Times of India
15 January 2010

PT finds out advantages of minerals in our lives
TODAY, we live in a world where fashion, stress, our lifestyle and a fragile eco-system have become modern day maladies. All this infuses a high level of toxicity in our body along with mineral imbalances in our system. Minerals, by far, are the most important constituents of every cell in our body and all the vital nutrients such as vitamins, proteins, enzymes, amino acids, carbohydrates, fats, sugars, oils, etc. require minerals for proper cellular function. Also, all bodily processes depend upon the action and presence of minerals.

Minerals are more important to nutrition than vitamins. However, vitamins cannot function unless minerals are present. Tissue rebuilding occurs more readily when the body has access to the necessary minerals.

Importance of Minerals:
Recognising that you have the proper minerals in your body will help not just to balance your physique, but can also support healthy hair. Mineral imbalance is by far the most common cause of hair loss. The important minerals to consider are copper, iron, silicon and zinc. Too much of mineral in some cases can cause an imbalance in another. Copper can help stimulate hair growth and is involved in the prevention. Too much copper can actually cause hair loss. Recently, there have been good studies on iron deficiency cause of hair loss. Taking iron supplements is not a good idea though. Getting iron naturally in food would be a better choice.

Potassium deficiency can cause hair loss. Silicon is supposed to be able to stimulate hair growth. Silicon is present in cucumber. Early or premature hair loss may be a result of zinc deficiency. Zinc can cause hair loss.

The sulpuric compound methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) may help hair growth due to its sulfur content.

What can cause a mineral imbalance?

• Diet — Improper diet through high intake of refined and processed foods, alcohol and fad diets can all lead to a chemical imbalance. Even the nutrient content of a healthy diet can be inadequate, depending upon the soil in which the food was grown or the method in which it was prepared.
• Stress — Physical or emotional stress can deplete the body of many nutrients while also reducing the capability to absorb and utilise many nutrients.
• Pollution — From adolescence through adulthood the average person is continually exposed to a variety of toxic metal sources such as cigarette smoke (cadmium), hair dyes (lead), hydrogenated oils (nickel), anti-perspirants (aluminum), dental amalgams (mercury and cadmium), copper and aluminum cookware and lead-based cosmetics.
• Nutritional supplements — Taking incorrect supplements or improper amounts of supplements can produce many vitamin and mineral excesses and/or deficiencies, contributing to an overall biochemical imbalance.
• Inherited patterns — A predisposition toward certain mineral imbalances, deficiencies and excesses can be inherited from parents.

Minerals
Hair provides one the best medium for mineral analysis of the body. Hair is an ideal tissue for sampling and testing. First, it can be cut easily and painlessly and can be sent to the lab without special handling requirements. Second, clinical results have shown that a properly obtained sample can give an indication of mineral status and toxic metal accumulation following long term or even acute exposure. Incase of acute or chronic hair loss visit a Trichologist and insist on getting the hair tissue mineral analysis. Have a great hair day!

Dr Apoorva L Shah is one of the world’s leading Trichologist and the pioneer of Trichology in India. He is also the founder of Richfeel Trichology Centres.