Could your diet be contributing to hair loss?
We all know that what we eat on a regular basis can have a big impact on our health and well-being, but as it turns out, this philosophy even extends to the health of our hair. The foods you choose to nourish your body are what will ultimately nourish your hair. Therefore, avoiding certain foods, and including certain nutrients, in your diet is key. Here are a few of the facts:
The Top Four Foods That Can Accelerate Hair Loss
A high sugar diet can be problematic for your hair for a few reasons. By spiking inflammation levels in the body, sugar consumption can lead to restricted blood flow to the scalp and hair follicles meaning they become under-stimulated and aren’t able to receive nourishment as easily. Sugar can also increase testosterone hormones in the body, which is a common factor in hair loss when levels are off.
While milk-based products have some nutritional value that is good for your hair, too much dairy consumption is similar to sugar in that it can cause more inflammation and higher levels of testosterone, due to its high-fat content. Additionally, excess dairy has been linked to flare-ups of inflammatory skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis, and these flare-ups can also lead to more hair loss.
3. Seafood High in Mercury
We all know that mercury isn’t good for us, but the reason it is especially detrimental to the hair is that it can disrupt the production of keratin–one, the main building blocks of hair. It has even been shown to interfere with your body’s ability to process zinc, leading to deficiencies that cause hair damage and thinning. While you don’t have to avoid fish altogether, your best bet is to abstain from eating certain types like swordfish, which contain an especially high mercury content.
4. Fried Foods
Greasy, fatty and fried foods are no friend to healthy hair, simply because their nutritional value is quite low. A diet low in protein, vitamins and other nutrients has been linked to hair loss. Additionally, some fats commonly found in fried foods–such as canola oil–may increase testosterone, which, as we’ve already covered, is one of the leading causes of hair loss.