Why am I losing my eyebrows? Is it genetic, or is it stress?

Many women are losing or have lost their eyebrows. Most of us have been told that it is either age related, or genetic, because either one of our parents may have had the same condition, or it's because our lives are so stressful and it's normal to lose your hair. There's a good chance that none of this is true and the reason why it may appear to run in the family is because it's a taught habit that is to blame. It's likely your diet.

One of the primary causes of the loss of the eyebrows, especially the outer edge of the eyebrows is an Iodine Deficiency. There are other symptoms, but this symptom appears to be uniquely linked and therefore a good signal of this deficiency. You can go to your doctor and get tested, but unless you eat sea foods three times a week, save your money and buy some wild shellfish instead.

So, what are the other indicators of iodine deficiency?

• Along with the loss of eyebrows, hair loss or hair thinning will occur.
• Unexpected weight gain
• Carbohydrate cravings
• Fatigue
• Chronically cold hands and feet
• Chronic dry skin
• Flat or down mood
• Repeated memory mishaps
• Goiter (swelling of the thyroid)

Some of these symptoms can be mistaken for insulin resistance and a Vitamin A deficiency, but the eyebrows and the Goiter are uncommon and therefore good signals to act on.

What to do.

This is a diet issue, so changes need to be made regarding what you are eating. Natural iodine comes from the sea. Freshwater foods will not have iodine in them, so eating fish such as lake trout does not offer you any iodine.

Below are tips to getting iodine into your diet (best sources in order of appearance):

• Eat wild sea fish, not farmed (small fish are best to avoid mercury)
• Eat or take in capsule form wild seaweed such as kelp, nori, wakame or dulse, to name a few.
• Take Omega 3 Oil in sea fish form, which will include fish such as sardines, mackerel, wild salmon and anchovy.
• Eat wild shellfish, not farmed (shrimp, crab, lobster etc.).
• Eat animal meat and organs, especially the gland tissue, because animals store iodine in their tissues.
• Eat free range, organic eggs, which like meat the animal stores iodine in the tissue of the egg.
• Eat grass fed, organic dairy, because animals are coming in contact with iodine. It is in the tit rub used during milking. Keep in mind that this is not the best form of iodine, but nonetheless is present in dairy.
• Eat coastal grown foods or foods grown with seaweed fertilizer.

Iodine is one of the most important elements necessary in our diet for proper thyroid function and the body cannot function properly without it. Eating seafoods three times a week will satisfy this need, or taking seaweed daily in capsule form will provide what the diet is lacking. It has been my experience that the body responds very quickly to iodine and getting your eyebrows back could simply be a matter of six months to a year.

If we can help you further, please let us know. We can be contacted at the shop at 250-594-3332. Kim

This blog is not medical advice and all this information is available in the public domain.