White hair, which is considered one of the signs of aging.
In the traditional concept, "fluttering white hair" is regarded as the mark left by the years, a symbol of wisdom and precipitation. In traditional Chinese culture, white-haired elders are often revered as "elders" and "elders", and they are known for their open-mindedness, subtle elegance, and the depth of philosophical thought.
However, in modern society, gray hair can make people look old, lose their youthful vitality and attractiveness, and have a profound impact on one's image.
In some TV dramas, we often see the protagonist showing a "white head overnight" scene due to excessive sadness or stress after the death of a loved one or lover. Is this an exaggeration in TV dramas, or is there really anyone like this in reality?
According to a previous article in the journal Nature, which was selected as one of the top 10 scientific important discoveries of 2020, researcher Zhang Bing experimented with three stress models in mouse models and found that these stress models can make the hair of mice turn white. This phenomenon may be due to the over-consumption of melanocyte stem cells under extreme stress.
Why does stress cause hair to turn gray?
This is related to a hormone called norepinephrine, which is found in the adrenal glands and sympathetic nerves. The hair follicles of the scalp are innervated by the sympathetic nervous system, and when the person is in a state of stress or stress, the activity of the sympathetic nerves increases the release of epinephrine.
This condition can also lead to an overreaction of melanocyte stem cells, which can cause premature aging of melanocytes in the hair follicles. Due to the lack of melanin, the hair cannot be colored, making it appear lighter or whiter.
In addition to excessive stress, other factors such as poor blood circulation due to lack of exercise, hormone imbalance caused by irregular lifestyle, and unbalanced nutrient intake due to irrational eating habits may reduce the activity of melanocytes, thereby promoting gray hair.
The gray hair on the top of the head and the back of the head may be related to the lack of kidney qi, because the top of the head is the area where the Du and Ren pulses pass, and the back of the head is where the Ren pulse passes, which is closely related to the metabolism of the kidneys.
The gray hair on the temples may be the result of liver qi stagnation, because the temples belong to the Zushaoyang and gallbladder meridians. People with liver qi stagnation are often accompanied by symptoms such as irritability, bitterness and dry mouth, insomnia and dreams.
The gray hair on the forehead may be related to spleen deficiency, as TCM believes that the forehead is the area where the "stomach meridian" travels. People with gray hair on the forehead may also have symptoms related to spleen and stomach function, such as loss of appetite, loose stools, and yellowish complexion.
In the theory of traditional Chinese medicine, gray hair is often regarded as an external manifestation of qi and blood imbalance and visceral dysfunction. Adjusting diet, lifestyle habits, and strengthening physical fitness can help improve these problems, thereby slowing down or improving the growth of gray hair.
Having beautiful black hair makes you look younger and more energetic. However, some people have a noticeable increase in gray hair in a short period of time for a variety of reasons, one of which may be malnutrition.
In daily life, nutrient deficiencies may accelerate leukogenesis, especially the deficiency of several important nutrients:
1.Lack of protein
The main component of hair is keratin, which is considered to be the "raw material of hair". The production of melanin is also inseparable from tyrosine, which is a component of protein. As a result, a long-term lack of protein can lead to malnutrition, which in turn can lead to problems such as gray hair and hair loss. People who are deficient in protein are advised to improve their diet, correct picky eating habits, and increase their daily protein intake, such as drinking a glass of milk, eating an egg, and eating lean meat in moderation.
2.Lack of B vitamins
B vitamins have a great impact on hair, including vitamin B2 to promote normal hair growth, vitamin B6 to participate in protein metabolism to help hair health, vitamin B12 to maintain hematopoietic function and reduce white hair. Due to factors such as diabetes or vegetarianism, it may lead to a deficiency of B vitamins. People who are deficient in B vitamins are advised to take vitamin B supplements under the guidance of a doctor or increase their vitamin B intake through dietary modifications.
3.Metallic mineral elements
Metallic mineral elements such as copper and iron are key raw materials for the synthesis of melanin, and the lack of these elements may lead to an increase in the amount of nickel in the hair, making black hair whiter. It is recommended to moderate the intake of foods rich in copper and iron, such as mung beans, hazelnuts, green tea, sunflower seeds, soybeans, etc.
4.Lack of iodine
Iodine is essential for maintaining normal thyroid function and promoting hair growth. Iodine deficiency may affect hair follicle function and affect melanin synthesis, leading to white hair formation. People who are deficient in iodine are advised to choose to use iodized salt, or increase their intake of iodine-rich foods such as seaweed, kelp, etc.
Through a reasonable diet and nutritional supplements, you can better maintain the health of your hair and slow down or prevent gray hair.
There is a theory that after growing gray hair, the risk of cancer decreases. This claim stems from a 2009 study.
In this study, researchers in Japan conducted experiments on mice and found that when DNA is damaged by ultraviolet light, radiation, and exposure to chemicals that induce mutations, the melanocytes in the hair follicles do not die, but they accelerate maturation, leading to the gradual depletion of melanin stem cells.
The ability of mature melanocytes to produce will be reduced or even lost, so when the melanocytes are reduced to a certain extent, the hair of the experimental mice will gradually turn gray and no longer maintain their original black and bright color.
It is important to note that this experiment was conducted on animals, and no further experiments were carried out on humans, so it is not possible to prove that the conclusions are applicable to humans. Moreover, this study only looked at the mechanism of hair graying and did not provide data related to the incidence of cancer.
The statement that "gray hair is less susceptible to cancer" is mainly due to a translation error in a report on the study in the British Daily Mail.
In this report, the reporter interviewed Professor David Fisher, head of the department at Harvard University, who believes that the mechanism of graying hair can reduce the risk of cancer, because if the DNA-damaged melanocytes do not become mature melanocytes, although they can continue to produce melanin, they may also become cancerous, increasing the risk of cancer.
However, the "cancer risk reduction" referred to by the professor refers to the effect of whether melanocytes become melanocytes after damage on the risk of cancer, and does not compare the impact of black hair and gray hair on the risk of cancer.
In fact, the causes of cancer are complex, and gray hair alone does not increase or decrease the risk of cancer. Therefore, the claim that long gray hair reduces the risk of cancer is false and should not be taken lightly.