If you're worried about hair loss, you should avoid this diet, no matter how healthy it is.

A study found that intermittent fasting inhibits hair growth and causes hair loss.

 

Intermittent fasting is a diet that involves eating within set periods and restricting food intake during other times. The 8/16 diet, which involves eating during an eight-hour window and fasting for the remaining 16 hours, is a popular choice. Numerous studies have shown its positive effects on metabolism, weight management, and overall health, making it a wellness trend.

 

A research team at West Lake University in China divided shaved mice into three groups and subjected them to various forms of intermittent fasting to examine the effects on hair growth. The three groups were: an intermittent fasting group, which ate for eight hours and fasted for 16 hours daily; a group that ate every other day; and a control group with 24-hour access to food.

The study found that control mice given unrestricted access to food had mostly grown hair after 30 days, while those on 8-16 hour intermittent fasting and alternate day fasting only partially regrew hair after 96 days. The effects of intermittent fasting on hair follicle stem cells were also analyzed.

 

In control mice, hair follicle stem cells remained activated and maintained 20 days after shaving, but in mice that fasted every other day and intermittently, cell death occurred in the hair follicle stem cells during the fasting period. The research team explained that this was because the accumulated reactive oxygen species due to intermittent fasting caused the cell death of hair follicle stem cells.

 

To determine whether these results apply to humans, the research team conducted the same experiment on 49 adult men and women for 10 days. The results showed that the intermittent fasting group, which fasted for 18 hours a day, experienced an 18% slower hair growth rate compared to the control group.

 

“It’s also important to recognize that intermittent fasting can have unintended consequences,” said study author Professor Bing Zhang.

 

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Those who are concerned about hair loss

I should avoid intermittent fasting.

 

Intermittent fasting looks like this

Rather than doing it consistently

This is done to empty the stomach a bit after overeating.

I think it'll be okay

 

Dieting is always difficult