- A new study suggests a link between drinking sugary drinks and hair loss in young men.
- Data showed that men who drank at least one sugary drink a day were more likely to lose hair.
- Too much sugar can cause insulin resistance, which over time can harm your hair and overall health.
Hair loss has increased in recent years, and drinking too many sugary drinks may increase your risk, suggests a study published Jan. 1 in the journal Nutrients.
Researchers at Tsinghua University in Beijing examined data from more than 1,000 Chinese men aged 18 to 45 from January to April 2022 and compared self-reported lifestyle habits with hair loss.
They found that men who drank up to one sugary drink each day, such as soda, juice, energy drinks, sports drinks, and sweetened coffee or tea, had almost 30% more hair loss (total per person). 1 to 3 liters). week).
Men who reported drinking sugary drinks at least once a day (nearly a gallon or more per week) had a 42% higher risk of hair loss than those who never drank sugary drinks. , made hair loss even more likely.
The researchers also reported that the majority of study participants drank at least some sugar-containing beverages with their daily meals, and nearly half drank sugary beverages two or more times a day. However, men who reported hair loss tended to drink more, on average about 12 times a week compared to 7 times a week for men who did not report hair loss.
One of the limitations of this study is that drinking habits are not the only factor in hair loss, and factors such as rest of diet, overall health, and even stress and mental health history may play a role. For example, studies show that men with alopecia report eating more fried foods and less vegetables. Researchers also found that a history of illness and anxiety, and even his PTSD, were associated with a higher risk of hair loss.
So far, the relationship between sugary drinks and hair loss has been correlative rather than causal, and more research is needed to determine whether drinking more alcohol directly increases the risk of hair loss.
But young people who drink a lot of sugar may not be aware of the health risks, so future research could help people make better-informed decisions, researchers say. is writing
Eating too much sugar brings health risks such as high blood sugar
Previous research suggests that too much soda and other sweetened beverages can be detrimental to your health, and that drinking soda every day can lead to diseases such as liver cancer.
One of the reasons sugar is a problem is that high sugar intake raises blood sugar levels. Especially if you don’t have other nutrients that absorb quickly and slow down digestion like soda.
Over time, elevated blood sugar levels due to too much sugar in a meal can make the body less sensitive to insulin, the hormone that regulates blood sugar levels, a condition known as insulin resistance. , when the body responds poorly to insulin, it can lead to other health problems, such as type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome.
Some evidence suggests that insulin resistance may also be linked to hair loss.
No single food or drink is likely to dictate your health (or hair), but nutritionists and diabetes experts recommend it. Eat moderately sweet treats and combine sweets (and other simple carbs) with protein and fiber to help balance blood sugar levels.
