Food to beat baldness

Steak
Oh yes, man's best friend (or something like that) gets a big tick on this list. Protein is essential for hair growth as hair is mainly made up of protein. How awesome is that? So tuck into steak, chicken, fish and legumes with relish - another great excuse to get out the barbie and get cooking.

Iron
Iron deficiency anaemia is another cause of hair loss; the solution is to eat plenty of iron-rich foods. Spinach is a great accompaniment to steak - particularly when made rich and luxurious with cream and parmesan. Dates and raisins are also high in iron and easy to add to salads like couscous - serve an Arabian style version with toasted flaked almonds and top with fried iron-packed livers and loads of fresh coriander.

Omega-3
Speculation of late has led to an industry-wide suspicion that omega-3 fatty acids (as well as omega-6) help hair growth as well as health and sheen. In the Western diet we generally do take in lower doses of omega-3 so it's no bad thing to be upping your intake. Sardines are incredibly cheap, very high in omega-3 and perfect barbecue fodder. All they need is a quick grilling on each side and serving with some good crusty white bread and butter and a squeeze of lemon juice.


Vitamin E
Scalp massages have long been used to stimulate hair growth; vitamin E essentially massages the scalp all the time so up your intake by tucking into nuts and seeds. Almonds are a great start and form the base of a perfect summer soup - ajo blanco.


Sulphur
Your hair, along with your skin and nails, has a very high concentration of sulphur and thus eating sulphur-rich foods is essential for hair health and growth. Broccoli and onions are both high in sulphur and make great partners in a quick, healthy stir-fry - fry garlic and chilli in oil until going golden. Remove them, reserving the oil. Add the onion and broccoli and cook for a few minutes


Biotin
Biotin is one of the B-vitamin group and helps strengthen hair as well as increasing its elasticity. B3 helps with circulation (essential for healthy hair) while B6 can help prevent the onset of grey hairs. B9, folic acid, helps with hair growth. Eggs are your easy source of B-vits - although you will probably need to top your diet up with a supplement


SOURCE: William Leigh, MSN Him