Foods To Avoid For Healthy Hair

We've previously explored what foods to include in your diet to help keep your hair healthy, and it's now time to take a look at which foods are best to avoid in large quantities, in order to help keep your locks in tip top condition and hopefully avoid hair loss.

The Fearsome Four

1. We would never tell you to avoid fish, as it is a good source of vitamin B12 and essential fatty acids, which are rich in omega 3 and important for hair growth. However, eating certain types of fish four or five times a week can mean that you're getting too much mercury. Fresh swordfish, mackerel and tuna can contain relatively high levels of mercury, which can lead to hair loss, although canned varieties of fish and shrimp won't have this issue.

2. A little bit of what you fancy does you good, but if you're regularly snacking on sugary treats your blood sugar levels will be spiking, causing insulin to be produced as well as androgen, a male hormone which can cause pattern hair loss in both men and women with a genetic disposition.

3. And, we're afraid to say, foods that quickly convert to sugar aren't great either. Pizza, white bread, cakes and biscuits also appear to increase androgen levels. Click here for the science behind this!

4. Vitamin A is great for the hair, but make sure you don't exceed your RDA (recommended daily allowance) or you might just find yourself losing hair because of it. If you take a vitamin A supplement, check the dosage and make sure that you don't exceed the amount recommended for you when combined with the amount ingested via your daily diet from foods such as carrots, liver and fish oils.

And If My Hair Is Still Shedding?

If you have addressed all the issues raised above in terms of your diet and you're still noticing shedding, it's time to visit a hair loss specialist, who can advise you on what the cause of your loss might be. If you're noticing thinning from areas around the top of your head, it's likely that Male Pattern Baldness or Female Pattern Hair Loss is the cause.

This type of hair loss is by far the most commonly found in men and women; it is hereditary, with the predisposition to it, in the form of DHT-sensitivity, is passed down through your family tree. It is permanent but can be treated and often successfully managed with the right help.

There are two clinically-proven genetic hair loss treatments - which are both licensed by the MHRA and FDA approved for this purpose - and, a variety of hair growth supporting products can be used as complementary additions alongside these. These include the FDA-cleared LaserComb which can help to stimulate hair growth, and nutritional supplements, such as Belgravia's exclusive Hair Vitalics which contains a targeted blend of key vitamins, minerals, amino acids and botanical extracts, including selenium, zinc and biotin to promote the maintenance of normal, healthy hair growth.

The first step after noticing persistently thinning hair or sudden hair loss is to consult a specialist so they can diagnose the precise condition.

The temporary hair loss conditions which may arise from issues such as dietary imbalances or nutritional deficiencies - Telogen Effluvium and Chronic Telogen Effluvium, also known as Diffuse Thinning - can trigger underlying cases of male or female pattern hair loss in people with the relevant genetic predisposition, or exacerbate existing cases. This can be hard for the untrained eye to spot, so it is important to have a professional assessment so that you know exactly what you are dealing with before exploring appropriate hair loss solutions.