The Daily News – March 31, 2025

Today on the Daily News, if you’ve been skipping meals to maintain that intermittent fasting lifestyle, you might be getting thinner, but also so might your hair. A study published in cell suggests that intermittent fasting could slow down hair growth, and of course it’s sparking quite the conversation. So here’s what’s going on. Researchers at Westlake University in China tested the effects of time restricted eating on mice. So one group followed a regular diet while the other faceted for 16 hours and then ate for half that time. So after 30 days, the mice with a normal diet had regrown their shave fur. But in the fasting group, their hair growth was noticeably slower. Even after 96 days, some of the follicles hadn’t even fully bounced back yet. So why is that? Well, the researchers point to stress on hair follicle stem cells. These are the cells that are responsible for activating hair growth in the fasting mice. These cells were dormant longer and in some cases were completely shut down. Now, while this research is based on mice, the study suggests that similar effects could occur in humans too. It notes that the impact would likely be less pronounced due to our slower metabolic rates and different hair growth patterns. But before you swer off fasting altogether, it is worth noting that the study also highlights the metabolic health benefits of intermittent fasting. One of the researchers explains it this way. We don’t want to scare people away from practicing intermittent fasting because it’s associated with a lot of beneficial effects. It’s just important to be aware that it might have some unintended effects. So what does this mean for you then? Well, if hair loss is a concern, it’s still a good idea to speak with your doctor or dermatologist before diving headfirst into intermittent fasting. And while the diet does have its perks, this study reminds us that no lifestyle choice is one size fits all. For now, it’s all about balance. Whether you’re chasing health goals or just trying to keep those luscious locks, let us know how it goes for you in the comments. And if you found this information helpful, don’t forget to like, subscribe, and hit that notification bell. Thank you for joining us on the Daily News.