Seeing clumps of hair fall out every time you brush can be incredibly frustrating. Before you rush to change your shampoo or buy expensive hair care products, it is a good idea to evaluate your overall health. Often, severe hair loss is a distress signal from your body indicating that you might be suffering from anemia.

Anemia occurs when your body lacks enough healthy red blood cells or hemoglobin to carry adequate oxygen to your body's tissues. Common symptoms include fatigue, dizziness, and pale skin. However, hair loss is another symptom of anemia that is frequently ignored.

A study published in a cosmetic dermatology journal revealed that women experiencing hair loss often have low levels of iron, vitamin B12, and folic acid. Iron is an essential mineral required to produce hemoglobin. When your body is deficient in iron, the oxygen supply to your hair follicles is significantly reduced. Without proper oxygen and nutrition, hair follicles are forced into a resting phase prematurely, making the hair fall out much easier. Furthermore, iron deficiency puts physical stress on the body, which can trigger temporary hair shedding conditions.

The best way to stop this type of hair loss is to treat the underlying cause. You can start by changing your diet to include more iron-rich foods, such as red meat, chicken, fish, green leafy vegetables, and nuts. If necessary, maintain a good intake of daily supplements to help your hair grow back healthy and strong.