Pumpkin and Pumpkin Seeds: Good for Your Hair Part 1

The best part of fall? Pumpkins! There are a few foods that are especially good for hair growth. and Pumpkin (flesh) and seeds fall in this category. Let's tap into the the amazing benefits of pumpkin seeds for your skin, hair, and overall health.

Pumpkin is really just a cultivar of the squash family. In North America, we call it pumpkin, but in other parts of the world, pumpkin is known as winter squash. Native to North America, pumpkins can be easily grown in your home garden. However, canned pumpkin is readily available all year round.

Pumpkins are particularly good for your hair because the flesh is extremely high in several nutrients that we know are important for hair growth. One cup of cooked pumpkin, for example, has more than 200% of the recommended daily allowance (RDA) of vitamin A.

That same serving of pumpkin contains quite a bit of vitamin C (about 20% of your RDA), niacin, zinc, iron, basically, many of the vitamins that we have already said are important for your hair.

In addition, cucurbitacin, a biochemical compound in pumpkins, has been shown to promote hair cell growth.

Pumpkin seeds are also good for hair growth, but for different reasons aside from general nutrition. The pumpkin seed contains two compounds that can help prevent hair loss: delta-7-sterine and several phytosterols including beta-sitosterol.

Dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a derivative of testosterone, plays a major role in hair loss. In simple terms, DHT interferes with a hair follicle’s normal function and growth. Delta-7-sterine, present in pumpkin seeds, helps to bind to the hair follicle’s receptors and block DHT. Beta-sitosterol helps to block DHT in another way: it helps to prevent testosterone from converting to the hair-harmful DHT, so there’s less DHT to bother the hair follicles.

Click here for part 2 on how to incorporate Pumpkin into your diet regularly.

If you suffer from hair loss, rest assured you are not alone. Millions of men and women battle hair loss worldwide. At Capillus, we are here to help patients find a physician and a hair loss treatment that works for them. To find a licensed hair loss expert near you, visit our Capillus physician finder online. Readers are also invited to browse our collection of clinical strength hair care products. For product inquiries and order assistance, please call customer service at 1-844-280-4680.