by Barry Girolamo

Created on: September 25, 2010

Tomatoes are a very healthful fruit (although many think they are a vegetable) and contain nutrients which are helpful in maintaining the growth of hair. It is possible that if your diet is deficient in some of the nutrients which are found in tomatoes, and if you are not a big fruit and vegetable eater, than eating tomatoes can have a very positive effect upon your hair. Pattern baldness (androgenic alopecia) has been traced to the over-production of the chemical DHT (dihydrotestosterone), and this chemical has also been found to cause prostate cancer as well, so tomatoes can help to alleviate two male problems by helping to eliminate an excess of DHT. In addition, tomatoes can also aid women who may be suffering from excessive hair loss as well, as they contain biotin (vitamin B7), a nutrient which has also been shown to cause hair loss when deficient in the diet.

An enzyme which occurs naturally in the body, called 5 alpha-reductase, converts testosterone (a steroid hormone found in both men and women) into DHT. Being that an overproduction of DHT has been shown to cause hair loss, the key to reducing DHT is to reduce 5 alpha-reductase (and this will also help to prevent prostate cancer in men). Tomatoes are high in lycopene, which is a caratinoid found in red fruits such as tomatoes and watermelon. Lycopene has very potent antioxidants which will inhibit the conversion of testosterone to DHT, thereby aiding in the fight to stop or slow down excessive hair loss. The lycopene in tomatoes seem to be more effective in stopping the production of DHT when they are cooked, as the lycopene is more efficiently released and digested.

The biotin found in tomatoes also helps to promote a healthy skin, which has a positive effect on the scalp, helping to aid in the maintenance of a healthy head of hair and in reducing hair loss. Another nutrient found in tomatoes that will help hair growth is vitamin A, which can also be found in red and orange fruits. Another vitamin found in tomatoes which the body needs to promote hair growth is vitamin C, and is very effective in circulation to the scalp and will help in maintaining hair that is healthy and strong.

Eating a balanced diet, one which contains many fruits and vegetables of different colors, is very important in maintaining a healthy body, and will also help you to hold onto your hair.

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