Take good care of your hair, your crowning glory

Thinning hair, balding patches and total baldness are three stages of hair loss that can literally make your hair fall out just by thinking about them! The fact is that hair fall is a rising problem in cities like Mumbai. It can be primarily attributed to the higher pollution and greater stress levels that people face here.

This, coupled with unhealthy eating habits among residents, tend to aggravate and accelerate even minor cases. There are many ways to deal with the problem, either at the initial stage or after the final stage as well. However, like in every aspect of life, the earlier you begin, the better your chance of success.

According to various studies conducted by hair experts in different countries, almost half of all men and many women face a problem of massive hair loss sometime in the span of their life. Most hair loss is said to be hereditary but there are other factors that can play a decisive role as well. Therefore, it is advisable to adopt a holistic approach towards the problem of hair loss.

Advanced methods to tackle hair fall include laser therapy where a low level amount is applied to the scalp of the head in order to stimulate and start a new procession of healthy hair growth.

Massaging the scalp with herbal medicines and oils is another option. This allows more blood and nutrient circulation all over your scalp, which helps in making your hair strong and healthy again. Among the other nature-based therapies is the application of Aloe Vera, a solution that is also widely practiced.

Buying the right shampoo that suits your hair type is also quite important. Using a mild shampoo for oily hair or a strong shampoo for dry hair could have disastrous results. Similarly, excessive use of hair colouring agents should be avoided.

Products like hair gel, sprays, etc should be used less frequently and cleaned out as quickly as possible.

While there are several alternatives, one of the basic steps that need to be taken is ensuring the consumption of properly balanced, nutritious food. Hair loss can occur due to deficiencies in some important nutrients.

So ask yourself this basic question - did you have breakfast this morning? Or are you also one of the hurried and harried working couples skipping breakfast at least a couple of times a week? Research conducted across the globe has revealed that if essential nutrients are missed at breakfast, people don't compensate for the loss at other meals during the day.

Breakfast cereal can be an effective way to supply vitamins and minerals to the diet because it delivers the important benefits of grain. Since fruits, vegetables and grains are the recommended foundation of most diets, eating cereal has been shown to help deliver the important benefits of grain. The natural antioxidants and fibre found in grains contribute to overall health and may help reduce chronic diseases.

As a matter of fact, the benefits go way beyond just controlling hair loss. Eating breakfast is not only important to start a healthy day, but it is also part of a healthy long-term lifestyle. Both children and adults who eat breakfast regularly are less likely to be overweight. Regular cereal eaters, including children, tend to have lower body mass index (BMI) and are less likely to be overweight than those who eat cereal less frequently. Several surveys have showed that people who do not eat cereal were more likely to have inadequate nutrition intakes.

In addition to playing an important role in overall health, there is consistent, strong evidence for the role of fibre-containing foods in helping to address a number of health issues, including digestive health, weight management, diabetes, heart disease and certain cancers. So stop skipping the most important meal of the day and ensure that you consume a nutritious breakfast regularly.

Increasingly people find themselves skipping meals, eating snacks that are tasty but without any nutritive value, skimping on vitamins and overstuffing with fatty foods. Skipping meals can leave one feeling drained, unable to concentrate and want to forfeit that crucial evening workout. Long stretches between eating signal the body to slow the metabolism and store fat - it's the survival mechanism left over from our heritage as hunter-gatherers.

What we eat has more impact on our well-being than perhaps anything else in our day-to-day lives. A healthy balanced diet with vitamins, minerals, whole grains will ensure that your nutrition needs are being properly met. Skipping meals earlier in the day can result in overeating at night and one is more likely to choose foods that are high in fat, sugar and calories; leading to feelings of guilt.

That's also why it's important to start off the day with a nutritious breakfast. Obviously time constraints eliminate elaborate preparations, so keep it something simple. Breakfast should be a daily routine at a set time, with the key element being something you can quickly put together and consume even if you have a busy schedule and are running a 'double shift.'

In fact, eating breakfast can help improve mental alertness and physical performance. Breakfast boosts energy. The first meal of the day helps refuel the body and brain with energy and nutrients. As hunger is a distraction, people who eat balanced breakfasts are better able to carry out their daily activities.

Studies show that eating breakfast is positively associated with several aspects of short-term memory function. As a rule of thumb, breakfast should provide approximately 20% of your daily energy and nutrient needs.