There are many remedies for hair loss, both proprietary and natural. Everyone sheds hair as a natural process of renewal, and it's not uncommon to lose up to 100 hairs a day. More than this is termed hair loss, which can be a very distressing condition for both men and women.
Tomatoes probably don't figure on your list of things most likely to combat hair loss, but you may be surprised to learn that eating more tomatoes may indeed help to reduce or even reverse hair loss.
Male pattern baldness and benign prostate hypertrophy (BPH, or enlarged prostate in layman's terms) are both caused by a chemical called dihydrotestosterone (DHT). A naturally occurring body enzyme called 5 alpha-reductase converts testosterone into DHT, so reducing this enzyme in the body reduces the risk of prostate problems and male pattern baldness.
Lycopene, which is found in tomatoes, is also found in plasma and in the prostate gland. As already mentioned, male pattern baldness and prostate problems are caused by the same chemical. Lycopene contains powerful antioxidants which zap threats to the health of the prostate by inhibiting the enzyme that converts testosterone to DHT. This reaction is more effective when the lycopene comes from cooked tomato products such as tomato sauce.
Tomatoes are not sexist in their ability to combat hair loss, though - they can also help with female hair loss. Biotin, or vitamin B7, is known to prevent hair loss and also ensure that existing hair remains strong and healthy. Tomatoes are a good source of biotin, so men and women can benefit from the hair restoring properties of biotin.
Biotin is also good for skin health, so it promotes a healthy scalp, which is needed for healthy hair. The biotin content of tomatoes helps combat hair loss by nourishing the scalp and the hair, while preventing further hair loss.
Vitamin A is also important to hair health. Deficiency can lead to problems such as dandruff and hair loss. Red and orange fruits and vegetables are good sources of vitamin A, and tomatoes fall into this category. The hair also needs regular supplies of vitamin C to prevent splitting and breaking, and again, tomatoes fit the bill. Vitamin C also helps improve blood circulation in the scalp, which is essential for strong, healthy hair.
So there you have it - tomatoes are one of the best foods to combat hair loss and promote strong, healthy hair. Shouldn't you be eating more tomatoes?