I boosted my hair growth in just one month – these are the 5 breakfast foods that could help
HUGE, thick, luscious locks are something many of us can only dream of.
However, there is one, very simple way to help encourage hair growth, according to an NHS GP – and it works fast.
According to the NHS, around eight million women, and more than six million men, in the UK experience hair loss or some form of hair loss.
And although it may not life-threatening, hair loss can be very distressing for the person experiencing it.
Dr Shireen, known for sharing health tips on TikTok, has opened up about her experience with hair thinning and revealed the steps she took to restore her locks in just a few weeks .
“Up until a year ago, this section of my hair was completely empty, on both sides,” the NHS doc says, while pointing to an area of her scalp near her temples.
In the clip, which has since been viewed by over 64K people, that same section is sprouting with baby hairs.
“I had taken a blood test which showed I was really iron deficient, my ferritin levels were really low,” she explained.
Ferritin is a blood protein that contains iron and a ferretin test can be used to find how much iron the body stores.
Iron is crucial for the production of hemoglobin, which helps red blood cells carry oxygen throughout the body – including to the scalp and hair follicles.
When the body is low on iron, the body may prioritise more vital organs – like the heart and lungs – over hair growth.
This can lead to weakened follicles and slower hair regrowth.
And because of this, hair may fall out or grow more slowly.
Iron deficiency can also lead to a condition called telogen effluvium, where hair prematurely enters the shedding phase.
Other symptoms can include tiredness, shortness of breath, a noticeable heartbeat (mainly in the ears) and pale skin.
GPs can test the blood for red blood cell count.
If it red blood cout is low, a doctor might recommended taking iron tablets to restore levels in the body.
A pack of 60 iron tablets (140mg) can cost as little as £3.40 at high-street stores like Boots.
Within “a month to six weeks” of Dr Shireen taking iron suppliments and “restoring those [iron] levels” she started to notice hair growth.
Breakfast foods high in iron
People can also boost their iron levels through their diet, which the NHS GP states is still the “best way” to improve iron intake.
The NHS recommends that adult men should aim for around 8.7 milligrams (mg) of iron per day.
For women aged 19 to 50, the recommendation is higher – around 14.8mg per day – due to iron loss during menstruation.
After the age of 50, a woman’s iron needs drop to 8.7mg per day, which is the same as for men.
Many breakfast foods are rich in iron, making it easy to hit your daily target early on.
This includes:
- Spinach (2.7mg of iron per 100g, raw)
- Eggs (0.9mg of iron per egg)
- Tofu (1.5 mg ·of iron per 100 grams)
- Fortified cereals (10mg of iron per 100g – this can vary, so check the specific box for exact numbers)
- Beans (5mg of iron per 100g, cooked)
“Suppliments are a good additionl for those who struggle to eat enough of these foods,” she explains.
Most common vitamin deficiencies in the UK
Vitamin D deficiency is the most common vitamin deficiency in the UK.
The UK’s location means it’s deficient in UVB for most of the year, and the body can only produce vitamin D through sunlight exposure.
Other common vitamin deficiencies include:
Vitamin B12
Vegans and vegetarians are at higher risk of deficiency because plants don’t contain the vitamin.
Stomach conditions or operations can also prevent the body from absorbing enough vitamin B12.
Iron
Pregnancy or heavy menstrual periods can deplete iron stores.
Calcium
As oestrogen levels drop, the body’s ability to absorb calcium decreases.
Vegans may also be at risk because they avoid dairy products.
Potassium
Low dietary potassium intakes are common in the UK, especially among women.
Low levels can occur due to a variety of reasons: poor diet lacking potassium-rich foods, excessive sweating, taking diuretic medications, chronic kidney disease, diarrhoea or vomiting, laxative abuse, eating disorders, and certain metabolic conditions