There are many causes of hair loss, from genetics, stress, to nutritional deficiencies. However, a factor that few people expect but has a significant impact on hair health is what we drink every day. Some drinks seem harmless but can negatively affect hair follicles, making hair weak and prone to breakage.
A study published in the Journal of Nutrients in 2022 analyzed the link between sugary beverage consumption and hair loss in younger men.
The results show that people who consume too much carbonated soft drinks, energy drinks or sugary fruit juices have a 30% higher risk of hair loss than those who limit this group of drinks.
According to Dr. Susan Mayne - Director of the Center for Food Safety and Nutrition Application at FDA, refined sugar in drinking water can increase inflammation in the body, directly affecting hair follicles, making hair weak and prone to dryness.
When you consume too much sugar, your body will produce more insulin to process excess sugar. This increases the concentration of androgen - a group of hormones that can cause hair follicles, making hair thinner and more prone to drops.
Dr. Anthony Rossi - dermatologist at Weill Cornell Medical Center (USA) - emphasized: "consuming a lot of soft drinks for a long time not only increases the risk of obesity and diabetes but also affects the skin and hair, especially hair loss due to hormonal disorders".
Not only sugary drinks, caffeinated drinks such as coffee and black tea can also cause hair loss if consumed excessively. Caffeine has a temporary stimulating effect, helping to keep you alert, but if consumed too much, it can disrupt the hair growth cycle, says Dr Anabel Kingsley, a scalp expert at the Philip Kingsley Trichological Clinic.
Caffeine stimulates the central nervous system, increasing the production of cortisol - the stress hormone. Prolonged high cortisol levels can cause hormonal imbalances in the body, causing hair to weaken and fall out faster.
A study in the Journal of Dermatology in 2021 showed that people who consumed more than 400mg of caffeine per day (equivalent to 4-5 cups of coffee) had a higher rate of hair loss than those who drank less.
In addition, caffeine can interfere with the absorption of iron - an important mineral that helps nourish hair follicles. Iron deficiency is one of the main causes of hair loss due to anemia, especially in women.
Women are more likely to be at risk of iron deficiency than men, and drinking too much coffee can aggravate hair loss, says Dr Wilma Bergfeld, a dermatologist at the Cleveland Clinic.
Dr Alan Bauman - a hair specialist at Bauman Medical - suggests: "People with hair loss problems should maintain a healthy diet, including adequate water, collagen-rich smoothies and vegetable juices to provide essential vitamins for hair".
