​

If you're one of the roughly 320 million people in America that suffer from thinning or balding, please keep reading. When trying to grow your hair it's very important to be aware of what foods might be hindering that growth.

Sugar - We all love those sugary foods and drinks, but know it's not good for us. Experts founds that high sugar diets can promote inflammation in the body and spikes in insulin levels. When sugar is consumed it floods the blood and causes those insulin spikes. These spikes constrict the hair follicles and cause the hair to shed.

Acidic Foods - Is that extra cup of Joe in the morning worth it? Excessive acidity from foods like coffee, citrus fruits and vegetables can cause distress to the body disrupting the natural hair growth cycle. Foods with a pH level of 0 should be avoided. Also avoid foods such as sodas, processed meats and high protein foods or supplements as those are very acidic.

Dairy Products - Milk doesn't really do a body good. Most dairy products are not only pasteurized, but also highly acid. Dairy also clogs your pores causing skin to become pasty looking. When the scalp pores become clogged the hair follicle will become dormant and hair stop growing.

Fried and Greasy Foods - Just the smell of fried foods in a store or restaurant can make a mouth water, but buyer beware. Foods fried in hydrogenated oils like french fries, fried chicken or fish and donuts may also trigger hair loss. High fat diets can cause the body to create higher levels of testosterone. Higher levels of testosterone cause hair loss and other unwanted side effects to your body.

Fish with Mercury - Consuming fish is part of a healthy diet, but understand not all fish are created equal. King Mackerel, Albacore Tuna and Swordfish contain higher levels of Mercury. The mercury in these kinds of fish convert to methyl-mercury which is toxic to our bodies and one of the many side effects is hair loss.

Aspartame - This artificial sweetener is linked many issues including hair loss. According to the FDA this artificial sweetener can cause hair loss and thinning, so try to avoid foods that contain aspartame such as diet sodas, sugar free foods, gums and candies.

Too Many Vitamins- Could all that spinach be why Popeye's bald? Unfortunately ingesting to much Vitamin A can have opposite effects on your hair. When too much Vitamin A is consumed it cause the hair follicles to go into overdrive and it speeds up the hair growth cycle. Once the natural growth phase is finished the hair will fall out and the follicle naturally goes dormant for a period of time.

While we understand it may not be possible to eliminate all these foods from your diet consider consuming them in smaller quantities or finding healthier alternatives that may help stop hair from falling out and encourage growth.