Hand holding a brush with hair in it

Foods That Can Cause Hair Loss

Aug 16, 2022Eavion Richardson

Hair loss is a common problem that many people face. It can be embarrassing and cause a lot of self-consciousness. While there are many hair loss treatments available, it's important to understand the causes of hair loss in order to prevent it from happening in the first place. In this article, we will discuss some of the foods that can cause hair loss and how to avoid them. 

Hair loss is often caused by a lack of nutrients in the diet. When the body isn't getting enough of the right nutrients, it can start to shut down non-essential functions like hair growth. That's why it's important to make sure you're eating a balanced diet that includes all the essential nutrients hair needs to stay healthy. Some of the most important nutrients to know about that can cause hair loss are:


  1. Sugar
  2. Refined Carbs
  3. Nuts
  4. Swordfish
  5. Greasy Foods
  6. Carbonated Drinks
  7. Alcohol


Now that we have listed all  of the hair loss causing foods, we'll go into detail why these foods are causing hair loss.

Excessive Sugar Can Cause Hair Loss

Sugar can cause poor circulation in the body which can lead to hair loss. How? Once circulation is affected it becomes difficult for blood to reach to the hair on your head. If blood doesn't reach the hair follicles in your head, those follicles won't be able to receive the proper nutrients they need to function properly for growth.

 

Not only this, sugar can also cause 'scalp inflammation', but this is also usually caused by staph bacteria or fungi, which this can lead to having a cold scalp. Due to the poor circulation, this is where unfortunately hair damage can take place. 


Sugar can also raise testosterone in the blood. By having too much testosterone in the body can lead to hair loss, because 

Sugar being poured into a jar with a spoon

high levels of testosterone can damage hair follicles by reducing the size of them causing thinning of the hair and breakage. 


Refined Carbs




Everybody loves to indulged on the best tasting foods such as breads, cakes, pastas, pizza and more but unfortunately these are one of the reasons our hair loss can happen. Once these food are consumed they turn into sugar which means sugar intake goes up. So just like we talked about sugar, refined carbs can also cause poor circulation and will damage hair follicles and cause hair thinning.

lemon cupcakes

Nuts

While nuts are a great and easy source of protein, some people are actually mildly allergic to them giving them a delayed reaction. If this is the case, then this is often related to receding hairlines and hair loss. The hair follicles can actually be damaged by the allergic reaction. Though this is not that common, you should get yourself tested for allergies for peace of mind.


Another reason for nuts being a reason for hair loss is that some contain high amounts 

Brazilian Nuts

of selenium.  Selenium is required for hair growth in small quantities.  However, consuming large amounts of selenium can actually lead to hair loss. To avoid consuming too much selenium in your diet simply avoid the nuts that have high quantities such as Brazil nuts which contains 95 micrograms, almost twice your daily requirement.


Swordfish

Seafood is a great source of protein and omega-three fatty acids, which are essential for hair growth. However, some seafood contains high levels of mercury, which can actually lead to hair loss. Mercury interacts with other minerals in the body, unfortunately it reacts badly to zinc. Zinc is important for hair growth as it promotes hair growth, so when mercury interferes with zinc levels, it can lead to thinning and hair loss. Swordfish is one of the riches seafood that contain a lot of mercury which this is something that you should avoid if 

swordfish dish

you're trying to prevent hair loss. Other fishes that are also rich in mercury that you should be aware of, are tuna and mackerel.

Greasy Food



Have you ever noticed that after eating a lot of greasy food your hair seems to get oilier? This is because when we consume too much greasy and fatty foods, an oily substance called 'sebum' is released This substance can actually seep into our hair follicles and scalp. When this happens, it can clog our hair follicles and prevent hair from growing properly or at all. To prevent hair loss, it is best to avoid greasy foods as much as possible and opt for healthier options. Not only this, you should deep cleanse your hair at least twice a month to make sure that no built up sebum is present on your scalp. 

pepperoni pizza and chips

Carbonated Drinks





We all know that carbonated drinks are not the best for our health, but did you know that they can actually lead to hair loss? Carbonated drinks contain a high amount of sugar and caffeine, which as we now know can lead to hair loss. In addition, carbonated drinks are also acidic, which can dry out the hair and make it brittle, leading to hair breakage. If you're trying to prevent hair loss, it's best to avoid carbonated drinks as much as possible.

carbonated drink being poured into a glass

Alcohol




We all know that alcohol is not good for our health, but we do like to have a social drinking session here and there. Did you know that it can actually lead to hair loss? Alcohol is a diuretic, which means it dehydrates the body and can lead to hair loss due to the moisture being lost in the hair. In addition, alcohol is also acidic, which can dry out the hair and make it brittle, leading to hair breakage. It also diminishes zinc levels in the body as well, which as we now know is important for hair growth. If you're trying to prevent hair loss, it's best to avoid alcohol as much as possible.

cocktails

Bottom Line

There are many different foods that can cause hair loss, but these are some of the most common ones. If you're trying to prevent hair loss, it's important to avoid these foods as much as possible and eat a healthy. Be sure to keep these in mind next time you're grocery shopping or planning your meals to help prevent hair loss. While hair loss is a natural process, there are definitely things that you can do to help prevent it.



Another way to prevent hair loss is by taking our Biotin Growth +. Our Biotin Growth +, will give you the perfect formula to help prevent hair loss and achieve the hair goals that you aspire to have. Developed by PhD scientist it has the best balance in the market of Biotin, Zinc and Selenium in an easy swallow tablet. By having these three ingredients placed into your diet it will help you achieve getting your hair nails and skin healthy again. You won't have to worry about the smaller details, us Geeks have it covered!  

Do you have any tips for preventing hair loss? Let us know in the comments below! And be sure to check out our website for more articles on hair care and nutrition. Thanks for reading!

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