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How supplements for working out may affect your hair.

The testosterone connection

Some common hair-loss myths seem to persist, no matter how many times, and how many credible sources refute them. These include: wearing hats, stress, hair loss is always permanent, hair loss is from your mother’s side of the family, washing your hair too much and too much testosterone. Medically, scientifically, these have all been disproven as causes of hair loss. The last one, however – too much testosterone – has long been used to, not-so-subtly, promote the idea that too much sex, and specifically, masturbation, causes hair loss. That being said, there can be somewhat of a connection between hair loss and testosterone levels, but it’s not a simple one.
Testosterone, by itself, does not cause or increase hair loss. The main culprit in causing hair loss is DHT, an androgen hormone. In addition to what the body produces naturally, about 10% of testosterone gets converted to DHT daily. So the more testosterone, the higher the level of DHT will be. DHT has a direct relationship to hair loss, as it can disrupt a hair follicle’s natural cycle, triggering a miniaturization of the follicle. When DHT binds to hair follicles on the scalp, it decreases their blood supply, shrinking them and shortening the hair’s growth phase, resulting in progressively less robust hair and increasing hair loss. The degree to which DHT will have this effect also depends on genetics, lifestyle, diet and a host of other factors. However, it is easy to see how the connection of hair loss to testosterone is made.
When looking at the effect of working out and supplements on hair loss, testosterone comes to mind because many of the supplement products and programs for men are designed to increase it. Because testosterone, for men, promotes muscle growth, strength and endurance, having higher levels of it seems like a logical benefit. Even without supplements, workout activity itself will naturally boost testosterone levels, along with other naturally occurring hormones, such as cortisol. So, given the connections between testosterone and DHT, and exercise increasing certain hormone levels, it is work looking at how supplements may or may affect your hair.
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Exercise and supplements

Exercise is good for you, and many people don’t get enough of it. Barring any serious health conditions or injuries, it would be hard to find a medical or healthcare professional who tells you not to exercise. Getting some physical activity on a regular basis, along with diet and sleep habits, are the cornerstone of good health. What the activity is can vary, and should be what works best for each individual. Walking, biking, running, weightlifting, swimming, tennis, yoga, or even simple stretching – doing anything besides sitting is good for you. The predominant advice is to get some variety in your exercise as well, with activities that can benefit your strength, cardio and flexibility.
For most people who exercise, they do so at what is considered a “normal” level. For most men, this means simply wanting to take care of your body and physique as best as your schedule and lifestyle allows. For others, the role of working out is a bigger part of their life and a high priority. They are the ones who pursue an intense workout schedule, pushing their physical limits. However, with both groups, the use of supplements is common. Those with an average level of exercise activity sometimes use supplements as a way to try and get more out of a limited workout routine, while those doing intense workouts often use supplements at an extreme level in pursuing body development. The focus here is on how that may, or may not, affect hair and hair loss.

Supplements and your hair

Workout supplements maximize the effects of exercising by providing nutrition for quicker recovery and muscle growth. A typical supplement regimen includes a whey protein (powder for shakes), creatine and a growth hormone supplement of some kind. Additional vitamin supplements, as well as CoQ10, a coenzyme, are also staples among workout supplements. Whether or not any of these supplements negatively impacts hair growth depends on who you ask, and involves taking multiple factors into consideration. However, it is generally agreed that some supplements do have the potential to adversely affect hair. With that in mind, here is an overview of the supplements mentioned:

Protein

Protein is, in fact, necessary for healthy hair growth. Whey protein is probably the most widely used workout supplement in the world, and with good reason. It is a proven source for building and retaining muscle, as it is rich in the essential amino acids necessary to metabolize the protein. It also has a high bioavailability, being digested and absorbed by the body quickly. However, whey protein also has inorganic growth hormones like DHEA and creatine, which increase testosterone levels. While whey protein by itself does not cause hair loss, just as testosterone by itself does not, the resulting increase in DHT levels can exacerbate hair loss in men genetically prone to it through family history.
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Creatine

Creatine is a chemical compound made from amino acids. About half the creatine in the body is naturally produced in the liver, pancreas and kidneys. It can also be acquired in the diet through red meat and fish, and wild game is the richest source of creatine. It is stored in the skeletal muscles, where it gets broken down from physical activity and used for muscle contractions. Creatine supplements increase the amount available in the muscles and help increase energy and performance, maximize muscle building and improve recovery time. As a supplement, it is available in powder, liquid and capsule forms.

Much of what has been said about a link between creatine supplements and hairs loss has been anecdotal. While there is not a lot of hard evidence about such a link, one study did find that, following a 3 week creatine supplement regimen, there was a measurable increase in DHT levels, and a reported increase in hair loss in those already predisposed the negative effects of DHT. So, much like protein supplements, it was not creatine itself, but rather, the byproduct of increased DHT levels that may have contributed to increased hair loss. However, while creatine has been widely studied for its workout performance benefits, further research is really what is needed to make any definite conclusions about links to hair loss.

HGH and steroids

There is often confusion between HGH (human growth hormone) supplements and steroids. To be clear, HGH supplements are not steroids. They are peptide hormones, derived from short-chain amino acids, and they signal the body to produce more testosterone naturally. HGH plays a role in various physiological processes, including cell growth and regeneration.
Steroids are derived from lipids, or fatty compounds (think cholesterol). They increase testosterone levels in an unnatural way, with many negative side effects. The most common association for steroids in the workout world is with bodybuilding. While it is a fact that many, if not most, competitive bodybuilders use steroids to some degree, there is ample evidence, as well as warnings about the risks involved. One of those, specifically, is hair loss.
The reverse is true for HGH. In fact, HGH not only helps the body release the amino acids and proteins needed to build tissues and cells, but also stimulates the messengers needed for the use of nutrients to be used as raw materials for rebuilding and growth of hair follicles. Once again, growth hormone supplements may raise testosterone levels, which in turn, can increase DHT levels, but they do seem to have some mitigating benefits also.
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Vitamin supplements

It goes without saying that getting the proper levels of vitamins, whether you’re working out or not, can only benefit your hair. In particular, you want to get the right amount of iron, zinc, niacin, selenium, vitamins D, A and C, folic acid and biotin. Among these, deficiencies of iron and zinc are known to cause hair loss. It’s important to also not overdo vitamin intake. Depending on the level of physical activity you get, you may need to supplement more however, most of what you need can be obtained through a healthy diet. According to Healthline, the best foods for your hair are: eggs, berries, spinach, fatty fish, sweet potatoes, avocados, nuts, seeds, sweet peppers, oysters, beans, soybeans and meat.

CoQ10

CoQ10 is a naturally occurring coenzyme and antioxidant that has become a very popular workout supplement. It is produced by the body and is also obtained from meat, fish, seed oils and vegetables in the diet. It is present at the cellular level in all tissues in the body, and is known for cardiovascular benefits. However, research has also connected it to the kind of increased cellular energy and blood flow that is typically required by the energy demands of hair follicles.

A little extra help

One of the main takeaways is that a good diet and reasonable use of supplements should only benefit, and not harm, your hair growth. While some supplements can increase the testosterone-DHT link, they don’t generally result in hair loss. However, if there is a predisposition to the problem, through family history or other factors, Riize Hair product can help to neutralize some of those effects. Riize Hair combines the two most proven effective medications for hair loss – minoxidil and finasteride – in one compounded formula. Minoxidil acts to increase circulation in the follicles and to prolong the growth phase, while finasteride acts to decrease the levels of DHT acting on the follicles. Riize Hair also includes biotin, for stronger, healthier hair. You can choose to use it in the traditional way, as a topical application, or you can use it through a fast dissolving oral strip, enhancing its absorption. In either case, you will be getting a compound formula of the most innovative hair loss and growth medication available. Riize Hair.
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SOURCES

1. https://www.thehairypill.com.au/fitness-hair-loss-whats-the-relationship – Fitness & Hair Loss: What’s the Relationship?
2. https://www.hairmdindia.com/blog/do-workout-supplements-really-affect-hair-growth/ – Do Workout Supplements Really Affect Hair Growth?
3. https://www.reddit.com/r/FemaleHairLoss/comments/1gu3cdm/supplements_that_cause_hair_loss/?rdt=39938 – Supplements That Cause Hair Loss (Reddit)
4. https://www.healthline.com/health/creatine-hair-loss – Creatine and Hair Loss
5. https://www.hairmdindia.com/blog/does-protein-powder-cause-hair-loss/ – Does Protein Powder Cause Hair Loss?
6. https://fitbod.me/blog/can-you-get-stronger-without-creatine/ – Can You Get Stronger Without Creatine?
7. https://www.uniquehairconcepts.com/blog/the-effect-caffeine-has-on-hair-and-skin.html#gref – The Effect of Caffeine on Hair and Skin
8. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5315033/ – Hair Loss and Diet: Insights
9. https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/foods-for-hair-growth – Foods for Hair Growth
10. https://www.sciencedirect.com/sdfe/pdf/download/eid/1-s2.0-0738081X88900703/first-page-pdf – Hair Loss: Science and Research
11. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK278957/ – Human Nutrition and Hair Loss
12. https://hairscience.org/news/minoxidil-shedding/ – Minoxidil and Shedding
13. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hair-loss/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20372932 – Hair Loss: Diagnosis and Treatment (Mayo Clinic)
14. https://1stphorm.com/blogs/news/vitamins-for-working-out – Vitamins for Working Out
15. https://www.mountsinai.org/health-library/supplement/coenzyme-q10 – Coenzyme Q10 and Its Effects
16. https://coremedicalgrp.com/human-growth-hormone-hgh-and-hair-growth/ – HGH and Hair Growth
17. https://healthgains.com/hormone-therapy/hgh-growth-hormone-therapy/is-hgh-a-steroid/ – Is HGH a Steroid?
18. https://coremedicalgrp.com/human-growth-hormone-hgh-and-hair-growth/ – HGH and Hair Growth
19. https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements-creatine/art-2034759 – Creatine Supplements (Mayo Clinic)
20. https://advancedchemtech.com/what-is-the-difference-between-peptides-and-steroids/ – Difference Between Peptides and Steroids
21. https://www.personanutrition.com/blog/supplements-grow-hair/ – Supplements That Grow Hair
22. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4180734/ – Hair Growth and Supplements: Insights

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