  Very low calorie diets may lead to a number of unpleasant and even harmful side effects — from constipation to developing an unhealthy relationship with food (1Trusted Source).
What’s more, significantly reducing calorie intake may lead to rapid weight loss, which could trigger hair loss. The Optavia diet is a diet that restricts your calorie intake to induce weight loss. Some customers have experienced side effects when following Optavia, including hair loss. Optavia diet and hair lossOptavia is a popular diet that people follow to lose weight. The 12-week Optimal Weight 5&1 Plan slashes calorie intake to just 800–1,200 calories per day in order to promote fast weight loss (2). Once the dieter reaches their “healthy weight,” they then transition to a higher calorie transition phase with an intake of no more than 1,550 calories per day for 6 weeks (2). This turns out to be far fewer calories than the average American adult takes in on a daily basis (3Trusted Source). Depending on the calorie intake, the weight loss phase of Optavia can be considered a very low to low calorie diet. Very low calorie diets (VLCDs) are diets that provide between 600–900 calories per day, while low calorie diets (LCDs) provide 1,000–1,500 calories per day (4Trusted Source). When you reduce your calorie intake drastically, such as when you’re following a very low to low-calorie diet like Optavia, you may experience significant weight loss because your body needs many more calories in order to maintain your body weight. However, in addition to weight loss, VLCDs and low calorie diets may lead to adverse side effects, including hormone disruptions in your body and hair loss. Diets that significantly cut calories, like the Optavia diet, lead to sudden and rapid weight loss, which can trigger hair loss. Rapid weight loss and hair lossRapid weight loss that occurs over a short time period, such as when you’re following a very low to low calorie diet like Optavia, has been linked to a condition called acute telogen effluvium (TE). TE is a disorder that causes excessive shedding of hair on your scalp. It’s one of the most common causes of alopecia, the medical term for hair loss (5Trusted Source, 6Trusted Source). Rapid weight loss is a well known trigger of TE. This is because the cells that make up the part of the hair follicle that produces hair depend on a steady flow of energy. This makes your hair follicles extremely sensitive to calorie or nutrient deficiencies (7Trusted Source, 8Trusted Source, 9Trusted Source). In acute TE, a triggering event like rapid weight loss causes the hair to abruptly shift from a growing phase to a resting phase. When these same hairs reenter their growing phase, they shed. Hair loss related to acute TE usually occurs around 3 months after rapid weight loss, so people following the Optavia diet may not experience hair loss until after they’ve shifted into the “maintenance” phase of the diet (6Trusted Source). Acute TE related to sudden weight loss typically lasts less than 6 months. Hair loss that lasts longer than 6 months is known as chronic TE (6Trusted Source). SUMMARY Significant calorie restriction, such as when following a very low to low-calorie diet like Optavia, may lead to sudden, rapid weight loss. This can trigger hair loss. Heads upTrying to “do it right” when it comes to nutrition may feel tempting, but it can backfire. If you are preoccupied with food or your weight, feel guilt surrounding your food choices, or routinely engage in restrictive diets, consider reaching out for support. These behaviors may indicate a disordered relationship with food or an eating disorder. Disordered eating and eating disorders can affect anyone, regardless of gender identity, race, age, socioeconomic status, or other identities. They can be caused by any combination of biological, social, cultural, and environmental factors — not just by exposure to diet culture. Feel empowered to talk with a qualified healthcare professional, such as a registered dietitian, if you’re struggling. You can also chat, call, or text anonymously with trained volunteers at the National Eating Disorders Association helpline for free or explore the organization’s free and low cost resources. Was this helpful? Hair loss on OptaviaA rapid and sudden drop in weight can cause hair loss, no matter the cause of the weight loss. For example, in addition to VLCDs, bariatric surgery has also been linked to hair loss due to the sudden and extreme level of weight loss associated with the procedure (10Trusted Source). If you experience hair loss when following Optavia, it may be due to your significant weight loss. Losing your hair can be distressing, but TE associated with rapid weight loss is often temporary. In fact, studies show that 95% of people who experience acute TE undergo remission. Most people will see hair regrowth within 6 months (6Trusted Source). If you experience hair loss that lasts longer than 6 months, this is considered chronic TE. Chronic TE may be caused by several different factors. In either case, it’s a good idea to consult your doctor if you’re experiencing hair loss. Hair loss can have a number of causes, some of which may be serious and unrelated to weight loss. It’s important to know that although hair loss associated with weight loss is typically temporary, you may avoid this potential adverse side effect by avoiding VLCDs, crash diets, and overly restrictive diets altogether. Losing weight in a slower, more sustainable manner by following a nutritious diet and active exercise routine may help reduce the risks associated with very low and low calorie diets like hair loss. SUMMARY It’s a good idea to visit your doctor if you’re experiencing hair loss as hair loss can be caused by factors unrelated to weight loss. The hair loss associated with rapid weight loss is typically temporary and hair should start to regrow within 6 months. Other causes of hair lossIn addition to rapid weight loss, there are a number of other potential causes for hair loss, including:
SUMMARY There are many potential causes of hair loss, including micronutrient deficiencies, medication use, medical conditions like thyroid disease, genetics, and more. The bottom line The Optavia diet may cause rapid weight loss, which may trigger acute TE. Acute TE is a type of hair loss that typically lasts a few months. Even though the hair loss associated with rapid weight loss is often temporary, you can avoid worrying about hair loss by losing weight in a slower, more sustainable manner. If you think the Optavia diet is causing you to lose your hair, it’s important to visit your healthcare provider to rule out other potential causes of hair loss. Some causes of hair loss prove more serious than others, potentially requiring medical attention. To reduce the risk of hair loss and other side effects related to restrictive or low calorie diets, focus on:
 Applying egg yolk to your scalp may provide several benefits. These might include preventing hair loss or brittle hair, or helping your hair grow faster.
Egg yolk is the yellow ball suspended in the white of an egg when you crack it open. Egg yolk is densely packed with nutrition and proteins, such as biotin, folate, vitamin A, and vitamin D. The nutrients that are naturally contained in an egg yolk are the same ones that are in healthy, glossy hair. Some people apply egg yolk to their scalp as a treatment for hair loss, brittle hair, or to try to make their hair grow faster. What are the benefits? To understand the way that egg yolk helps your hair, we first have to discuss what contributes to common hair problems. A poor diet, excessive chemical treatments, oxidative stress from your environment, and heat styling can all strip your hair shaft of its proteins. Egg yolk may help your hair resist damageEgg yolk is rich in the vitamins that may make hair more resistant to damage. The yolk may be especially useful to moisturize hair that appears dry. Egg yolk can be superfood for your hair due to the unique combination of vitamins found inside. Vitamins A and E, biotin, and folate are just some of the nutrients that researchers have linkedTrusted Source to hair growth and healthy hair. The most commonTrusted Source nutritional deficiency in the world is iron. Iron is important for your body’s production of new cells. Each egg yolk contains a small, but significant, amount of iron. Egg yolk may help your hair grow fasterApplying egg yolk topically to your scalp can infuse the root of your hair with vitamins. This means that the new hair will grow out stronger and be less prone to breakage and shedding. When your hair doesn’t fall out as much, it becomes fuller. It can even seem like it’s growing in faster. How to use egg yolk for your hair Hair maskYou can make a hair mask using egg yolk and olive oil to get the benefits of egg yolk for your hair. You can also just use an entire raw egg without mixing it with anything else as a deep moisturizing treatment. Simply stir the egg or egg and oil mixture. Using gloves, apply the mask to your hair using your fingers. Make sure to coat the top of your scalp and the ends of your hair. Let the treatment sit on your hair for about an hour before rinsing it out with cold water. DietaryYou can also try incorporating more eggs in your diet as a way to get healthier hair. Eating eggs for breakfast can improve your nutrition by giving you protein, B vitamins, and folate. The better you nourish your body, the better your hair will look. SupplementsThere are pills on the market that are distilled versions of egg yolk proteins. You can try these supplements to get access to the rich nutrition inside of egg yolks without eating egg yolks or using an egg yolk hair mask. But evidence into using these supplements to improve your hair growth and appearance is anecdotal. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration also doesn’t monitor the purity or quality of supplements. Talk with your doctor before you begin taking them. Potential risks and side effects Using egg yolk for your hair is a fairly low-risk treatment. There are a few potential side effects, though. If you have an egg allergy, don’t use egg yolk on your head, even as a topical treatment. If you’re consuming egg yolk in large quantities, remember that egg yolk is a food that’s high in cholesterol. While eating an egg a day won’t harm your health, eating large quantities may if you’re at high risk for heart disease or already have heart disease or diabetes. The takeaway Using egg yolk for your hair may require several weeks of consistent treatment to see results. While using egg yolk to improve the appearance and health of your hair won’t work for everyone, it’s a low-cost and simple way to treat hair that might be worth trying out. Last medically reviewed on September 24, 2023 |
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May 2024
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