Nutrition Facts with Dr. Greger Keeping Away the Gray
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May 8, 2025 Discover how your lifestyle and nutrition can influence hair color. Uncover the science behind why hair turns gray, exploring biological and genetic factors. Learn about the reversible causes of premature graying and the importance of maintaining pigmentary potential. Engage with societal perceptions of gray hair and hear personal experiences that shed light on health and nutrition choices. This conversation is packed with insights to empower your hair health.
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Hair Pigmentation Detoxifies Metals
- Hair pigment may function to detoxify heavy metals by binding them for excretion via hair growth.
- Levels of mercury in hair can indicate fish consumption and are lower in those on plant-based diets.
Ethnic Differences in Graying Age
- Hair graying onset differs globally based on ethnicity, occurring earliest in Whites and later in Africans.
- Premature graying is defined differently depending on the ethnic group.
Hydrogen Peroxide Causes Graying
- Hair pigment cells, melanocytes, die due to buildup of hydrogen peroxide in follicles with age.
- Antioxidant enzyme catalase declines with age, allowing toxic buildup that kills pigment cells.
