And what you can do to stop sugar-related hair loss.
Let’s talk about how sugar is linked to hair loss!
There are lots of contributing factors that can lead to different forms of hair loss:
For example:
Male Pattern Baldness is caused by a hair follicle sensitivity to DHT - and this is down to genetics.
Alopecia Areata - a condition that causes hair loss is an autoimmune condition
And stress can also cause hair loss.
But the one thing in common with many of the causes of hair loss, is that sugar won’t help, and can in fact speed up hair loss.
Sugar causes damage to your hair in two main ways
INFLAMMATION
Sugar causes inflammation. When you eat sugar, it floods the blood, causing insulin and androgens to spike, this binds to hair follicles causing to move into the shedding phase.
This type of hair loss can happen if you’re regularly eating lots of sugary foods so please do be mindful of it.
Dermatologist Panos Vasiloudes, He tells the author of the article that “a rapid glucose spike in the blood causes an overreaction by several hormones, most notably insulin and steroids.” These, he says, result in a “roller coaster” of sugar peaks and valleys – high and low levels of glucose, insulin, steroids, adrenaline, testosterone and other hormones.
INTERFERING WITH PROTEIN ABSORPTION
Our hair is actually made up of a type of rough protein called Keratin.
The protein that we eat is really useful for hair growth, as it helps to maintain cell growth and repair and sugar hinders the absorption of protein.
So it’s a good idea to cut down on sugars and increase your protein intake by eating more
So what kind of food shall we be avoiding?
Starchy White Foods
White bread, cakes, pastries, white pasta, and other refined, over-processed starches are converted into sugar, which also stops protein from being effectively absorbed,
So swap white bread and pastas for whole meal.
Fizzy Drinks
Carbonated Drinks are acid forming and have high amounts of sugar -
As 12 teaspoons of sugar in one can. Sugar affects your cortisone levels which inhibits your ability to handle stress. And one of the major contributors of hair loss? Stress!
Sugar-Free Foods
The FDA has said that Aspartame, the artificial sweetener commonly used in sugar-free or diet foods as well as sugar-free fizzy drinks can speed up hair loss and thinning hair as well as have lots of other side effects like bloating, depression, arthritis, and sexual problems.
This study from last year found that mice who were given a Western-style diet high in fat and cholesterol, experienced hair loss, hair whitening, and skin inflammation
Bad fats are known to increase the production of sebaceous DHT,
You are also more likely to suffer from sugar related hair loss if:
- You eat a diet that consists mostly of sugar and carbohydrates.
- You have a metabolic disorder.
- You have been diagnosed with pre-diabetes.
- You have been diagnosed with Type I or Type II Diabetes.
- You are overweight or obese.
- You suffer from dandruff.
- You are a heavy drinker.
- You drink a lot of coffee.
- You are a smoker.
