Hair falling out? These 5 everyday foods could be to blame
Foods that can damage your hair (Photo: Magnific)
Trichologists and nutritionists agree that beautiful, healthy hair starts from within. Some of the foods we eat every day without a second thought can quietly damage the hair shaft, trigger hair loss, and leave hair looking dull and lifeless.
RBC-Ukraine explains which foods may be harming your hair.
Sugary desserts and excess sugar
Sugar is one of the biggest enemies not only of your waistline but also of your hair. Eating too many cakes, candies, or sugary soft drinks triggers a process called glycation.
Excess glucose binds to proteins, including keratin and collagen, the main building blocks of your hair. As a result, hair becomes brittle, dull, and loses its natural elasticity.
Sharp spikes in blood sugar also increase insulin levels, which can stimulate the production of male hormones. In women, this is often linked to sudden and significant hair thinning.
Fast food and trans fats
French fries, burgers, fried pastries, and other deep-fried foods contain large amounts of harmful trans fats.
These foods damage your hair in two ways. First, frequent fast-food consumption disrupts the normal function of the scalp's oil glands.
The scalp starts producing excess sebum, making hair greasy more quickly, clogging pores, and preventing healthy new hair growth.
Second, trans fats promote inflammation throughout the body, reducing healthy blood circulation. As a result, hair roots receive less oxygen and fewer essential nutrients.
Alcohol and dehydration
A glass of wine in the evening or a weekend cocktail may seem harmless, but alcohol is a powerful diuretic. It causes the body to lose water rapidly, leading to dehydration.
Your hair responds almost immediately, becoming dry, coarse, and prone to split ends.
Alcohol also depletes important nutrients, particularly zinc. Trichologists often associate zinc deficiency with slow hair growth and increased hair loss.
Salty foods and snacks
Potato chips, salted nuts, canned foods, and smoked meats also make the list of foods that can damage your hair.
Excess salt affects the body in a similar way to alcohol. While it causes water retention in tissues, it also dehydrates cells and hair follicles.
Without enough internal moisture, hair loses its shine, becomes porous, and breaks easily, even during normal brushing.
Too many salty snacks may also contribute to dry dandruff and an itchy scalp.
Pastries and refined carbohydrates
White bread, sweet pastries, pasta made from refined flour, and other refined carbohydrates affect the body much like pure sugar.
They break down quickly, causing a rapid rise in blood glucose levels.
This disrupts metabolism and interferes with the body's ability to absorb B vitamins, which are essential for strong, thick, healthy hair.
To reduce the damage, nutritionists recommend gradually replacing refined baked goods with whole-grain alternatives, which provide more fiber and beneficial nutrients.
This material is for informational purposes only and should not be used for medical diagnosis or self-treatment. Our goal is to provide readers with accurate information about symptoms, causes, and methods of detecting diseases. RBС-Ukraine is not responsible for any diagnoses that readers may make based on materials from the resource. We do not recommend self-treatment and advise consulting a doctor in case of any health concerns.
