Ayurveda Nutritional Advice for Thinning Hair

Amla is one fruit Ayurveda traditionally recommends for hair loss.

In Ayurveda nutrition must be balanced for healthy hair as well. For example, consuming just the right amount of salty food keeps a vata dosha in balance by slightly increasing both pitta and kapha while mildly reducing vata, but eating too much salty food increases vata and is associated with hair thinning. On the other hand, sweet tastes that reduce both vata and pitta while increasing kapha serve to strengthen hair (if not consumed to excess).¹⁷⁴

Ayurveda practitioners recommend adding the following to your diet to treat conditions that can lead to or exacerbate hair loss (with notes if certain doshas should avoid):^{12, 62, 174, 223, 239}

Table 80: Ayurveda Food Recommendations for Thinning Hair
Ayurveda Dietary Recommendations
Foods	How it can help
ALFALFA SPROUTS	Used to treat obesity (good for those with diabetes and PCOS).
ALMONDS	Good source of boron, magnesium, and protein.
AMLA FRUIT	Traditionally recommended to treat hair loss. Antimicrobial activity. Helps relieve itchiness. Potent antioxidant protection against chemotherapy-induced hair loss. Rich in vitamin C and quercetin. Alleviates effects of stress.
APPLES	Antioxidant protection against radiation (i.e., x-rays, UV). Good for gastrointestinal disorders (e.g., gastritis and colitis) that can cause nutritional deficiencies.
APRICOTS	Used for skin disorders.
ARTICHOKES	High in iron, niacin, and vitamin C.
AVOCADO	Nourishes skin. High in vitamin A and vitamin D. High in copper, iron, and manganese. Good source of magnesium, needed to maintain a healthy thyroid.
BEETS	Good for anemia, usually associated with either vitamin B12 or iron deficiency. Helps treat digestive disorders that can cause nutritional deficiencies.
BITTER MELON	High in vitamin C. Used to treat anemia, which can be caused by vitamin B12 or iron deficiency. Used to treat diabetes Weight reduction, which can help with PCOS.
BLUEBERRIES	Helps regulate sugar metabolism (good for those with diabetes).
BRUSSELS SPROUTS	Good source of iron and riboflavin. High in vitamin A and vitamin C. Promotes insulin (good for those with diabetes).
CABBAGE	High in vitamin A and vitamin C. Good source of sulfur.
CARROTS	Antioxidant properties.
CASHEWS	High in magnesium and vitamin A.
CELERY	Calming. Helpful with diabetes. Used to treat adrenal disorders (which would help with Cushing’s disease and PCOS). Weight loss (good for those with diabetes and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).
CHERRIES	Stress reducing. Used to treat obesity (good for those with diabetes and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).
CRANBERRIES	Weight loss, which can help with diabetes and PCOS
DATES	Good source of iron Used to boost strength in those with wasting diseases that can cause nutritional deficiencies
DULSE	Seaweed high in iron and protein.
FILBERTS	High in sulfur.
FLAX	Rich source of essential fatty acids.
GARBANZO BEANS (also known as chick peas and channa dal)	High in iron and vitamin A.
GRAPEFRUIT (also known as chick peas and channa dal)	Helps digest sugars (good for those with diabetes). High in vitamin C. Weight reduction, which can help with diabetes and PCOS.
GRAPES AND RAISINS	Detoxifying. High in iron (used to treat anemia). Helps with skin disorders.
KALE	Good source of sulfur. High in magnesium, needed to maintain a healthy thyroid. Rich in riboflavin, vitamin A, iron, niacin, and vitamin C.
KELP (also known as Irish Moss)	Good source of magnesium, needed to maintain a healthy thyroid. Rich in iron, thiamine, B-complex, manganese, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, and vitamin C.
LEMONS	Used to treat diabetes and scurvy, a disorder caused by vitamin C deficiency.
LENTILS	High in iron, magnesium, sulfur, and vitamin A. Rich source of protein.
LETTUCE	Calming.
LIMES	Used to treat obesity (good for those with diabetes and PCOS).
MANGO	Good for diabetes. High in vitamin C. Improves digestion, which can help with nutritional deficiencies.
MUSHROOMS	Weight reduction, which can help with diabetes and PCOS.
OATS	Calming. Helps regulate blood sugar (good for those with diabetes). Rich in iron, thiamine, B-complex, niacin, and riboflavin. Used for thyroid conditions.
ORANGES	High in vitamin A and vitamin C.
PAPAYA	Helps with digestive disorders that can cause nutritional deficiencies. Regulates sugar metabolism (good for those with diabetes).
PARSLEY	Helps regulate sex hormones. High in thiamine, B-complex, iron, manganese, vitamin A and vitamin C. Used for thyroid conditions. Used to treat adrenal disorders (which would help with Cushing’s disease and PCOS).
PEACHES AND NECTARINES	High in vitamin A.
PINEAPPLE	Good for scurvy, a disorder caused by vitamin C deficiency. High in manganese. Reduces toxic effects of cigarette smoking if chewed with ½ teaspoon of honey.
PISTACHIOS	High in vitamin A.
RADISH	High in B-complex, vitamin A and vitamin C.
RASPBERRIES	Helps treat obesity (good for those with diabetes and PCOS).
RYE	Good source of lysine. Weight reduction, which can help with diabetes and PCOS.
SESAME OIL	Called taila, sesame oil is considered romsa?janana in Ayurveda—a characteristic that promotes hair growth.
SNOW PEAS	Helps regulate blood sugar (good for those with diabetes).
SWEET POTATOES	Antioxidant properties. High in vitamin A and vitamin C.
WALNUTS	Calming High in magnesium and vitamin A. Used to treat skin conditions ; not recommended for kapha and pitta doshas.
WATERCRESS	High in copper, iodine, iron, magnesium, sulfur, and vitamin A. Used for thyroid conditions.

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Phyllanthus emblica.

Do not eat raw if you have hypothyroidism disorders since it inhibits thyroid functioning; limit cooked to 2-3 servings per week.

Do not eat raw if you have hypothyroidism disorders since it inhibits.

Avoid cranberry flavored juice drinks that are high in sugar.

Skins and seeds contain resveratrol, a powerful antioxidant that is also a phytoestrogen that can help regulate androgen sex hormones.

Do not consume with mangos, milk, or tomatoes. Avoid if you have stomach ulcers.

High in uric acid and may aggravate gout.

Avoid if you have arthritis or bladder disorders.

Limit to one a day, especially those with pitta doshas; avoid if you have a skin rash.

Pitta doshas should avoid pineapple juice. Do not consume on an empty stomach or within two hours of eating dairy foods.

Do not eat with dairy products.

Do not consume if you have hypothyroidism; goitrogenic food that potently inhibits thyroid function, especially if iodine-deficient.

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Ayurveda Nutritional Advice for Thinning Hair

Ayurveda Dietary Recommendations

Foods

How it can help