Most people who notice their hair thinning usually search for external remedies first, like special shampoos, scalp treatments, or salon procedures. Very few stop to think about what they're eating. The truth is, some everyday foods are easy and even deemed healthy choices when, in fact, they may be contributing to the problem. Identifying foods that could be undermining hair health is the first step towards making better dietary choices for healthier hair.
Sugar and Highly Processed Carbs
Breakfast pastries, afternoon sodas, and comforting pasta and white bread are all staples in modern diets. Foods that are high in sugar and processed carbs are another which may be impacting the health of one's hair in several ways.
When you eat processed carbs, the food's glycaemic index is high. This means that carbs will increase sugar in the body. This spike increases insulin production. Greater levels of insulin can lead to greater production of androgens, which in turn lead to hair loss.
Sugary foods are associated with more sebum production, which is the oil produced by the skin's glands. Some sebum is good, but more sebum than is necessary can clog the pores. Clogged pores can prevent healthy hair growth. High sugar intake can also cause body-wide inflammation that makes the scalp more unhealthy and causes hair follicles to not work as well.
Some Fish with High Mercury Levels
Protein and omega-3s are important to include in your diet, and fish in particular are noted to have these. Some types of fish do, but not all are good. It is not well known that some fish are also high in mercury, which is a heavy metal that can cause hair loss as well.
Some documented cases of hair loss have also been shown to have elevated levels of mercury in the body, also obtained from fish. Symptoms of hair loss have also been shown to improve when these fish are eaten less. Fish such as swordfish, mackerel, tuna, and some types of sushi should be eaten in smaller quantities.
This isn't to say that there are no other good fish to eat. Lower-mercury fish, such as salmon, shrimp, and cod, can be eaten more, and the balance of fish can be good without the worry of mercury levels.
Oily and Fried Foods
Hair has an adverse reaction to unsaturated and trans fats, both of which are abundant in fried, oiled foods. Eating these kinds of foods regularly will sabotage the scalp balance, leading to oily hair and scalp issues.
Fried and greasy foods promote the production of oil and increase the oiliness of the scalp, too. This oil settles on hair follicles, trapping them and stopping hair from growing, which leads to hair loss. Also, high-fat food diets have been linked to problematic obesity, which can also injure hair health. On top of that, high-fat foods are also almost always low in nutrients and will take the place of more beneficial foods that aid in healthy hair growth.
Dairy
Other than meat, this is the only food source of protein that has calcium in addition. So, while this is the case, why is this the most surprising answer, i.e., dairy in excess?
Dairy contains fats that affect how your body produces certain hormones. Some individuals experience a rise in testosterone when they eat more dairy. Testosterone can convert to DHT, a hormone responsible for pattern baldness, especially in those genetically predisposed to hair loss. DHT also contributes to hair thinning in both men and women.
Individuals prone to inflammatory scalp conditions, such as eczema and dandruff, might find that dairy worsens the problem and hair loss becomes more severe. The relationship between dairy products and hair loss (particularly the thinning of hair) varies. However, those with hair loss and thinning of hair (especially at the crown of the scalp) can benefit from decreasing their dairy intake.
Diet Sodas and Artificial Sweeteners
Although eating and drinking diet foods and beverages might seem like a healthier option for people, diet sodas, in particular, can be a problem for the health of your hair. Diet sodas can affect the body’s insulin response and subsequently cause problems with the body’s metabolism.
Diet sodas, along with other carbonated beverages, also have the potential to cause problems with the body’s water content (hydration) and nutrient absorption. If the body is dehydrated and/or nutrients are not being absorbed properly, it’s likely the hair follicles are not getting what they need to grow and maintain healthy hair.
Soda drinks are a major contributor to acidic pH levels in your body, which may, in turn, impact the absorption of nutrients in the body, including those needed to maintain healthy hair. Improving hair health may start by cutting soft drinks from your diet.
Nourrir Everyday Hair Health Tablets: Comprehensive Internal Support
Identifying foods that might be leading to hair loss is a step in the right direction. Even more important is identifying the nutrients that natural hair growth mechanisms need. Opting for a healthy and balanced diet is a good start, but because of modern lifestyles, it is often not enough.
Nourrir Everyday Hair Health Tablets contain a well-balanced blend of 76 nutrients that have been clinically proven to benefit healthy hair. These include several essential vitamins and minerals, important amino acids, and several antioxidants. These nutrients are used by the body to address the main causes of hair loss, including hormonal imbalances, chronic stress, and an improper balance of metabolic nutrients.
Absorption of minerals and vitamins can be improved by not overloading the body through a cyclical therapy approach, which is simply a scheduled nutrient delivery. In this case, an entire week cycle of one tablet per day (excluding Sunday) can be used.
The formulations that are validated by dermatologists are 100% drug-free, which is very reassuring. On average, men and women who use the formulation consistently will start to see differences as early as six weeks. Changes will be more noticeable around the three-month mark, which include decreased shedding, more hair, thicker hair, and a healthier scalp.
Conclusion
Hair health begins on the inside. The food you eat on a daily basis either supports the health of your hair follicles or can be detrimental to your follicle health. While it may not be realistic to strictly avoid potentially unhealthy food, knowing what the unhealthy foods are can help you make better choices and avoid junk food.
Dietary moderation, along with nutritional supplementation like Nourrir Everyday Hair Health Tablets, can help create the best possible condition for your hair to flourish. Those who are serious about addressing hair thinning will benefit the most from improving the overall quality of the diet and focusing on the less obvious nutritional aspects that may be missing.