The thickness of your hair relies on a few factors: namely things like genetics, stress levels, and — yes — diet. Your hair is what you eat (to a certain extent) and making sure that you get plenty of vitamins and minerals in your diet is one way to boost your hair’s texture and shine and to combat hair loss. Another way is to know which ultra processed foods you can avoid because they do your hair NO favors. Dr. Sanjay Batra, PRP, exosomes, hair loss, regenerative expert, and co-founder of WeThrivv, points out which four processed foods you should avoid at all costs for hair loss.
Sugar-sweetened beverages
Dr. Batra points out a Chinese study that identified a correlation between the consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages and hair loss. “Although it is not widely known why sugar can have this effect, recent scientific hypothesis have argued that androgens, such as DHT, prevent the hair follicles from converting sugar to stored energy,” Dr. Batra says. “This is caused by breaking down an enzyme called hypoxia inducible factor (HIF-1).
What this means is that when your levels of sugar get high, glucose flows into the scalp and causes a ‘burnt out’ of the hair cells, because the cells can’t stop burning the sugar. Your sugar levels get high every time you drink a soft drink, or drinks that are sweetened with fructose syrup. Thus, it is important to avoid table sugar, and sodas.”
If fruits juices are prepared correctly, Dr. Batra adds they won’t spike your body’s sugar levels. “It is better to drink natural fruit juices that retain their pulp. Also, fruit juices that are fortified with ginger, wheat grass or other healthy items, are actually better for your sugar levels. This is because the healthy items often contain flavonoids and phenols that protect your cells against the injury caused by high sugar levels.”
Processed foods that boost cholesterol
An Italian study identified a specific type of baldness in factory workers that was associated with elevated cholesterol, according to Dr. Batra. “What they discovered was that the association was more obvious in younger adults, but as people age their baldness became too advanced to show this special pattern,” Dr. Batra says.
In another scientific study, he points out that it was identified that genes associated with cholesterol removal from the scalp were malfunctioning. “Hence, in order to have a healthy head of hair, it is of essence to avoid processed foods that elevate your cholesterol levels,” Dr. Batra says. “One should eat less of fried foods, processed meats, and certain types of pastries (cookies, cakes, ice-cream, and sausage rolls). Some tips for improving your cholesterol level is to consume magnesium, switch to healthier fats (olive oil) and eat less processed meats.”
High carb, low nutrient foods
When your body digests “empty carbs” — such as white bread — it also spikes your blood sugar levels. These “sugar spikes” not only damage your hair cells, but they put a strain on your kidneys and liver, Dr. Batra points out. “The kidneys start to use the body’s minerals to get your levels back to normal, which can promote elimination of magnesium, calcium, and iron,” Dr. Batra says. “These minerals are essential for hair health because they help to keep the enzymes in your skin in good functional order. For example, magnesium is a co-factor for the enzymes that remove cholesterol, and also for the enzymes that activate vitamin D. Unfortunately, processed wheat has less magnesium. This is because most of the magnesium in wheat is in the seed germ, which is removed when wheat flour is converted from brown to white. This means that it is better to switch from white to brown bread, not only to get magnesium back into your diet, but also to slow down the digestion of the starch so that the flow of sugar into your body is smoother; not so abrupt.”
Another food that’s good to avoid? French fries. “Balance your meals so that you get plenty of greens, such as broccoli, sprouts, cabbage, or salads,” Dr. Batra says.
Pro-inflammatory foods
Inflammation of the body often starts in the gut (stomach or intestines). “The inflammatory white blood cells escape into your blood stream, then circulate into your scalp, where they worsen androgenetic alopecia, cause alopecia areata, or trigger telogen effluvium,” Dr. Batra says. “This is why it is important to avoid foods that trigger inflammation. If you have any food intolerances, such as to wheat or lactose, then make no mistake, they can be causing your hair to struggle against all odds. Once you are experiencing intestinal cramps and pains, those inflammatory white blood cells are circulating to your scalp. Even without a food intolerance, there are many foods that will cause inflammation in the tissues around your body. Coincidentally, they are the same foods mentioned above. Refined grains, such as white wheat flour, fries, fried food, processed meats, and sugar-sweetened beverages are all inflammation triggering foods.”
Using Harsh Styling Products To Keep Your ‘Do In Place
Lastly, Dr. Dray stresses that it isn’t just tight ponytails, braids, and buns that cause hair loss, but also the styling products that you’re using to create slicked-back ‘dos. Specifically, she mentions long-wear hair gel that is made with an abundance of alcohol and can be drying on baby hairs at your crown. This product, in combination with less-than-gentle stying maneuvers like brushing your hair back to keep it firmly in place, can cause stress at the roots and lead to more hair fall.
Even if you live for an elegant tight bun or super-straight hair, giving your hair breaks between these styles can help minimize the damage they cause. Try and change up your hair styles and avoid excessively tight or overheated styles to the best of your ability to give your hair and roots a rest.
