Kids with grey hair?

[PeteC]

We discovered about a dozen on my daughter, on the corner of the crown where the top of the skull meets the back. Unusual to say the least and we'll have her checked out for B12 deficiency and thyroid just to be safe. I went grey early (24) and my Dad and his Dad also at about the same age so it may be hereditary, but age 7 is a bit young IMO!!

Anyone out there have any experience with this concerning kids? Thanks. Pete

[GLCQuantum]

Found this on the net concerning gray hairs on children. Not sure if its of any help Pete.

Home Treatments

Diet
Increasing your child's intake of vitamins is the best method. You can give them vitamin supplements that will help prevent graying. Include milk, meat, eggs, chicken, lentils, beans, almonds, peanuts, sweet potato, whole grain wheat, this will help solve the vitamin B12 deficiency problem, one of the prominent causes.

Oiling
The hair needs more nourishment and care. A hot oil massage using coconut oil or olive oil is a must. You can massage your child's scalp and apply hot oil twice a week. Also wrap hair in a hot towel after massage. This will help increase circulation and hence reduce the problem.

Egg
Egg is a rich source of amino acids and proteins, which are very essential for your child's hair. Mix one egg and water thoroughly form a paste. Apply this mixture on hair properly to cover the entire length of hair. Leave it for about 20 minutes and wash off with a mild shampoo.

Curry Leaf
Direct intake of sufficient amount of curry leaves everyday will provide vitality to hair. New growing hair will be strong and have a normal pigment. You can also boil these leaves in coconut oil and use it everyday. This is a great hair tonic to get back the black hair.

Natural Way
Indian gooseberry popularly known as amla is an effective ingredient. Take amla power, coconut oil, juice of one lemon, mix well to form a paste and apply it on the scalp. The quantity of amla powder will depend upon the hair length. Leave the paste for an hour and wash with lukewarm water.

You can try the above mentioned treatments on your kids hair regularly. Giving them a healthy and balanced diet is of utmost importance. Good health will ensure that they have healthy and shiny hair. Following the hair care routine for keeping them clean and well moisturized is essential. You can also ask them to use caps or scarfs so as to protect hair from harsh sun's rays, harmful pollution and dust. Gray hair should not be ignored at the initial stages, as the problem will go on increasing fast.

[PeteC]

Yes, thanks, I've read all through articles like that this past week. That's were I picked up on the repetitive theme of B12 deficiency and thyroid. Her diet is stellar though with plenty of meat, fish, vegetables and fruit and little junk food, so a B12 or any vitamin problem seems odd to me. We'll have her checked anyway though. Pete

[Homer]

Her diet is stellar though with plenty of meat, fish, vegetables and fruit and little junk food, so a B12 or any vitamin problem seems odd to me.

How much of that meat is beef?

[Big Boy]

Her diet is stellar though with plenty of meat, fish, vegetables

Maybe try her on Heineken instead

Seriously, B12 deficiency is the one side effect of my operation earlier this year. I need an injection every 3 to 6 months or I start to get very drowsy.

[edit] I don't have enough hair left to notice whether it has turned grey.

[PeteC]

Her diet is stellar though with plenty of meat, fish, vegetables and fruit and little junk food, so a B12 or any vitamin problem seems odd to me.

How much of that meat is beef?

Less than chicken and pork as her school usually doesn't offer beef dishes for lunch. I would say at least twice a week though at home for dinner in some form like beefburgers, spaghetti bolognese etc. Pete

[PeteC]

Here's the top 10 vitamin B12 list. I must admit thinking about this she could use more of other things besides chicken and pork which don't even make the list. Pete

#1: Clams, Oysters, and Mussels
Shellfish are a great source of vitamin B12 and can be eaten raw, baked, steamed, fried, or made into chowder. In addition to vitamin B12 shellfish are a good source of zinc, copper, and iron. Clams provide the most vitamin B-12 with 98.9μg per 100g serving, accounting for 1648% of the DV. That is 84μg (1401% DV) per 3 ounce serving, and 187.9μg (3132% DV) in 20 small clams, or 9.4μg (156.6 %DV) in one small clam. Mussels and oysters are also good sources of B12 providing 600% DV and 400% DV per 100 gram serving. Click to see complete nutrition facts.

#2: Liver
Often appearing on the culinary scene as pâté, liver can also be prepared steamed or fried with onions and herbs. The liver of most any animal is packed with vitamin B-12, the highest on the list are: Lamb, beef, veal, moose, turkey, duck, and goose respectively. Lamb liver provides 85.7μg (1428% DV) of vitamin B12 per 100g serving, or 72.85μg (230% DV) in a 3 ounce serving. Click to see complete nutrition facts.

#3: Caviar (Fish Eggs)
Caviar and fish eggs are most often eaten as a garnish or spread. The eggs of whitefish contain the most vitamin B-12 with 56.4μg (940% DV) per 100g serving. Caviar contains a third of that with 20μg (333% DV) of vitamin B12 per 100g serving, 5.6μg (93% DV) per ounce, and 3.2μg (53% DV) per tablespoon. Chicken eggs, by comparison, only offer 1.29μg (22% DV) of vitamin B-12 per 100g serving, or 0.65μg (11% DV) per egg. Click to see complete nutrition facts. Buy Caviar from Amazon.com

#4: Octopus
Popular in Mediterranean, Japanese, and Hawaiian cuisine, octopus is a vitamin b12 rich food. Cooked octopus provides 36μg of vitamin B-12 per 100 gram serving accounting for 600% of the DV. That is 30.6μg (510% DV) per 3 ounce serving, or 10.2μg (170% DV) per ounce. Raw octopus provides about half as much vitamin b12 with 20μg (333% DV) per 100 gram serving, 17μg (283% DV) in a 3 ounce serving, and 5.67μg (94.33% DV) per ounce. Click to see complete nutrition facts.

#5: Fish
Known for their omega 3 fats and for being a high protein food, fish are also a good source of vitamin B12. Mackerel provides the most vitamin B-12 with 19μg per 100g serving (317% DV), followed by Herring (312% DV), Salmon (302%), Tuna (181%), Cod (167%), Sardines (149%), Trout (130%), and Bluefish (104%).
Click to see complete nutrition facts. Canned Fish Highest in Vitamin B12.

#6: Crab and Lobster
Crab and lobster are most commonly served baked, steamed, or in bisque. A 100g serving of crab contains 11.5μg of vitamin B12 (192% of the DV), that is 15.4μg (257%DV) per leg (134g). Lobster will provide 4.04μg(67% DV) per 100g serving, or 6.59μg (110% DV) in an average whole lobster (163g).
Click to see complete nutrition facts.

#7: Beef
In addition to being a vitamin B12 rich food, beef is also a good source of protein, zinc, and heme-iron. The amount of vitamin B-12 in beef depends on the cut, lean fat-trimmed chuck contains the most vitamin B12 with 6.18μg (103% DV) per 100g serving, 11.49μg (103% DV) in a chuck steak, and 5.25μg (88% DV) in a 3 ounce serving. Chuck is followed by sirloin (62% DV), rib-eye (60% DV), and ribs (58% DV).
Click to see complete nutrition facts.

#8: Lamb (Mutton)
Lamb is a common meat in the Middle East, Mediterranean, East Asia, Australia, New Zealand, and most of Europe. Lamb is a high cholesterol food so be sure to look for lean cuts which are higher in B12 anyway. Lamb also provides high amounts of protein, and zinc. The shoulder is the cut of lamb with the most vitamin B-12 providing 3.71μg (62% DV) per 100g serving, 5.82μg (97% DV) per pound, and 3.15μg (53% DV) in a 3 ounce serving. The shoulder is followed by the foreshank and leg which provides 53% of the DV per 100g serving, and lamb chops which provide 51% of the DV for vitmain B12 per 100 gram serving. Click to see complete nutrition facts.

#9: Cheese
Despite being a high cholesterol food, cheese is a good source of calcium, protein, and Riboflavin (Vitamin B2). The amount of vitamin B12 in cheese depends on type and variety, Swiss cheese provides the most with 3.34μg (56% DV) per 100g serving, followed by Gjetost (40% DV), Mozzarella(39% DV), Parmesan (38% DV), Tilsit (35% DV), and Feta (28% DV). Click to see complete nutrition facts.

#10: Eggs
When it comes to chicken eggs the raw yellow has most of the vitamin B-12 with 1.95μg per 100g serving (33%), however, this equates to 0.33μg per yolk or just 6% of the DV. The eggs of other animals are higher with a goose egg providing 7.34μg (122% DV) of vitamin B-12 per 100g serving, and a duck egg providing 3.78μg (63% DV).
Click to see complete nutrition facts.
Read more at http://www.healthaliciousness.com/artic ... 047ASIV.99

[GLCQuantum]

^That's why the rich in England all look so healthy... it's all that caviar they're eating.

[margaretcarnes]

I grew up on a diet of beef, lamb and liver in one form or another about 5 times a week. In those days chicken was more expensive! The first grey hairs appeared at 17. My cousin went completely grey very quickly in her twenties.
It's a strange thing and you are quite right to check out diet, vitamin deficiencies etc to be safe, but a lot of these things are just down to genes, with inherited traits often skipping 2 or more generations.

[PeteC]

Thanks Mags. At the moment she's quite excited that the problem will be a plus for her on Halloween when she dons her witches costume. Pete

[Takiap]

Pete

I'm not sure what it could be. My older brother lived a very healthy life in terms of diet and yet he was completely grey before he reached thirty. I on the other hand have never eaten a well balanced diet, and have only recently started going grey. Saying that, maybe it's because meat accounts for about 80% of my diet.

I know, I should be eating more fruit and veg, but meat just tastes so much better.

[MisterClean]

Dont you know that just eating meat and vegatables does not supply the nescessary vitamins and minerals? Farmland has been over farmed for generations and that is why you should supplement your diet with individual vitamin pills of A, B, C, D, and E. Along with Calcium and magnesium to help absorb the B vitamins. So about five or six pills a day or more depending on the brands.

[GLCQuantum]

Dont you know that just eating meat and vegatables does not supply the nescessary vitamins and minerals? Farmland has been over farmed for generations and that is why you should supplement your diet with individual vitamin pills of A, B, C, D, and E. Along with Calcium and magnesium to help absorb the B vitamins. So about five or six pills a day or more depending on the brands.

So along with all the other pills people tell me that I need to take every day that should work out to about...

[Dannie Boy]

Dont you know that just eating meat and vegatables does not supply the nescessary vitamins and minerals? Farmland has been over farmed for generations and that is why you should supplement your diet with individual vitamin pills of A, B, C, D, and E. Along with Calcium and magnesium to help absorb the B vitamins. So about five or six pills a day or more depending on the brands.

So along with all the other pills people tell me that I need to take every day that should work out to about...

I couldn't see a blue diamond there

[BaaBaa.]

Cull them.