Three foods that 'negatively impact' hair shine and thickness - 'Limit your intake'
Sugar-laden drinks could compromise hair quality
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Hair and skin reflect what is happening deeper in the body, so they're not just aesthetic components of appearances but reflections of our health.
Because diet and hair quality are so closely linked, one expert says carbonated drinks, sugar and refined carbohydrates should be avoided where possible.
Put simply, a diet high in sugar and low in essential nutrients will deprive hair follicles of vital nourishment.
This will eventually lead to weakened hair strands and pave the way for further hair loss down the line.
Thinning and sparse hair may reflect inflammation
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According to Olivia Jones, Hair Stylist at Macleobradley, foods associated with inflammation compromise shine and thickness.
The expert said: “They say you are what you eat. Hair growth naturally slows with age, so you will notice some natural thinning.
“Some follicles will eventually stop growing, resulting in the appearance of thinner, sparse, looking hair.
“You should consider getting tested for deficiencies in micronutrients like iron, vitamin D, zinc, B fits and copper and this could be a contributing factor of hair loss."
The expert continued: “Limit your intake of sugar, refined carbs and carbonated drinks.”
Sugar can restrict proper blood circulation, which leads to malnourished hair follicles that become dry and eventually break off.
“Sugar also leads to inflammation of the scalp which negatively impacts the quality of hair strands,” added Olivia.
Experts at Guy’s and St Thomas’ Specialist Care explained that poor circulation is one of the key problems that prevents the roots from receiving adequate nutrients.
“If this occurs, your hair may become thin, weak and fall out,” they explained.
“Similarly, poor circulation can prevent your fingers from receiving sufficient blood flow, with your nail beds starved of oxygen.”
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Eating a wide range of vitamins is recommended for shinier hair
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Causes of hair thinning
Hair thinning has several causes, including modifiable factors like diet and lifestyle. Both factors affect the quality and growth of hair.
“[This] leads to poor quality of hair strands and a congested scalp with restricted blood flow to the follicle,” Jones explained.
Changes in the thickness may also reflect a depletion of hormones due to age, which hair treatments may not be able to tackle alone.