PROTEIN IS NEEDED FOR HEALTHY HAIR

One of many important dietary substances necessary to stay healthy is protein. Next to water, protein is an abundant substance in the body. It is the building block of every cell and it is needed for cell maintenance and repair.

Fast growing cells like the bone marrow, spleen and other blood producing organs require a lot of protein to function properly. On the average, a single RBC lives for about 120 days, so the bone marrow must produce as much in a day to even out the loss.

The intestinal epithelium or more specifically the crypts of Lieberkuhn cells grow just as fast as the bone marrow. The crypts produce various enzymes that help in digestion. These cells also constantly shed off, very similar to the shedding of epithelium of the skin and are passed out with food.

The hair follicles also are protein loving cells. The hair is entirely made of a protein called keratin. Some Chinese manufactures tried to make soy sauce out of hair as a protein source, a cheap alternative to soya beans. The result was that the soy sauce produced was not safe for consumption due to the chemicals used to extract the protein. The hair is not living tissue and is considered dead, the only living part of the hair is found within the hair follicle. The bulb, which is located at the bottom tip of the hair follicle, contains rapidly growing cells to produce the hair shaft.

Apart from all of the cells and organs in the body, these three special cells are dependent on protein. The dietary requirement for protein is around 46 to 56 grams per day. Inadequate intake of protein will lead to muscle wasting and hair loss. The body has an exceptional way of preserving itself. If there are any deficiencies like protein, the body will take protein elsewhere, like the muscles for example, and reserve this to more vital cells (marrow and intestinal). Unfortunately, the hair is not that essential for survival, hence the hair loss.

In reality, protein deficiency is not very common since a typical Western diet exceeds the daily requirement for protein. However, this can occur if it is done deliberately, as seen in extreme dieters.