Wait... fasting hurts hair?

Hey,

I know, I know... Intermittent fasting is everywhere, and we’re all jumping on the bandwagon for its amazing benefits.

In this edition, we’ll cover:
• How intermittent fasting affects hair growth
• Tips for adjusting your fasting for better hair health
• The role of good fats and antioxidants for hair
• A quick recipe for high-protein gut-healthy chia pudding

Here’s a meme my team shared with me last week:

A recent study published in Cell and reported by Medical News Today found that intermittent fasting may slow hair growth. In the study, mice subjected to intermittent fasting showed only partial hair regrowth after 90 days, whereas those with unrestricted food access regrew most of their hair within 30 days.

Similarly, a small clinical trial involving 49 healthy young adults revealed that participants fasting for 18 hours daily experienced an 18% reduction in hair growth speed compared to those on a regular diet.

Let’s unpack this, because if you’re someone who’s been working hard on growing your hair (or you're even just starting our Hair Health Challenge), you’ll want to know this.

Not a part of the challenge yet?

We’ve all heard that intermittent fasting can be great for weight loss and metabolism.

But a recent study uncovered something that might make you think twice: fasting can actually stop hair follicles from regenerating.

So, while you’re fasting to lose a few pounds, your hair might be getting the short end of the stick.

Not exactly what you want if you’re trying to grow healthy, strong hair, right?

Let’s break it down:

While the study provides fascinating insights into how intermittent fasting might impact hair follicle stem cells, there are a few limitations to keep in mind.

• Small Sample Size – The findings may not apply broadly due to a limited participant pool.

• Short Study Duration – Long-term effects of fasting on hair growth weren’t explored.

• Animal vs. Human Differences – Since some experiments were done on mice, the results may not fully translate to humans.

• Uncontrolled Influences – Things like stress, diet, or genetics might have affected the results.

So while the study opens up interesting possibilities, there’s still more to uncover!

Sick of boring breakfasts? This chia pudding is stupid easy and actually keeps you full till lunch.