General Health October 14, 2011-

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Weekly Articles-March 18, 2011

Martin Luther, famed theologian said “Hair is the richest ornament of women” and the poet William Butler Yates proclaimed “Fasten your hair with a golden pin, and bind up every wandering tress.” Hair has been used in literature as a symbol for freedom, nature, health, virility, beauty, wisdom . . . and even revolution. Remember the arguments over hair length in the 1960’s? There was even the counterculture musical “Hair.” Hair is deeply personal and strongly entwined with our self-image. However, there can be significant challenges to having a head of thick, shiny hair. Many believe that to have beautiful hair, we need only choose expensive shampoos, conditioners and cosmetic products. Most people do not think of hair as part of a living structure of the body. For hair to grow lustrous and strong, it needs critical nutrients that can be hard to come by in our standard American diet.  In this week’s Terry Talks Nutrition, I am going to share with you a clinically studied European nutrient formula that can dramatically improve the quality of your glorious hair!

Healthy Hair Starts with Nutrition
While certainly high quality hair products are important to improve the shine and look of our hair, they can never effectively nourish the hair root and shaft for new hair growth and quality. Hair is made up of a number of different structures. The hair follicle is a small pocket from 1.2 mm to 1.5 mm in the skin surface surrounded by nerves and hopefully a supply of rich nutrient-filled blood. Within the follicle is a hair bulb and the papilla, which supplies the growing hair with nutrients. This tiny hair growing factory also contains a small muscle which responds to cold or fright and gives us those familiar goose bumps. In addition, the follicle contains an oil producing gland called the sebaceous gland. This gland produces a fine, natural oil which coats the growing hair and protects it from loss of moisture. The hair shaft is the part of the hair that leaves the surface of the scalp. The shaft consists mainly of keratin, a hard protein similar to that of our nails. Keratin is very strong and supple and has a great resistance based on a high content of sulphurated amino acids. The second part of the hair cuticle is a horny, scaly, outer layer that protects the inner protein fibers. It consists of overlapping scales like those of a fish. When the scales lie flat the hair is protected and free of tangles. The cuticle also protects the inner hair partially because it acts as a trap for sebum, the natural oil produced by the sebaceous gland. If the cuticle becomes damaged and breaks away, the inner fibers will fray leading to breakage and split ends. Underneath the cuticle is the next layer called the cortex. It is made up of millions of keratin fibers twisted around each other like a rope. The cortex is responsible for the thickness and strength of the hair and contains pigment that determines your natural hair color. In the very center of each hair is a canal made of soft keratin called the medulla. Its function is unknown. Sometimes the medulla is missing and it’s believed that poor health and unbalanced nutritional intake is responsible for its disappearance. When the body is deficient of nutrients it will shuttle the nutrients to the most critical lifesaving organs and glands and starve the non-essential structures and functions of the body. In reality, the hair has very little to do with improving the quality of our health. The hair is sacrificed to provide what little nutrients are available to protect the critical function of the body.

Based on scientific studies, there are a number of nutritional factors that can provide nutrients for beautiful and shiny hair and to sustain new hair growth. To keep our hair in a healthy condition, we know we must look after our hair through regular shampooing, conditioning and other external treatments. However, to really nourish and sustain healthy hair growth, we must provide an internal treatment which contains high levels of the following active ingredients.

Sulphurated amino acids.
The two most critical sulphurated amino acids for new hair growth are L-methionine and L-cysteine which are essential building blocks for the formation of keratin (the basic structure of hair) and to promote hair growth.

B Vitamins.
The B vitamins contribute to healthy skin and hair. B6 plays an important role in the absorption of the sulphurated amino acids. Along with the B vitamins, vitamin E is an essential antioxidant associated both directly and indirectly in new hair growth.

Polyunsaturated fatty acids.
The supercritical (CO2) millet seed (Panicum miliaceum) oil extract contains valuable linoleic acid, the triterpenoid miliacin as well as other phytosterols and squalene are important for sustaining hair growth. Millet seed oil increases cell metabolism, stimulates cell proliferation and tissue regeneration. Clinical studies have proven it supports hair growth, has anabolic activity and supports the formation of lustrous and healthy hair. A special, clinically studied millet seed oil activates skin repair mechanisms and has anti-inflammatory properties. It is wound healing and has positive effects in the case of skin ulcers and purulent skin conditions. In a recent case controlled study which included 28 cancer patients, concomitantly treated with millet seed oil extract (Panicum miliaceum), and 56 patients receiving the same combinations of chemotherapy alone as a control group, millet seed extract was given orally every day until the end of chemotherapy. The grade of hair loss was assessed by World Health Organization (WHO criteria).

Results:
The percentage of alopecia (hair loss) of third grade observed in patients concomitantly treated with millet seed extract in association with CDDP-containing regimens were significantly lower than that found in those who received chemotherapy only. The percentage was also lower under anthracycline-containing schedules, without however, statistically significant differences. Millet seed extract therapy was very well-tolerated in all patients. After several years of complete failure in the treatment of chemotherapy-reduced hair loss, this preliminary study suggests that the concomitant therapy with millet seed extract may be effective in preventing complete alopecia (hair loss) following the administration of the most commonly used anti-cancer cytotoxic drugs. This benefit was more evident in patients treated by CDDP-containing chemotherapeutic combinations, whereas little therapeutic effect was achieved in patients who received anthracycline-containing regimens. Therefore, these preliminary results will justify future randomized clinical studies with chemotherapy alone versus chemotherapy plus millet seed extract in an attempt to confirm the apparent benefit observed in the present study. Moreover, successive clinical studies will be required to establish whether more evident results in terms of prevention of alopecia may be achieved by increasing the dosage of millet seed oil extract and/or by starting its administration some weeks prior to the onset of cancer chemotherapy (Department of Radiotherapy and Oncology, San Gerardo Hospital, Monza, Milan Italy). Sunflower seed oil also contains valuable essential fatty acids of the omega 6 group that are necessary for the health of the hair. Sunflower seed oil also contains lecithin, phospholipids, tocopherols, carotenoids and has a very high content of vitamin E. Sunflower seed oil can retain moisture in the skin and hair. It may also provide a protective barrier.

Silica.
A lack of silica can lead to skin, nail and hair disorders as well as growth problems. A well balanced hair formula should contain a good level of silica from horsetail with the addition of minerals being supplied by the millet seed extract. The millet seed oil extract contains a natural content of iron, copper, zinc, manganese and iodine. Additional silica can also prove to be extremely beneficial for the quality of hair and new hair growth. This type of formulation is well tolerated and there are no known side effects. It can be used with other hair growing medications. We also must consider that many medications are responsible for hair loss. This formulation will provide high quality nutrients for hair growth but it will not cause hair growth on undesirable areas of the body. It does not contain hormones and is safe for all ages and genders. To obtain optimal results from a nutritional formulation, one should be prepared to continue the protocol for a minimum of three months. New hair growth may respond very slowly and while you may see results with greater beauty and thickness, you must be patient and allow ample time for hair to grow. You will be amazed at the results!

Tags: Alopecia, Hair and Skin Health, hair loss, millet seed oil extract, sulphurated amino acids