It will come as no surprise that hair loss can be a huge blow to a person's confidence and self-esteem.

There are a wide range of factors that can contribute to hair loss including: genetics, stress, disease, malnutrition and more. Here, we'll focus on dietary causes of hair loss so that the reader can attempt to reverse the process and possibly begin to regrow hair.

Today, we'll focus specifically on the connection of iron deficiency and hair loss. Keep in mind that an iron deficiency doesn't necessarily mean that a person is not consuming enough iron. Even if iron is being taken by way of oral supplement, it may not be properly absorbed by the body. Your doctor can tell you if you're iron deficient when you have your blood tested.

Many studies have shown a link between iron deficiency and hair loss. According to WebMD the recommended levels of ferritin are 18-270 mcg/L for men and 16-160 mcg/L for women. As you can see this a wide range. You may test at the low end of this range and still be losing your hair as a result of an iron deficiency. Ferritin is one level by which to test iron in your blood. The others are beyond the scope of this article.

The following symptoms are associated with iron deficiency:

Hair loss
Brittle nails
Headaches
Depression
Apathy
Dizziness
And others

Daily iron supplements should not be taken without consulting your physician. Furthermore, I don't believe supplements should be taken in pill or shake form. The answer to a vitamin or mineral deficiency should be a change in diet first (unless there is an extreme case and there are major health risks.)

Vegan foods that are high in iron content are:

Spirulina
Tahini (sesame seed paste)
Pumpkin seeds
Legumes (beans, nuts, and peas)
Spinach
Kale

Also consider your ability to absorb the iron that you are consuming. Having a good source of vitamin C at the same time as your iron-rich vegetables will increase the amount of iron you body absorbs.