Dry brittle hair on LE diet...is it normal?

[flowerlily]

Hi everyone..
I'm new here and have been doing the le diet (or what I think it is) since the beginning of February and about four weeks on I've noticed my hair getting dry and brittle . I've tried the best shampoos and conditioners available but no luck has anyone else noticed this and what are you doing /did to stop it..thanks.
Mind you before this I was eating the typical HE diet and was taking a multivitamin for BF DS2 but stopped it end of last year.

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[Rosie85]

Yup, I have the same thing. I am losing more hair than usual too. It's just the lack of nutrients since we are choosing to eat less of them. Less fats I think will do it too.

[flowerlily]

Thanks Rosie. Glad to know it's normal...wishing I get my bfp this month (though very unlikely as first month of bcp) so I can go back to my old eating habits and to a healthy hair..

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[atomic sagebrush]

Tell me what you are eating.

I don't think it's normal to lose hair and have it be very dry on LE after a month and a half. It is not that low in nutrients when done correctly. Something is amiss if you guys are having this happen. I do think some people go overboard with diet but other times I think people misinterpret everything that happens in a certain time frame as being related to LE when it is just a coincidence.

[atomic sagebrush]

Thanks Rosie. Glad to know it's normal...wishing I get my bfp this month (though very unlikely as first month of bcp) so I can go back to my old eating habits and to a healthy hair..

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Ah see that is what is happening. The first month coming off BCP it is normal to lose a ton of hair, just like after having a baby. It's the change in hormone levels that does it.

Here's a quote from a doctor:

Almost any drug can potentially cause hair loss but oral contraceptives are particularly implicated in a process called telogen effluvium, or hair shedding. Essentially, what happens is that the drug causes hair in the growing phase (anagen) to be shifted to the resting phase (telogen). After the telogen phase (normally lasting about 2-3 months), hairs are spontaneously shed before they enter a new growth cycle (of 3 – 7 years). Normally only about 10-15% of hairs are in telogen at any one time, but this can increase to as much as 50% in telogen effluvium. As a result, large amounts of hair can be shed as they pass through this short telogen cycle. Interestingly, telogen effluvium can occur with starting birth control pills, switching birth control pills, or even discontinuing the BCPs that a patient has been on for a long period of time. Fortunately, this process can be reversible once the implicating agent is stopped or the scalp has time to adjust to the new medication.

[flowerlily]

First of thanks sooo much Atomic for your time and patience I really appreciate it and I really really admire your knowledge...I wish I had joined this site earlier.

Ok hands up I'm not counting calories..I know laziness!
But here goes and to be honest I think I'm eating more than I should

Breakfast: nothing.

Early lunch between (11:30/12:30): half a bagel (usally the one with cinnamon and raisins, toasted) with strawberry jam, fat free yoghurt, 1 apple, 1 clementine, and 4 chocolate chip cookies washed down with a big mug of tea with aspartame.

Mid afternoon snack: usually 2 diet cokes and sugar free gum/fat free marshmallows/home made rise cakes (the ones without the fortified vitamins) made with low fat sunflower spread and fat free marshmallows.

Dinner: home made soup (I make big batches and freeze them) with at least 3 vegetables from the list of LE free vegetables(asparagus, mushrooms, leeks,....) with 5 ryvita crackers, or when I get bored of the soup I sauté at least 3 or 4 vegetables from the free list and usually have that with white rice, pasta or cous cous. Sometime with a piece of skinless chicken or two pieces of lamp chops (sorry can't resist them as DH eats them almost everyday. Side dish: usually salad made with lettuce, cucumber, tomatoes.

Dessert: 1 cup of ice cream/5 custard creams/two squares of white chocolate or when I've been naughty during the day I just have plain fat free yoghurt with a few strawberries. Diet coke.
Before bed time: glass of skimmed milk(just during the 2ww, can't sleep on empty stomach). Before it was peppermint tea or cranberry light juice.

I have a few cheat days as well where I have fried eggs on white toast for early lunch and steak and chips for dinner

I'm also BF DS2 (21m) once a day.

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[atomic sagebrush]

no need to apologize for not counting cals, it's fine not to as long as you're getting enough.

Your diet looks beautiful, let's up fat intake ever so slightly in the form of Omega 6 fats. http://genderdreaming.com/forum/gend...pink-blue.html I don't think that's what is going on with your hair, but just becasue it looks a bit low and you're nursing.

That is not the type of malnourished starvation diet that I associate with any hair-related issues (esp. not after 2 months), but do be sure you're using iodized salt or taking an iodine supp.

[flowerlily]

no need to apologize for not counting cals, it's fine not to as long as you're getting enough.

Your diet looks beautiful, let's up fat intake ever so slightly in the form of Omega 6 fats. http://genderdreaming.com/forum/gend...pink-blue.html I don't think that's what is going on with your hair, but just becasue it looks a bit low and you're nursing.

That is not the type of malnourished starvation diet that I associate with any hair-related issues (esp. not after 2 months), but do be sure you're using iodized salt or taking an iodine supp.

Thanks for your reply much appreciated.
I've read the link for the first time and as always it was very informative.
But how do I upp the fat intake...is it in the form of cooking oils/oily fish/nuts or whatever I feel comfortable with? I now cook with sunflower/vegetable oil. Before, it was olive/coconut oil and used to eat a few handfuls of almonds.
As for the hair bit I now suspect the BCP (mini pill) more than the diet as it was the first time I was on it for 6 months.
What is iodized salt? I always cook with vegetable stock (powered) as it makes food taste better and use table salt for salads.
Can I get the iodine supps over the counter or is it only through prescription?
One more question, can drinking hot lemon juice effect swaying pink, I was drinking it first thing in morning (to make me go till lunch time, plus it's so refreshing) during my sway and only realised 2 and half weeks ago that it was only in the blue sway threads, I'm now 10dpo first month ttc.
Sorry about all the questions.
TIA.

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[atomic sagebrush]

veg oil is fine

iodized salt is salt that is treated with iodine so you can get some even if you don't eat iodine in your diet. If you aren't familiar with it or can't get in yoru area, try adding in 150 IU iodine as long as you don't have any thyroid problems. You can buy them OTC here but not sure about in other areas.

Lemon juice is said to sway blue and I have blue swayers use it. I don't know how effective it is, just letting you know.

[flowerlily]

Ok thanks Atomic.
I don't have thyroid problems.
I liked the idea of the iodine pills and went to 2 pharmacies also H&B and they only have it in the form of sea kelp...and they said not to take it while BF or pregnant. And I think one of the pharmacist said I could get it through prescription (which i think is the one you mentioned) but it will take 2 weeks for it to be delivered. It's so not popular in Ireland. Sorry this is all new for me.
Anyway, I'll also try find the iodized salt when I go shopping.

I tried to block the idea of lemon alkalizing things down below, and convinced myself that it's not a biggie..like having a big bowl of cereal for breakfast or a cup of coffee with wholemilk and real sugar(which is the way I like it and no other way..lol).
Anyway what is meant to happen will happen

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