Pumpkin Seeds for Hair Loss and Prostate Problems in Men


Benign prostatic hyperplasia pepitasPumpkin seeds have beneficial properties for hair loss prevention, hair growth and protecting men against prostate problems.

Here’s why eating raw pumpkin seeds is so good for both keeping your hair and improving your prostate health if you are a man.

BHP, DHT and Pumpkin Seeds 

Benign prostatic hyperplasia, commonly called BPH, is a painful male condition that leads to constriction of the urethra and difficulty urinating.

It is quite common in older men but there are several nutrients in pumpkin seeds that can help by reducing DHT, the primary cause of BHP.

Delta-7-Sterine

The first of these is a mild steroidal compound called delta-7-sterine. Research has found delta-7-sterine directly competes with the much more potent di-hydro-testosterone at the receptor sites in the prostate.

DHT is strongly implicated in prostate cell proliferation, but when delta-7-sterine is present in the diet in large enough amounts, it minimizes the harmful effects of this hormone on the prostate.

Beta-Sitosterol

Pumpkin seeds contain high levels of phytosterols, including the much studied beta-sitosterol. Beta-sitosterol has been shown to block the conversion of testosterone to DHT by inhibiting the enzyme 5-alpha-reductase.

This can have many positive effects, like a reduction in hair loss. Specifically for prostate problems, the less excess DHT in the body to act upon the prostate the better.

In a double-blind placebo-controlled study of treating benign prostatic hyperplasia with phytosterols, BPH symptoms were shown to be ‘significantly improved in the treatment group’ with no side effects noted.

Zinc

The high zinc content in pumpkin seeds is another reason why they are considered so good for guarding against prostate problems.

Zinc is important for proper hormone production, including testosterone. It also has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties and naturally enhances immune response. All of these actions are beneficial for a man suffering from an enlarged prostate. Pepitas benefits

Zinc is also needed for healthy hair and a deficiency in this mineral is often associated with hair loss as it directly affects the proper functioning of your hair follicles.

Raw and organic pumpkin seeds taste great and are an excellent source of zinc, delta-7-sterine and beta-sitosterol.

Other Nutrition for a Healthy Prostate in Pumpkin Seeds

Pumpkin seeds also contain other protective factors to help prevent or treat prostate problems, such as good levels of antioxidant carotenoids like beta-carotene, magnesium and essential fatty acids.

The incidence of male prostate problems has been found to be considerably lower in countries where pumpkin seeds are regularly consumed, like Austria and Hungary.

This is hardly surprising with all of the different nutrients in pumpkin seeds. Eating them regularly may help moderate hormone levels, reduce an enlarged prostate, and relieve the symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia.

Pumpkin Seeds and Hair Loss

Excessive DHT levels can cause many problems for men, particularly later in life. The same hormone responsible for enlarging the prostate and causing benign prostatic hyperplasia, also contributes to hair loss and eventually male pattern baldness.

It causes hair loss in men by shortening the anagen (growth) phase of the hair follicle. This can lead to progressively finer and weaker hairs that, over time, simply stop growing.

However, the beta-sitosterol in pumpkin seeds has been shown to act as an inhibitor of the enzyme 5-alpha-reductase. It’s this enzyme that converts testosterone to hair damaging DHT.

Black currant oil is another natural remedy and well worth investigating if you are looking for a natural treatment for hair loss.

For some serious follicle nutrition, that promotes hair growth and combats hair loss and grey hairs, try this new healthy hair smoothie recipe.

Moderating Testosterone Conversion with Pumpkin Seeds

While we are supposed to have some DHT, most men would feel a lot better, and have fewer hair loss and prostate problems, if there were less testosterone conversion happening within their bodies.

Snacking on a handful of raw pumpkin seeds regularly may help minimize hair loss and promote healthy hair growth.

Delta-7-sterine also reduces the damaging effects of excessive DHT by competing with it at hair follicle receptor sites. Many men in online forums have reported a reduction in hair loss when they make pumpkin seeds a regular addition to their diets.

In fact, some people go so far as to apply pumpkin seed oil directly to their scalp before bed. The idea is to allow the delta-7-sterine, beta-sitosterol, essential fatty acids and other beneficial nutrients to act directly on the hair follicles overnight.

With pumpkin seed oil a deep green color, I’ll personally stick with snacking on the seeds. Alternatively, you can enjoy rich tasting pumpkin seed oil by the spoonful or mixed into food as a concentrated way to maintain healthy hair.

Pumpkin Seeds Hair Growth Benefits in Summary

  • Pumpkin seeds contain beta-sitosterol which inhibits the 5-alpha-reductase enzyme that converts testosterone to DHT. Excessive levels cause hair loss and male pattern baldness by attaching to hair follicles and reducing their growth phase.
  • The delta-7-sterine compound found in pumpkin seeds also competes with this hormone at receptor sites in the body. This action makes for a second way that pumpkin seeds are a DHT blocker.
  • Pumpkin seeds also promote hair growth with their high levels of zinc, magnesium, essential fatty acids, antioxidants and other nutrients.

While pumpkin seeds are especially beneficial for men concerned about hair loss, maintaining a healthy prostate and avoiding BHP, they are also a healthy superfood for women with their high levels of nutrition.

I’ve also written about a more unusual benefit of these tasty green seeds – using pumpkin seeds for parasites next.


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Click Here to Leave a Comment Below 25 comments
carl young

Me a man who love pumpkin

Reply
peter

quite educative article and site

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shaun russell

If the 200g recipe of pumpkin seeds and yogurt are to much too eat can you reduce the recipe by half and will it have the same effect on removing the parasites

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Jim Dillan

Hi Shaun,

This should be ok, though you actually want it to be very filling for this purpose.

All the best,

James

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Lofty

Is it good option to mix saw palmetto oil with pumpkin seed oil and apply to scalp ? How can I get better results ? I directly want to apply oil to scalp avoiding taking any tablets as I m afraid of side effects.

Reply
Jim Dillan

Hi there,

In theory this should work well. Some companies make topical formulations with the two so it would be good to try if you have both.

Hope this helps,

Jim

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Marco

Pumpkin seeds are really awesome. I have baldness and i have used finasterida for a year. Now i realize that my baldness is a hair stylist and i love it.

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Pradeep

Hi Marco,
Do you really hair regrowth in Bald head ?

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Pedro

I already love pumpkin. Now, knowing that its seeds minimize the harmful effects of DHT I’ll consider starting eating in order to see the effects in my hair. ;-)
Nice article. Thanks.

Reply
Jim Dillan

Thanks for your positive comments Pedro.

There’s more on how good pumpkin seeds are for you here https://superfoodprofiles.com/raw-pumpkin-seeds-nutrition

All the best,

Jim

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Faby Gon

Excellent article,love pumpkin,Everything here is just top notch,The information is absolutely amazing.

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Jim Dillan

Thanks for your positive comments Faby.

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Dominic Francis

Hello,

Loved your article, and it has reinvigorated my confidence in pumpkin seeds’ ability to help with my hair loss problems.

Anyway, I just wanted to know do these pumpkin seeds eliminate DHT from the body completely or keep DHT presence in the body in the right proportions. Moreover, I have oily skin, a lot of body hair and the pores on my skin won’t just go away. Can reducing DHT help address my oily skin and body hair issues? By the way, I don’t want to lose my facial hair.

Would be great if you address all my worries. Thank you!!

Reply
Jim Dillan

Hi Dominic,

The two main mechanisms are blocking the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone with Beta-Sitosterol and competing at the receptor site with Delta-7-Sterine.

I’d think you’d need to eat excessive amounts of pumpkin seeds to lower dihydrotestosterone too low but making them a regular part of your diet can hopefully bring it more into a healthy balance.

All the best,

Jim

Reply
bob

Exactly how many pumpkin seeds should you take to stop hair loss? How many is a handful? Also, does roasting pumpkin seed reduce their effectiveness?

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Pete

How many pumpkin seeds should you be adding to your diet?

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Jim Dillan

Hi Pete,

Pumpkin seeds are quite filling. I’d say a couple of heaped tablespoons worth a day would be a good starting amount. They’re a much healthier snack food that most other options.

All the best,

Jim

Reply
Jim Dillan

Hi Bob,

I’d say a couple of heaped tablespoons worth a day would be a good starting amount.

Roasting can damage their fatty acids so isn’t as beneficial from a health perspective.

All the best,

Jim

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Ammar

Hey, I’m 22 and my hair has fallen out a lot. I noticed every time I stop masturbating hair loss stops and when I masturbate it gets worst. Can pumkin seeds help me get my hair back?

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Jim Dillan

Hi Ammar,

This is usually associated with excessive DHT which, as described in the article, pumpkin seeds or oil can help counteract. 22 is quite young to be having hair loss so it would be worth visiting a healthcare professional about this.

All the best,

Jim

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mani

I am 22 almost 60% of hair fallen is there is chance to regrowth of hair if I eat pumpkin seeds

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Jim Dillan

Hi Mani,

If the hair loss is caused by a deficiency that pumpkin seeds can address it should help in the longer term to at least reduce the rate of further hair fall. There are many possible causes of hair loss though and seeing a specialist for a diagnosis would help pinpoint the cause for you personally.

All the best,

Jim

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Blu

Do you know if pumpkin seed oil supplements can help heal scarring alopecia?

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Jim Dillan

Hi Blu.

I would think pumpkin seed oil would be more for alopecia due to excess DHT at the hair follicle.

Possibly rosemary oil in a carrier oil might be helpful and worth trying for preventing scarring alopecia.

All the best,

Jim

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Benjamin W, Bryant

I have hair loss in spots and I’m trying to get the spots taken care of is that patches some in the on the side some in the top some in the back and I’m just trying to see if the pumpkin seed oil which I never knew you had with assist me I would be too glad to purchase it and that’s what I was trying to get the pumpkin seed oil I think you so much God bless you

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