hair loss, protein related?

So non vegan medical advice states that a low protein diet can cause hair loss. And that the hair loss will take a few months to start after being low on protein. Well that is exactly what happened to me. At three months in my hair started thinning. I dont eat overts, Im not undereating or losing weight or anything. I figured I need 2000 cal a day based on the formula from the 80-10-10 book. I am now at 4.5 months with the hair loss still happening. I upped my greens to two lbs a day. But I still only manage to get 30-35 grams of protein (according to cronometer). Is this adequate? How much do you guys get? I've got to do something before I look like a chemo patient!

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Permalink Reply by Josh Fossgreen on August 26, 2011 at 7:34am

I highly doubt it's protein related. I've gone long stretching both a) undereating and b) using dates as a staple, which are extremely low-protein. I still have less hair loss than I ever did on other diets. How old/tall/heavy are you? 2000 calories is generally pretty low. The meal plans in the 80/10/10 book are built around a 2000 calorie diet, but I don't think that's enough for most beginning raw foodists.

Only way to get inadequate protein is inadequate calories! Eat more to live more! Woo hoo!

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Permalink Reply by Josh Fossgreen on August 26, 2011 at 8:15am

I would definitely bump up calories from low-fat fruits before adding in many overts. Eating more low-fat fruits = more omega 3 and 6 anyway, and most fruit has a better omega 3:6 ratio than avocados, almonds, and some other overt fats.

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Permalink Reply by melissa jackson on August 26, 2011 at 12:17pm

I wouldn't. I tried that when my hair was falling out & I was a LFRV and it started falling out FAR worse then before when my fat was low. Upping my calories was the only thing that helped my hair get super thick.

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Permalink Reply by Josh Fossgreen on August 27, 2011 at 5:32am

Darren, I don't think you've been doing this long enough to make any generic conclusions about fat intake. You're still in the first month, bro! Not to diminish the value of your personal experience, but it takes a lot more time than that to really start feeling out where your optimal fat intake is. In the meantime, I think most people's "low-fat intake issues" are actually low-calorie intake issues. Eat more fruit!

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Permalink Reply by Josh Fossgreen on August 27, 2011 at 5:09pm

The reason I'm pushing against your recommendation is that it's easy to undereat on carbs by including too many overt fats, especially for beginners. However, your opinion remains safely stated above :).

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Permalink Reply by Janne Schaffer on August 27, 2011 at 7:13pm

josh may I ask you this as i would be interested in hearing your opinion,

if someone has been undereating for long on a non-811 diet and now is eating more but still undereating in your opinion on 811 foods and didn't lose hair before but do now then what would you say is different in your opinion between the two ways of undereating that it makes symptoms different?

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Permalink Reply by Josh Fossgreen on August 28, 2011 at 10:27am

Wow! I have no idea! Such complex issues, and I have experience with them. There are infinite factors at play in a case like that. If you want a better answer, I'd ask someone who actually has experience transcending said issues, or maybe post a thread in Raw Health?

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Permalink Reply by Alysha Maiorelli on August 26, 2011 at 10:17am

Nope had this too...eat more greens like lots more and more calories a la datorade. My hair was falling out too really bad and I upped the greens and ate more fruit in mono meals or smoothies and my hair is back to it's super thick curly self!

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Permalink Reply by Claudia R on August 26, 2011 at 10:32am

Hi Zann46

I too am having a massive hair shed, its called telogen effluvium and usually only happens in relation to diet if you are eating less than 800 calories. Mine actually started to fall out before I started to eat like this, in december 2010 I was still eating meat, dairy and grains and thats when it started and I only began 4.5 months ago too, 10 months later I am still losing about 400 strands a day and I have a quarter of my beautiful, wavy waist long, hair remaining. With most people the shedding lasts around 3 months and was triggered by emotional/stressful events, low grade fever, surgery or hormonal changes, but not food unless you are living with an eating disorder. I hope it stops for you soon as its been a great source of distress for me and I wouldn't wish it on anyone. Whatever you do continue with this eating style because it will nourish your hair follicles with what they needs to create more healthy hair. Hang in there.

HugsClaudia

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Permalink Reply by Zann46 on August 26, 2011 at 12:20pm

thanks for the encouragement Claudia. I hope yours starts growing back soon too. I know how scary it is for us girls to think our hair is all falling out.

Alysha, how much greens and calories did you start eating to make it stop? I eat 2lbs now (1lb in breakfast smoothie and 1 lb in big dinner salad) and just that amount is quite filling.

I am only 5'2 and need to lose about 15 lbs of fat to get to 110 which I think is a healthy weight for my height, which is why I though 2000 cal was adequate for me.

The only thing that has changed with me is the 811 way of eating. So stress and all that shouldnt be the culprit

Thanks for the advice everyone

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Permalink Reply by Kaz on August 27, 2011 at 6:25am

Vegan diets are a little lower in Zinc. If your body has repairs to make and is now being allowed to make them it could be that you are suffering from a need for increased zinc in your intake. Green veg is traditionally recommended but a temporary supplement might identify or eliminate this as a cause.

Blood flow is necessary too, so a gentle regular massage or some hangning upside down can't but help.