Grey hairs again!

[Corny]

Hi Shelley,

I'd sent you a message a few months ago regarding random grey hairs popping up all over my body. You suggested I give blood (I still need to do that) in case I may have "tired blood," and you said I may be low on Copper or Calcium. Well, I started taking 1 Centrum a day for the past month, and if anything, I've seen MORE gray hairs popping up! I also get a good amount of exercise every week, and I'm noticing some more hair loss. Nothing drastic, but it's getting noticeable.

Another thing that may or may not be of note is, I moved to L.A. in 2006 after living in the bay area for about 10+ years (with east coast stint thrown in for good measure). I really, really, really don't like the heat down here. I just feel like my blood is too "thick" for it, if you know what I mean.

Anyway, maybe it's because I'm 33, and gray hairs are to be expected (I refuse to accept that, for now at least , but I've also noticed more red hairs in my beard and my hair on my head feels more thin and seems to be getting lighter in spots. In the past 2 months, I've seen more gray grays and red hairs popping up all over.

Could this be related to the climate? I know my diet is pretty decent in that I get plenty of protein, iron, and decent amount of fats. I believe my calcium is taken care of in the form of the supplement and I have almond milk every day.

What other suggestions (other than giving blood, which I do plan on doing) would you have?

[shelley]

First of all, STOP taking CENTRUM! One of my main, unbreakable rules is never take one-a-day type grocery store vitamins. If it's a tiny pill that promises to do everything, it won't do a thing but stress your kidneys. If it's just calcium that's not good either, calcium should be taken with magnesium, ideally.

DO however get a physical and have them also check for iron/ferritin levels. With iron it's best to know exactly what's going on, as overdosing on iron is the same as heavy metals poisoning. Also, gray hairs are just as likely to be caused by a lack of calcium, which is promoted by taking iron! Iron antagonizes calcium. Look for other signs of calcium deficiency (athlete's foot, left-side cramps, insomnia, jitters, restless leg, cavities...) and if they are there, take Cal-Mag Fizz (or somethign similar) on the days you eat a lot of meat and fish.

You can get adequate copper from nutritional yeast flakes, or get a copper vitamin that has nothing but the RDA of copper, or all the trace minerals. Could be you used to have copper plumbing and now you don't?

It can just be age and hormones, but moving to a smoggy city from a clean one will mess you up royally. I always get a headache when I visit LA. Best thing for that is to take something like Livatone Plus or Liv.52. Help the liver deal with the new toxins. And do the detox bath weekly.

Your diet should change with the weather. Are you eating a lighter diet now? Fewer calories, more raw, less hot spices, less beef, more fluids? You may be dehydrated, that can be very fatiguing and depressing!

Hope that helps!

[guest (peedee87)]

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[Corny]

[shelley]

Just when cleansing thoroughly (to help shed acids without sheding bone), eating fish/meats, or otherwise symptomatic of calcium deficiency. If taking it gives you headaches, then you probably only need it rarely, OR as I suspected, you don't manage calcium/phos imbalances very well. Try taking just half a scoop on high-phos days.

NYF tends to test out better than brewers yeast, but both are great.

[Corny]

[Corny]

Sorry to keep dragging this up, Shelley, but I wanted to pick your brain on something---do you notice the water in Los Angeles has a very detectable chlorine smell to it?

I filter my drinking and shower water, but nothing else. I'm wondering since I do wash my face in that water, could that be coloring the hairs on my face? The gray hair on my head is one thing, but the red hairs all over my face is truly bizarre!

Sorry if I'm being annoying...

[shelley]

Actually that's a good point to bring up. The mineralization (and chlorine contamination) of our tap water does affect our skin/hair. I haven't heard of anyone noticing it changing the color of their hairs, but why not? Hair is quite susceptible to contamination from unfriendly chemicals and LA water does tend to have a lot of chlorine, altho I have heard that some areas are getting better about that.