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Diet, supplements and probiotics for AA
I have just started to research diet and its effect on AA as well as what supplements are good for AA, including probiotics. My doctor says that none of it has any effect, but I disagree. I think autoimmune diseases begin in the digestive tract and nutrients or lack of, do have an effect. The problem is that I don't know what I should eat or not eat, and without being tested, I think I would have to eliminate everything but fruit and veggies, and other than vitamins for hair containing B Vitamins, Biotin and Vitamin D, I don't know what other supplements are good for AA. There seems to be some controversy over whether fish oil and/or probiotics are good or bad for autoimmune diseases. Has anyone had any success with changing diet or taking certain supplements.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Tom S. on
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I've been experimenting with the "specific carb diet" and "paleo diet" for about a month now and I'm starting to grow back my eye brows back and I even have shave my head again (its coming in really patching)!
Both diets have the same premise to avoid grains and eat healthy fats and proteins. The SCD diet is more geared towards directly healing the gut while the paleo diet is more about eating fresh, organic vegetables and grassfed (or whatever the animally would traditionally eat) meat. There is even a "paleo autoimmune protocol" diet which tells you to avoid certain foods.
This past winter I tried a gluten free diet only to see my alopecia progress towards universalis. So after a few months of gluten free I went back to eating gluten. All the while I was a vegetarian/vegan as well as the past 4 years. About a month ago I started doing the SCD diet and about 2 weeks ago I started eating meat again (paleo diet portion of my diet) and I think it is really helping. I feel way more energetic and stronger.
I'd definitely recommend looking into these diets. Plus there are other people who have gone these routes and seen results!
Hope this helps!
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Permalink Reply by Starshine on
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Very intwresting. So now are you eating vegetables ,meat and just whole grains? What about eggs and dairy?
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lots of vegetables and meats. Basically no grains at all. So no rice, oats, etc. http://paleodietlifestyle.com/what-is-wrong-with-grains/
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Permalink Reply by Julie Koch on
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I have had every nutrient test and vitamin test done. All my levels are good and I have seen several nutritionists and specialists for eating because I am bulimic and anorexic. They all told me that going "no carb" or gluten free won't help. They told me that these "diets" exclude important nutrients the body needs and when a whole food group is eliminated, you have to make sure you are getting those nutrients somewhere else. I have taken the fish oils, biotin, MSM, etc... for years and a study just came out saying that fish oil supplements don't work because they aren't absorbed by the body. It's best to get your nutrients from food instead of supplements. I stopped the fish oil because they didn't do anything for my hair or my seborrheic dermatitis on my scalp. I guess every body is different though so it can be trial and error. Good luck!!!
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Hi Julie. Do you have AA? I also took a lot of supplements which have not seemed to help my hair although my nails look great. I am still undecided about diet but am just trying to limit carbs and dairy and eat lots of Fruit and vegetables and lean meat.
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I do not have AA but I have Chronic TE. I lost over half my hair over the past 3 years and I suffer from severe scalp pain. I should have mentioned that in my previous post because although we are both losing hair, our diagnosis are slightly different. I hope that you find something that works for you. I think there is nothing wrong with eating a "clean" diet that includes mostly fresh foods and whole foods. Good luck!
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Permalink Reply by molly on
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Hi Starshine - I am on the same journey with you. I keep finding articles on research backing up the 'whole-foods, plant-based' diet and its claims to heal the body from autoimmune (inflammatory) disease. I've begun just this month to nix all dairy, meat, eggs, processed/refined foods and gluten to see if it has an effect. My plan is to give it a month on fruits, veggies, beans and non-gluten grains, see if it makes a difference, and then add back in some fish, etc and see how that feels. I am getting Omega 3's from plant sources like flax and chia seeds instead of fish and taking a B supplement. Also I have seen that 20 minutes of sunlight a day is recommended for vitamin D. As for probiotics, from what I've read (*I'm not a professional*) it is ideal for you to have them in non-dairy forms: fermented foods like sauerkraut, miso, kombucha, kefir. I am pretty much feeling my way through it for now, though I would love to see a nutritionist/naturopath once I have more $ to do so. Best of luck to you, and update with your progress too!
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Hi Molly. Let me know how the diet works for you. I am basically doing the same, except that I am including limited lean meat for now. I have never had any problems with food or gluten that I know of, which is where a nutritionist would help, but they are so expensive. I guess all we can do is try on our own and see if it makes any difference with this frustrating, never-ending disease.
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Just wanted to add that my brother followed a gluten free diet for quite a while because of some intestinal issues and fatigue. The diet did not help his symptoms at all and he went back to a normal diet including all food groups. However, he does only eat organic, homegrown, home fed meat, etc... All natural. He is very healthy...
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Permalink Reply by Wendy on
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I am a nutritionist and have been going to see a naturopath/acupuncturist/chiro (pretty much anyone holistic that I thought could help!)for the past year. I've talked to a lot of collegues that have worked with alopecia patients that had success going gluten free or sugar free (including doing a candida cleanse) or following the paleo - autoimmune diet.
I have been gluten free for 10wks now, along with eliminating all other allergens that I tested positive for and haven't had ANY regrowth...in fact it's still falling out. I will be doing a candida cleanse in the new year and have slowing been eliminating sugar from my diet over the last month (I haven't eaten any refined products for years though). She also has me on probiotics/fish oils and zinc.
I guess the point of my post is that it is different for everyone...people have sworn that removing xyz from their diet made their hair grown back, but I can't help but wonder how much the diet helped or if their hair would have grown back on its own anyways...either way, my skin, nails and hair (what's left of it!) have never looked better, I feel great and am at the healthiest weight I have even been, so that counts for something, right??
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Permalink Reply by Alina on
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I am really interested in this! I gave up my vegetarianism when I found out about my alopecia thinking it had something to do with Iron or Protein deficiency, but it didn't help. Maybe gluten free is the way to go . . .
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