Honestly the question of what to take to prevent or cure hair loss is a bit of a click bait title most of the time. Odds are it’s either selling some type of snake oil.
That’s not what I’m going to do here.
So, let’s get it right out of the way. Kale juice won’t cure baldness. Sorry. It’s not a drug like finasteride or propecia.
And I am not going to comment on those two drugs because I’m not a pharmacist or doctor.
But I will tell you about Kale and how it might improve your hair. But it won’t grow hair if you’re bald or help you if you’re losing your hair (except in some very unique circumstances such as stress).
But if you’re looking for some discussion on kale and it’s potential benefits relating to hair, then keep on reading.
Kale Is Rich in Vitamin C
So the first thing to know about kale is that it’s quite rich in Vitamin C. And that’s important.
Vitamin C is an anti-stress vitamin. And many people think that vitamin C is only available in citrus fruits.
While I advocate juicing citrus fruits, especially lemons, I don’t think that you should rely on citrus to get all of your vitamin C from.
There are a few issues with sticking solely to a vitamin C from Citrus diet. Namely that oranges (which is what most people will use) have a lot of natural sugars.
Kale, on the other hand, has less natural sugar than citrus. Also, it doesn’t irritae people who have a sensitivity to citrus.
My favorite way to juice kale is to mix it with something such as lemon or cranberries. That does two important things.
First, you’re limiting the amount of sugars that you’re drinking. Secondly, the lemon or cranberry is going to cover the flavor of the kale.
B-Vitamins and Kale: Hair Loss Prevention?
The next vitamin, or rather group of vitamins that you should look into are the b-vitamins.
B-vitamins are well known for being associated with stress. People who are under a lot of stress need to make sure they are taking enough b-vitamins.
Everything from lack of sleep, excessive drinking, overwork, or physical exertion can cause you to need more b-vitamins.
Of all of the vitamins that are sold in supermarkets and wildly advertised (vitamin E, C, A and B) it is the B vitamins that have the best record of helping and preventing hair loss.
There are major reviews and studies that cover vitamin and mineral importance in hair loss. Here’s a major study that particularly pointed out b-vitamins (not biotin which is important to note).*
And this is why leafy green vegetables, and in particular kale and spinach, are important when maintaining proper nutrient health.
The dark leafy green vegetables are very high in minerals and vitamins. This is why I spent such time on my article reviewing the best juicer for leafy greens. Unlike citrus or hard vegetables, it’s the leafy greens where the super nutrients are found.
Can Kale Help With Stress Related Hair Loss?
This is the only area where Kale or other juices can help with hair loss. By preventing or reducing stress.
Stress leads to hair loss. There is little debate about that. Other things such as increased testosterone and other hormonal changes that are common in men are a culprit. But it’s not wise to discount the importance of stress.
Again, there are significant studies to back this up (linked below if you feel like reading the scientific literature).
Suffice to say, a diet or lifestyle that creates stress (smoking, drinking excess caffeine, sugar, day to day junk food, lack of sleep, etc…) can contribute to hair loss. By adding green juice and in particular kale to the diet, you are helping to combat that stress related loss of vitamins and mineral).
Real Solutions To Hair Loss?
Sadly, drinking a green juice is not going to cure male pattern baldness or other hair loss.
There are other things such as the herb saw palmetto which are believed to help combat DHT (the chemical in the body tied to hair loss).
But the other popular techniques are all pharmaceutical and if you’re seriously interested in them it would be best to consult your doctor.
What I suggest to do first is to get your diet in check. Make sure you’re getting all of you micronutrients and vitamins. One way to do this is to learn to juice. I’ve got a good beginners guide here which will show you how to juice.
Links and References
B Vitamins and Minerals for Hair Loss