It may not be age that is making your hair thin or fall out, but rather what you are eating and drinking.
New research shows certain foods contribute to hair loss, and others help with hair growth.
Sugar-sweetened beverages and alcoholic drinks are associated with a higher risk of hair loss, according to research published in the journal Nutrition And Health, which analysed 17 studies on diet and hair.
“When we consume high amounts of sugar, we get an insulin spike that promotes inflammation and can distort the natural hair growth cycles,” explains registered dietitian and University of Florida associate professor of food science and human nutrition Laura Acosta.
“With alcohol, it’s not that it necessarily directly causes hair shedding itself, but it does contribute to nutrient deficiency, nutrient malabsorption, liver stress, poor sleep and systemic inflammation – all of which can wreak havoc on hair growth.”
Not consuming enough protein can also lead to hair loss.
Assoc Prof Acosta says a person needs to take in half a gramme of protein per pound (0.45kg) of body weight each day.
“We tend to be more protein-deficient than we think,” says obstetrician and gynaecologist Dr Jila Senemar.
The Miami-based menopause specialist adds that hair shedding, hormones and diet are all interrelated.
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