We know that what goes into our bodies affects how well our bodies perform various functions. Whether that’s running, lifting, breathing, or even growing hair… what we eat matters.
There are many diets that contribute positively to overall hair health. Diets with sufficient amounts of proteins, vitamins, and minerals are necessary for proper hair health and growth. With all the variety of all the food in the world, surely sugary and delicious chocolates must have some effect.
What Foods Cause Hair Thinning?
There are many overall contributing factors to hair loss, including genetics, trauma, infections, chemotherapy, hormonal dysregulation, and – of course – diet-related factors like nutrient deficiencies and supplement use.
The most common nutrient deficiency that can lead to hair loss is iron deficiency. An iron deficiency seems to disrupt hair growth because the human body will divert the iron that would normally be used in the hair cycle process to be used in other areas of the body.
Deficiencies in vitamin D, zinc, copper, biotin, and vitamin B12 have all been linked to hair loss across various studies. Your body also needs a certain intake of calories and proteins, so be aware that weight loss may also lead people to experience hair loss.
Is Chocolate Good for Your Hair?
Chocolate comes from the cacao bean after a process of cleaning and roasting. Cacao contains vitamin A, magnesium, iron, copper, and zinc.
Vitamin A can help improve blood flow – including to the scalp to help stimulate hair growth. Zinc and iron deficiencies are common in people with hair loss, and our bodies need magnesium to help create proteins and prevent calcium from building up… which can help prevent hair loss.
It is important to take all things in moderation. Be sure not to overindulge on chocolate as the increased sugar consumption can cause insulin spikes and actually increase sebum production, which will make it difficult for the zinc to have any effect. This can actually result in a dry and flaky scalp.
What Does Chocolate Do To Your Hair?
The zinc found in chocolate can help reduce the amount of skin oil (sebum) by normalizing the body’s production of oil. Excessive oil production can lead to dandruff, so chocolate has the potential to help with a dry itchy scalp.
What Chocolate is Best for Hair Growth?
Darker chocolates (those with a higher percentage of cacao in them) are generally better for you because they contain less milk and sugar. They also contain more of the nutrients from the cacao.
Dark chocolates (those with greater than 70% cacao) have more flavanol content. One of the benefits of dark chocolate is that flavanols are antioxidants that have been linked to a reduced risk of heart disease. Whereas milk chocolate has more added sugar and milk that dilutes the cocoa bean.
RHRLI Has Proven Hair Restoration Treatments
When diet and lifestyle changes aren’t enough to stop your hair loss, RHRLI provides a variety of proven treatment options to address many different types of alopecia. Advancements in the treatment of hair loss – such as the FDA-approved ARTAS® Robotic Hair Transplant System – can help you get confidence-boosting, natural-looking results. To schedule a free consultation and scalp assessment, contact us today to get started.