Can Black Sesame Seeds Really Turn Back Time on Gray Hair?
Black sesame seeds are having a moment. From TikTok trends featuring gluttonous pastes added to lattes and baked goods to simply consuming them raw, these tiny seeds are being hailed as a new superfood. The buzz centers around potential health benefits rooted in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), with a particular focus on reversing or preventing gray hair. But is there any truth to the claims?
The TikTok Trend and Traditional Roots
The recent surge in popularity is largely thanks to social media platforms like TikTok. Influencers like Yuri Lee have shared their experiences, attributing healthier hair and glowing skin to regular black sesame paste consumption. Lee posted a TikTok stating she started using black sesame paste after noticing a few grey hairs as seen in a video with over 700K views. Author Radhi Devlukia also promotes the seeds, suggesting a tablespoon of black sesame paste can combat hair loss and graying as reported by Dr. Felice Chan on TikTok.
This practice isn’t new, however. It’s deeply embedded in Traditional Chinese Medicine. TCM practitioner Sara Jane Ho explains that, from a TCM perspective, gray hair is often linked to weakened kidneys. “The kidney naturally declines as we age…Traditional Chinese Medicine is about slowing that aging process and that’s why we witness food as medicine,” she says according to a TikTok video. Black sesame is believed to nourish the kidneys and enrich the blood, supporting a healthy scalp and melanin production.
What Makes Black Sesame Seeds Special?
Black sesame seeds are packed with nutrients, including calcium, protein, phosphorus, iron, and magnesium as explained by Sara Jane Ho. These minerals are essential for overall health and may contribute to hair health. They are also a natural source of copper, which is known to play a role in melanin production – the pigment responsible for hair color.
What Does Modern Science Say?
Although black sesame seeds offer nutritional benefits, dermatologists offer a more cautious perspective. Dr. Aamna Adel, a hair expert, emphasizes that gray hair is a natural part of aging, often accelerated by stress, smoking, and a poor diet. She explains that graying occurs when pigment-producing cells in hair follicles slow down or stop producing melanin. “Once that process occurs we don’t have topical ingredients proven to permanently reverse it.”
Dr. Adel confirms that the nutrients in black sesame paste, such as zinc, copper, and antioxidants, can support melanin production, but won’t magically reverse existing gray hair. However, she acknowledges that black sesame seeds may help stave off the onset of gray hair and improve hair shine, softness, and reduce breakage.
The Verdict
While black sesame seeds aren’t a fountain of youth for reversing gray hair, they offer a nutritious addition to a healthy diet that may support overall hair health and potentially delay the onset of graying. Adding black sesame seeds to your grocery list is a simple step towards holistic wellness.
Exploring Black Sesame on TikTok
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