Our bodies are always in a state of flux, trying to reach a balance. When we are out of balance we are more likely to experience illness, pain and other ailments. One clue to what may be going on inside your body can be found in your hair.
Who would have thought that your hair could tell you anything other than when it’s time to get your roots done? Well, hair can be used to detect deficiencies in the body, mostly mineral and vitamin deficiencies. There is a test called hair mineral analysis and it can tell you almost anything you need to know.
The test is specific for mineral analysis but this includes vitamins too. In the body, minerals and vitamins work closely together. For example, you need vitamin D to help with calcium levels in the body.
Hair Mineral Analysis Accuracy: How It Works
A strand of hair is obtained from the subject. The hair usually comes from the nape of the neck. They use the first inch or so of hair closest to the scalp. There will be a momentary pinch as you pull the hair out but then it’s gone.
Hair strands can be used to detect conditions that aren’t yet detectable with a blood test. This includes deficiencies of certain nutrients in the body. It takes a significant deficiency to be detected in other ways. By then, your body will have gone through changes (and not for the good) as a result.
Hair can also be used to detect levels of pesticides that may be affecting the environment, and exposure to heavy metals. You might not notice it in your body because the body tries to excrete it – often through the hair, the liver and the bones. Before it gets to dangerous levels, your hair can be used to detect what is going on inside your body.
Minerals are very important in the body. The body can get vitamins and minerals from foods and multivitamins, so it’s important to detect these deficiencies early before too many essential minerals are lost.
What causes mineral deficiencies in the body? Well, one factor is the environment. Exposure to pollutants in the atmosphere and due to lifestyle choices (smoking) can lead to the depletion of certain minerals in the body. As a result, the body functions that those minerals control will experience changes: muscle weakness, tiredness and hormone imbalances.
Mineral deficiencies can also be caused by our diet, medications and stressors in our lives. Many people take supplements without consulting a doctor. However, you won’t know if you are taking the right amount. Even too much can cause problems in the body.
Performing a hair mineral analysis can succeed in finding out what is going on in your body even when other tests are not yet useful. It can lead to early detection and treatment.
