Can the GAPS Diet Help with Alopecia?

Writer: Julie Smullen | Functional Nutrition Consultant, Certified GAPS Practitioner, Certified GAPS Coach & SmartDNA Practitioner.

This article is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice.

Struggling with hair loss? Discover how the GAPS Nutritional Protocol supports healing from within through gut repair, hormonal balance, and nutrient restoration.”

Alopecia, or hair loss, is a condition that can deeply affect self-confidence and wellbeing. If you’re struggling with it, you’re not alone and you’re certainly not the only one looking for answers. A growing number of people are experiencing alopecia, often without clear solutions from conventional medicine.

The good news is that there are natural ways to support your body’s healing. One powerful approach is the GAPS Diet, which addresses the root causes of many health issues, including alopecia. Rather than masking symptoms, the GAPS Nutritional Protocol works to nourish and repair the gut, reduce systemic inflammation, and restore balance to the immune and endocrine systems, offering a supportive approach to restoring balance from within.

What Causes Alopecia?

Alopecia isn’t caused by just one thing: it’s a complex condition with many possible triggers.

These can include:

• Nutritional deficiencies (lack of key vitamins and minerals your hair needs to grow)

• Allergies or food sensitivities that inflame your body

• Hormonal imbalances disrupting normal hair cycles

• Toxicity from environmental or dietary sources

• Autoimmune reactions where your body attacks its own hair follicles

• Diabetes and blood sugar issues

• Poor circulation affecting the scalp and hair follicles

  
  

Because alopecia can come from such a variety of underlying causes, it makes sense that healing requires a holistic approach, one that supports the whole body.

How Does the GAPS Diet Help?

The GAPS Diet is designed to heal your gut, which is the foundation of your overall health and immune system. A healthy gut means better digestion, improved nutrient absorption, balanced hormones, and a calmer immune system, all essential for healthy hair growth.

Here’s how GAPS can help with alopecia:

• Balances Hormones: The GAPS protocol includes nutrient-dense foods that help regulate hormones naturally, supporting your body’s ability to maintain hair growth cycles.

• Removes Nutritional Deficiencies: By emphasising deeply nourishing, easily absorbed foods, the GAPS Diet helps to replenish the body’s stores of essential vitamins and minerals that are often lacking, nutrients that play a vital role in supporting healthy hair growth and overall vitality.

• Detoxifies the Body: The diet encourages the elimination of toxins that can cause inflammation and autoimmune reactions, often underlying hair loss.

• Rebalances Immunity: Many alopecia cases involve autoimmunity. The GAPS protocol aims to support a balanced immune response, which may benefit individuals with autoimmune-related hair loss.

• Improves Circulation: Nourishing, anti-inflammatory foods in GAPS help improve blood flow, ensuring hair follicles get the oxygen and nutrients they need.

  
  

In my approach, I always emphasise that healing is a personal and deeply individual journey. It’s not just about following a protocol, it’s about learning to slow down, listen to your body, and respond with care and patience. I encourage a gentle, nurturing relationship with yourself as you move through this process. True healing comes when we reconnect with the body’s natural rhythms and support it with the nourishment and rest it needs to restore balance and vitality.

Starting the GAPS Diet can feel overwhelming, especially when dealing with a complex condition like alopecia. That’s where I come in, as a GAPS-trained practitioner and Functional Nutrition Consultant, I offer nutritional and lifestyle support, not medical diagnosis or treatment.”

Together, we’ll:

• Identify your individual triggers and root causes

• Customize your GAPS protocol for optimal healing

• Support you through every stage of the diet with practical advice

• Monitor progress and adjust the plan as your body heals

  
  

You don’t have to navigate this journey alone. With expert support, you’ll feel empowered to take control of your health and work toward beautiful, healthy hair and much more.

Ready to Start Your Healing Journey?

If alopecia has been holding you back, the GAPS Diet could be the key to unlocking lasting health and hair restoration. Book a consultation with me today and let’s work together to restore balance and nourish your body from the inside out. https://www.nourishedwithlove.nz/book-online

Disclaimer: This blog is intended for informational and educational purposes only. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Supplements should be used responsibly and under the guidance of a qualified health professional. Always consult your healthcare provider before starting any new supplement or health program.

References for Alopecia and Nutritional Healing

1. Campbell-McBride, N. (2010). Gut and Psychology Syndrome. Cambridge: Medinform Publishing.

   • Foundational text outlining the GAPS Nutritional Protocol and its impact on gut health, immunity, and chronic conditions including autoimmunity.

2. Messenger, A. G., & Sinclair, R. D. (2006). Follicular Nutrition and Hair Loss. Dermatologic Clinics, 24(3), 413–420.

   • Discusses the role of nutritional deficiencies (zinc, biotin, iron, protein) in the development of alopecia.

3. Bergfeld, W. F., & Mulinari-Brenner, F. (2001). Alopecia: Evaluation and Treatment. Clinical Obstetrics and Gynecology, 44(1), 28–39.

   • Reviews causes of alopecia including autoimmunity, endocrine disorders, and nutritional imbalances.

4. Almohanna, H. M., Ahmed, A. A., Tsatalis, J. P., & Tosti, A. (2019). The Role of Vitamins and Minerals in Hair Loss: A Review. Dermatology and Therapy, 9, 51–70.

   • Explores how deficiencies in nutrients like iron, vitamin D, B vitamins, and zinc impact hair growth.

5. Hoffmann, R. (2005). TrichoScan: Combining Epiluminescence Microscopy with Digital Image Analysis for the Measurement of Hair Growth in Vivo. European Journal of Dermatology, 15(6), 469–476.

   • Touches on circulation and its impact on hair follicle function, relevant to the GAPS focus on improving blood flow.

6. Leung, A. K., Barankin, B., & Lam, J. M. (2013). Diagnosis and Management of Alopecia. American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 14(5), 347–358.

   • Offers a clinical perspective on multifactorial causes of alopecia and highlights the importance of a holistic view in treatment.

7. Brownstein, D. (2006). Iodine: Why You Need It, Why You Can’t Live Without It. Medical Alternatives Press.

   • Discusses iodine’s role in thyroid function and hair health, consistent with GAPS iodine recommendations.