living in a bid to prohibit all forms of animal cruelty and exploitation. It includes diet, clothing and lifestyle choices. However, in the internet-savvy world, veganism has been brought down merely to food choices. A vegan diet is a type of vegetarian diet barring animal-derived products like dairy, egg, meat etc. A vegan diet also excludes product that uses animal products during their processing like white sugar and wine.
A plant-based diet, contrary to popular belief, need not be bland or nutrient-deficit. Some worry that a vegan diet will not have sufficient protein. However, items like tofu, lentils, beans, chick-pea gram, green pea etc are some of the ample sources of protein in a vegan diet.
Is Vegan Diet beneficial For The Skin?
A lot amount of controversy around the vegan diet stems from the fact that it is a very broad term. The type of food intake determines its actual effects. A restrictive diet will lead to nutrient deficiency and hence will be bad for the hair and skin. On the other hand, when a proper diet is consumed, elimination of dairy and white sugar has proven to result in a clearer skin. It is also because dairy is known to trigger and worsen acne. Although not scientifically proven, anecdotal evidence does suggest that a plant-based diet reduces signs of aging. It results in a clear, glowing and healthy skin.
The world is hardly vegetarian-friendly, let alone being vegan-friendly. None-the-less, it is a blessing in disguise. The person will less likely to eat out. One is definitely going to miss out on the greasy mess out of a pizza-burger outlet. A vegan diet, hence, also influences a person to eat more fruits and veggies. This nutrient-packed diet rich in vitamin A, vitamin C, antioxidants, water, chlorophyll, and vitamin E will definitely show its benefit on the skin.
Is Vegan Diet responsible for hair loss?
Proteins are the building block of hair. If care is not taken to include sufficient protein-rich food items in the daily intake, a vegan diet might result in hair loss. Additionally, calcium, iron, zinc, and vitamin B12 are important for the health of the hair. Unfortunately, sources of these vitamins and minerals are really difficult to find in a vegan diet.
Some vegan foods, rich in other vitamins and minerals, that can help in hair restoration are superfood kale, chia seeds, flax seeds, almonds, berries, and beans.
It is often argued that soy is a great source of protein. However, too much soy can also be problematic for the hair. It too can be a cause of the hair fall and balding problem. To offset his problem, you can take vitamin and mineral supplements for hair regeneration. Vitamin B12 and iron supplements are especially important to prevent shedding of hair due to a vegan diet.
If you are suffering too much hair loss due to veganism, contact a trichologist immediately.
To be or not to be( a vegan)?
Veganism is purely a personal choice but choosing veganism solely for healthy skin and hair is a little tricky. One should have proper determination to incorporate all the food groups in the daily diet so as to not be nutrient-deficient. You should also include vitamin and mineral supplements for nutrients not readily available in the diet. If going vegan is too far-fetched a dream for you, simply decreasing the intake of animal-based products will also be quite helpful to you.