Is Diet Soda Making Your Hair Fall Out?

Introduction

I first wrote about this topic in 2000 and then in 2005.

At the time, diet soda and related soft drinks were generating lots of buzz and debate over whether or not they will make you fat.

Since that first article, I have continued to follow this issue. As of 2021, I still believe it is related to hair loss. 

Please remember that you first saw this topic on Hairboutique.com.

Scientists at Purdue University in Indiana discovered that rats who were fed a diet consisting of artificially sweetened liquids ate more than rats fed a diet of natural high-calorie sweeteners.

A Huge Scientific Debate

This news caused a huge scientific debate that still continues to rage.

Whether diet soft drinks cause weight gain or not, the reasons why it might are also a big question.

Is it because people who drink reduced-calorie soft drinks are still sneaking Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, or is it because diet drinks somehow alter the body's chemical composition?

Or maybe other reasons are still being studied.

Some researchers, as reported by Dr. Mercola.com, concluded that artificial sweeteners caused an inability to distinguish calorie intake, which would explain weight gain issues.

While the scientists ponder those fat questions about diet soda, I will pose an even more critical question.

Can drinking diet soft drinks cause your hair to fall out?

No, I don't have a lab full of scientists who can validate or debunk my theory about diet pop-related strand shedding.

However, I can share what I have learned about hair over the past fifteen years.

Hair Loss Linked To Certain Drinks?

One well-known cause of hair loss for men, women, and children appears directly linked to the foods and liquids consumed.

Even more importantly, hair loss studies done over the years have shown links to accelerated strand shedding for people with diets that include a high concentration of caffeine, alcohol, and sugar.

Another key suspect in hair loss is extended consumption of food and drink laced with artificial sweeteners.

Diet Beverages Have Artificial Sweeteners, Which Trigger Hair Shedding

How could diet drinks or foods sweetened with artificial sweeteners impact the number of hairs in your brush daily?

To simplify a complicated explanation of how the human body processes food, it suffices to say that ingested artificial sweeteners must eventually be filtered through the liver.

The liver is the main organ that detoxifies the human body.

Everything taken into the body impacts the liver, which controls the filtering out of toxins. This includes diet drinks.

Artificial sweeteners added to food or drink have been known to cause various physical reactions.

Diet soft drinks may also potentially change the body's cell structure, metabolic rate, and circulatory rate. If and when this happens, hair shedding may be triggered, or if it is already an issue, it may accelerate.

Liver malfunction from the highly toxic filtering of the artificial sweetener particles has been linked to hair loss.

Whether diet cola has a direct bearing or not is still up for debate.

Aspartame, Splenda, Sucralose, Saccharine & Other Sweeteners

Diet beverages are often chock full of artificial sweeteners such as aspartame, Splenda, sucralose (sucralose is made when chlorine is added to sugar), and saccharine. 

These have been believed to attack the body at the cellular levels, clog the liver, and even block some kinds of medications such as antidepressants, hormones, insulin, vaccines, Coumadin, and various other drugs.

Aspartame is a dipeptide composed of phenylalanine and aspartic acid linked by a methyl ester bond.

According to aspartame supporters, the methyl ester bond is not absorbed.

It is completely hydrolyzed in the intestines to yield the two constituent amino acids and free methanol.

Opponents suggest that the phenylalanine and methanol so released are still dangerous.

They believe that the ongoing consumption of artificially sweetened drinks may cause metabolic acidosis and neurotoxicity.

It should also be noted that supporters of natural pesticide methods know that aspartame can be used as an effective insect poison and is very successful in dealing with unwanted ants.

It's also documented that people with an uncommon genetic disorder called phenylketonuria should never consume aspartame sweeteners. Long-term studies show that people with this condition can't metabolize one of aspartame's ingredients.

Artificial Sweeteners - Real Or Fake Danger

Depending on what you read, on or off the Internet, the health and hair loss concerns linked to artificial sweeteners may be real or not.

A group of concerned holistic physicians and practitioners has been working hard to inform the public about the dangers of artificial sweeteners, including their impact on hair loss and other health dangers.  

Meanwhile, the industry behind the production of these products cries foul.

The bottom line should always be to do your own research, both offline and on the Web, and make your own decisions based on what is happening to your hair, skin, and body.

Do You Suffer From A Diet High In Artificially Sweetened Products?

Regardless of what the "experts" say, if you eat a diet high in artificially sweetened products and have been troubled by excessive hair shedding, skin breakouts, or other mysterious health challenges, consider doing your own nutritional testing.

Start carefully reading all the labels on anything you consume and make a conscious effort to stop eating or drinking anything with artificial sweeteners for at least a period of one month. Pay close attention to the effect on your body, hair, and skin.

Based on the results, make your own decisions about whether artificial sweeteners impact your hair.

What To Drink Instead

Hair responds well to increased circulation and energy levels in the body.

Boost your energy naturally, and you can boost hair follicle production and stop unnecessary shedding.

If poor liver function is often the cause of falling hair, eat and drink foods that support the liver and counterbalance the absorption of diet drinks or other foods that may be causing challenges.

Below are some drinks that are good for your body, liver, and kidneys.

If you buy the drinks from a store or vendor, be sure to read the label and ensure they are free of artificial ingredients or sugars.

1. Water—Water is essential for preventing dehydration, which is a factor in accelerated shedding. Studies are finding that filtered water may even be better.

When possible, select water sources known to be free of excessive chemicals.

Evian and Fiji water have consistently been given the green light as good water sources.

2. Green Tea—Research shows that green tea boosts the rate at which your body burns calories when digesting food. Consider sipping six to eight ounces of green tea with breakfast and as an afternoon boost.

3. Fresh Lemon in Hot Water—When you get up, squeeze one half of an organic (when possible) lemon into 8 ounces of hot water.

Let the lemon drink cool enough to drink comfortably. Be sure to drink with a straw to protect delicate tooth enamel.

When you drink this hot lemon drink first thing in the morning, it will help detox your liver.

4. Limes—When you get up, squeeze half an organic (when possible) green lime into 8 ounces of hot water.

Let the lime drink cool enough to drink comfortably.

Be sure to drink with a straw to protect tooth enamel. Drinking this first thing in the morning will help cleanse and detox your kidneys.

5. Herbal Teas—Drink organic horsetail for strength and nettles for softness and shine. When possible, purchase teas at a reputable health food store, and always read the labels.

6. Rosemary Tea—Steeping rosemary in hot water allows for maximum absorption by the body. Rosemary supports the maintenance and growth of healthy hair and skin.

7. Whole Vegetable Juices—Fresh organic vegetables, including freshly juiced organic carrot and green juices, offer great nutritional support for hair, skin, and body.

8. Fresh Organic Apple Juice—Apple juice is an excellent way to provide essential nutritional fluids to the body.

Research has shown that apples are a rich source of antioxidants, which are essential for healthy hair and skin.

Cornell University Research

Cornell University researchers reported in Nature in 2000 that one apple packs more cancer-fighting antioxidant capability than a 1,500-milligram dose of vitamin C.

Do Your Own Research

Does drinking diet colas and artificially sweetened drinks cause your hair to fall out?

The experts are divided on the answer. 

Various studies suggest that the regular consumption of diet drinks disrupts the human body's natural metabolic processes.

A Taxed Liver Can Trigger Hair Shedding

It's also well-known that the liver, when taxed with processing toxins, can trigger or accelerate hair shedding.

Whether you suspect that your consumption of diet drinks is causing hair shedding or not, don't take what I say as the final word.

Always take the time to do your research. This will help you form an informed opinion about your body, health, and hair.

To discuss hair loss or other hair-related information, be sure to visit the HairBoutique.com Hair Talk Forums, which are dedicated to hair loss.

- Revised Publication Dates: 11/30/2021, 3/08/2025

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