At NaturAll, we are all about healthy hair and lifestyle. We know you are too, because you’re reading this! You’ve probably stayed up at night reading blog posts and watching videos about the right products to put in your hair. If you’re a junkie, you’ve taken it a step further and know the right foods to eat for healthy hair growth. What I bet you haven’t looked for is a guide on what NOT to eat for hair growth.
But we have good news for you! We did the research and found the worst foods for hair growth. All you have to do is sit back, read, and not feel guilty if you love some of these food options, because don’t we all? A little confession: I was scared of finding out what food not to eat for hair growth because I knew that I was in for some life changing discoveries once I started looking. But now that we’ve admitted our guilt to each other, let’s get into what we should not be consuming excessively...
1. DIET SODA: I hate to be the bearer of bad news but even though diet ‘coke’ might be great for your weight, it’s not so good for your hair (it’s like, why can’t I have it all?) This is because diet drinks substitute real sugar for artificial sweeteners, specifically one named Aspartame. According to the FDA, aspartame can cause hair loss and thinning hair if consumed excessively. To avoid this chemical, always read the label carefully to consume the FDA approved quantity, and replace other artificial sweeteners with natural ones (like
honey, which can also be used on your hair!)
2. SUGAR: “It is officially the year to stop stugar!” You’ve probably heard that countless times, but seriously, it is the year to stop sugar. The reason is very simple, YOUR HAIR is made out of PROTEIN. Your hair needs protein to grow and sugar hinders the absorption of protein. Just like you should steer clear of artificial sweeteners, you should also avoid eating foods that contain high sugar, like those starchy whites (white rice, white bread, white yam…)
3. FAST FOOD: This one should be most obvious but it is the one we avoid hearing. Anything that isn’t great for your health isn’t good for any part of your body. Those delicious greasy burgers/fries translate into greasy scalp, which can clog your pores and lead to hair loss. You don’t like clogged pores on your face, so why would you want that for your scalp, right? If that oily food is not sealing in moisture like your Avocado Oil Blend, tell it to keep its grease.
4. LIQUOR: “Hold my Liquor, what did you say?” is exactly what you just said right? Don’t worry, I’m not here to point fingers. Alcohol has no nutritional benefit, so it is not doing anything for your hair to begin with. It also slows the levels of zinc in your body, which is necessary for healthy hair and growth. As if that’s not enough, alcohol also dehydrates your hair, making it more brittle and likely to break. You’re already deep conditioning constantly to avoid breakage, so you do not want to aid breakage by drinking excessively.
5. CERTAIN FISH: If you read our previous post on nutritious food for hair revival, you know Omega-3 is a great nutrient for hair growth, and fish contains high levels of it. I’m happy to tell you that fish is still very nutritious. But the red flag is that some fish carry mercury, a heavy metal that is generally harmful for humans and can lead to hair loss. So while you can still eat many kinds of fish, you should know the risks. A rule of thumb is, “the bigger the fish is in nature, the higher the mercury it contains.” Big fishes like tuna, swordfish, shark, or king mackerel will contain more mercury than smaller fish like salmon, cod, or sardines.
Knowing the right kinds of food to eat is essential, but knowing the worst foods is EXTREMELY important if you want to avoid hair loss, breakage, and dryness. Health is wealth and your hair is part of your health. This is what we believe at NaturAll Club, and it's why we make natural hair products with ingredients that won’t harm you.
Lastly, I want to hear your thoughts too! Which of these foods will you cut back on? Which ones will be a struggle? Leave your answers and any other comment below.
