New research reveals the food and drinks that can help prevent hair loss or promote growth. Also in this month’s Your Health column: How to protect yourself from falls, and hospital news.
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 Nutrition and Health, which analyzed 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 Laura Acosta, a registered dietitian and associate professor of Food Science and Human Nutrition at the University of Florida. “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 also can lead to hair loss. Acosta says a person needs to take in half a gram of protein per pound of body weight each day.
“We tend to be more protein-deficient than we think,” said Dr. Jila Senemar, a Miami menopause specialist who says hair shedding, hormones, and diet are all interrelated.
