When it comes to DHT blockers, you immediately think about products like DHT blocking shampoos and vitamins.
What if we told you there was a more affordable and organic way to block DHT?
Some natural foods can inhibit DHT naturally. Here are some natural DHT blocker foods you can eat every day to help stop hair loss.
But first, let’s get to the basics.
Table of Contents
What is DHT?
DHT aka Dihydrotestosterone is an androgen. Androgens contribute to the development of what is considered ‘male’ sex characteristics, including body hair. But they’re also known for triggering hair loss.
It’s not just DHT that can cause bald spots or receding hairlines. Also, it contributes to hair loss in areas not exposed to the sun.
The potentially harmful effects of DHT extend far beyond hair. Sexual development depends on normal DHT levels; however, studies have linked excessive DHT levels to:
- Skin takes longer to heal after an injury
- Prostate enlargement
- Prostate cancer
- Heart disease
So how to remove DHT from the scalp or what to do for reducing dihydrotestosterone naturally?
Can you reduce levels of DHT naturally?
You may be able to get DHT blocking qualities through supplements, but it is worthwhile to try natural methods first.
Maintaining a healthy lifestyle can naturally reduce DHT levels. Exercising regularly, quitting smoking, reducing stress, taking time to relax, and doing stress-relieving scalp massages may help alleviate tension and improve blood flow.
Eating your way to reduce DHT is affordable and won’t interfere with any other medications you may be taking.
Natural treatments won’t work as fast as the others, but if you’re patient enough, you’ll be able to see the results more easily. You can also include these into your daily diet, and your natural DHT blocker foods will also provide you with extra nutrients.
The Best DHT Blocker Foods That Can Restore Hair Growth
Take a closer look at this list of DHT blocker foods to see what the best one is for you.
#1 Turmeric
Turmeric is a natural remedy for hair loss, as well as many health benefits. Ayurvedic medicine uses the root as a medicine and a spice in cooking.
Curcumin is a powerful anti-DHT compound found in turmeric. According to studies, with its antioxidant properties, curcumin inhibits prostate tumor growth and protects the DHT hormone from breaking down.
Make scrambles and frittatas with turmeric. Put a pinch of turmeric in scrambled eggs, frittatas, tofu scrambles, toss it with roasted vegetables, mix it into rice, and try it with greens. Make turmeric tea, stir it into soups, or blend it into smoothies.
#2 Pumpkin seeds
Among the best foods in the world for lowering testosterone levels are pumpkin seeds.
Pumpkin seeds contain hundreds of nutrients such as iron, zinc, magnesium, and antioxidants.
Pumpkin seeds contain delta-7-sterine, which binds to hair follicle receptors and blocks DHT. Another way beta-sitosterol reduces hair loss is by preventing testosterone from transforming into the hair-harming DHT, which results in less DHT irritating the hair follicles.
By supporting hair follicles, the seeds also help with male pattern hair loss. Your hair follicles will be less likely to lose hair if they are healthy and strong.
Incorporate pumpkin seeds into veggie salads, fruit mixes, pasta, pesto, cookies, soups, sauces, bread or blend them into smoothies.
#3 Onions
Onions increase levels of quercetin, a hormone that blocks DHT. This effect is more powerful than common treatments such as finasteride and minoxidil.
Compared to pumpkin seeds, onions contain 2-3 times more quercetin.
The combination of quercetin with a prescribed medication to treat hair loss significantly lowered DHT production in rats.
Because of these properties, onions can reduce the chances of both male and female pattern baldness and unwanted hair growth.
Raw chopped onion is a good sandwich filler or salad topping. It also goes well with salsas, soups, and dips.
#4 Edamame, Soybeans and Soy protein
Food stores usually stock edamame beans, a popular ingredient in Japanese dishes such as edamame salad. These young soybeans are usually eaten on their own as snacks.
In edamame, isoflavones block the action of 5-alpha reductase, which converts testosterone to DHT.
You can steam or boil Edamame, prepare it into fried rice, make a soup, or serve it alongside seasonal vegetables with pasta.
#5 Coconut oil
Regularly consuming coconut oil can help you maintain healthy hair growth, which will result in thicker and stronger hair.
Coconut oil is also known to help people lose weight, but some may have also noticed that it has also helped boost hair growth while using it.
Coconut oil contains a large amount of medium-chain triglyceride fats (MCTs). Lauric acid makes up the majority of these fats, making it a powerful natural DHT blocker food. Preclinical studies show that lauric acid inhibits testosterone conversion into DHT.
Coconut oil is excellent when frying or sautéing vegetables, meats, eggs, or fish. Use it as a salad dressing or in sauces. Drizzle coconut oil and spices on poultry or meat before roasting.
#6 Tomato
Tomatoes have phytochemicals (plant-based compounds) like lycopene that can inhibit DHT-induced growth, if not lower DHT completely.
Lycopene penetrates the skin, and when we consume tomatoes, it blocks the uptake of DHT through the bloodstream and into the skin.
Antioxidants in tomatoes protect hair follicles from damage caused by cells. Beta-carotene assists in growing hair by supplying nutrients to the scalp. Further studies are needed to determine if tomatoes and other lycopene-rich foods are effective in blocking DHT or reversing hair loss.
You can easily include tomatoes in your diet by adding them to salads, sauces, and pastes.
#7 Caffeine
Many studies show that caffeine-based treatments can slow hair loss. The theory is that caffeine reverses DHT’s effects by blocking its effects. In a recent study, caffeine was used both alone and in combination with other ingredients to treat androgenetic alopecia (male pattern baldness).
In a lab study from 2007, caffeine was found to inhibit the effects of DHT on male hair follicles. It even made hair roots longer and wider. Anagen, the stage of hair growth, was also prolonged. Due to its DHT blocking abilities, coffee is one of the most effective DHT blocker foods.
Hot or iced tea or coffee are two popular ways to consume caffeine. You can also find it in chocolates, energy drinks, and supplements.
#8 Carrots
Vitamins A, B6, C, and E are abundant in carrots. Like tomatoes, they also contain lycopene, a chemical that inhibits DHT naturally by suppressing 5 alpha-reductase, the enzyme responsible for its production.
Start by eating one to two carrots each day or drinking carrot juice or smoothie daily to add longevity, beauty, and health to your hair. Shredded carrots are perfect for coleslaws, salads, and baked goodies.
#9 Watermelon
Most of us believe that fruits are the only natural DHT blockers.
Fortunately, it’s not only fruits that can help you regrow hair, but even so, watermelons have a lot of powerful nutrients, such as lycopene, that will effectively limit DHT levels. Lycopene has been proven to block DHT in natural ways.
The antioxidant nutrient lycopene has been found to prevent DHT from working, and for this reason, eating a lot of foods rich in this antioxidant nutrient, including watermelons, can help slow down hair loss by enhancing estrogen production.
Slice up some watermelon or make yourself a refreshing smoothie. Try adding black pepper, pink salt, or lime to watermelon, or serve it as part of a sweet fruit salad.
#10 Flaxseeds
Flaxseeds are a smart addition to your diet. A potent antiandrogen, it inhibits DHT.
Researchers have found that lignan in flaxseed may be beneficial for reducing androgen levels in men with prostate cancer.
The alpha-linolenic acid in flaxseeds inhibits 5-alpha reductase. Additionally, flaxseed’s omega-3 fatty acids can help the body handle stress, a leading cause of telogen effluvium, aka stress-induced hair loss.
You can add ground flaxseed to your breakfast cereals, mayonnaise, or mustard when making a sandwich. Make baked goods with ground flaxseed – cookies, muffins, and bread.
#11 Kale
As our next natural DHT blocker food, kale is a great choice. This zinc-rich vegetable contains phytosterol, which blocks off DHT. Isothiocyanates, another component of this natural DHT blocker food, can also help detoxify the body’s excess hormones.
If you eat kale raw, you’ll get all the vitamins, minerals, and fiber you need. Try to consume 2 to 3 cups of kale per day if you want to see good results. Chop it and toss it into a salad or a green smoothie, sauté it, substitute it for spinach, crisp it up, or put it on a pizza or soup.
#12 Asparagus
Asparagus is a food that contains a natural DHT blocker at its highest level.
Besides onions, asparagus is another DHT blocking food with high quercetin levels.
Research has also demonstrated that the dietary supplement quercetin boosts testosterone production while decreasing DHT levels.
Broiling, grilling, steaming, roasting, and sautéing are all excellent ways to cook asparagus. You can also buy canned asparagus that has been cooked into delicious, ready-to-eat items. You can add asparagus to salads, stir-fries, frittatas, omelets, pasta, and omelets, as well as a great side dish.
#13 Herbs
DHT in the body can also be reduced naturally with herbal remedies. Stinging nettle, pygeum bark, green tea, and saw palmetto are some of the herbal DHT blockers.
Stinging nettle: Nettle extracts (roots and leaves) can compete with DHT and bind to its receptors, so it does not aggravate prostate tissue or inhibit hair growth.
Pygeum bark: a herbal supplement made from the bark of the African cherry tree. Since it blocks DHT, it’s known to be an effective treatment for enlargement of the prostate and prostatitis. This makes it a potential treatment for DHT-related hair loss, as well.
Green tea: contains many vitamins and antioxidants, some of which inhibit DHT. EGCG (epigallocatechin gallate), found in it has shown to block DHT. L-Theanine is also found in green tea, which blocks DHT naturally. In a study published in the journal Annals of Dermatology, EGCG was shown to protect human dermal papilla cells from DHT-induced cellular damage.
Saw palmetto: helps prevent hair loss and balances hormone levels. Saw palmetto inhibits 5-alpha reductase (5α-R) activity, an enzyme linked to hair loss, boosting hair density.
Foods to Avoid
In case you are worried about your hair falling, then these are some of the foods you should probably avoid within your diet.
- Alcohol
- Greasy food
- Carbonated drinks
- Sugar
- Nuts
- Dairy
People who eat a lot of trans fats have higher DHT levels. Among the foods high in trans fats are red meat, processed foods, pastries, and margarine. DHT levels will rise the more processed fat you consume, especially unsaturated fat that has been chemically altered by adding hydrogen.
Do DHT Supplements Work?
It is true that supplements work, but you must avoid synthetic hormone blockers. Due to its aggressive nature, this DHT supplement may damage hair follicles.
Supplements can be very heavy, but you can make the process lighter by taking vitamins that inhibit DHT instead. However, one DHT blocking vitamin stands out above the rest: Kiierr DHT Blocking Hair Growth Vitamins.
Vitamins that block DHT are included in this dietary supplement, which should be consumed alongside a healthy diet and lifestyle regime.
With soy and shellfish, the supplement provides B-6, Biotin, and Folic Acid. For those who want to stay healthy and maintain their weight, it is a great solution.
Depending on your budget, you can choose one, two, or three-month supplies of the product.
Some people might be allergic to seafood, so make sure that none of these ingredients mentioned above is an allergy trigger for you.
Other ways to reduce DHT naturally
Mix emu oil and pumpkin seed oil and apply to your scalp. This will improve hair growth and blood circulation on the scalp.
Switch over to a more healthy lifestyle which includes daily exercise, quitting smoking, and scalp massage.
Invest in shampoos that block DHT production by inhibiting Alpha 5 Reductase. Azelaic acid, saw palmetto, flax seeds, aloe vera, pumpkin seeds, nettle extract, flax seeds, aloe vera extract, and flaxseeds are some ingredients found in these shampoos. The shampoos work by reducing excessive DHT on the scalp, unclogging blocked pores, removing buildup, stimulating blood flow to the scalp, and treating hair as a whole. Some people report mixed results when using this method.
Exfoliate your scalp regularly. A simple, natural way to reduce the irritating effects of DHT on the scalp is to clean it. Cleaning the scalp involves exfoliating it to remove any build-up present. Excess sebum and dead skin on the scalp clog the pores, which are also cleaned.
The takeaway
You can stop DHT production in several ways, from using products to eating more DHT blocker foods.
You can lower your DHT levels naturally by being mindful of what you eat, but you will need to be patient while you wait for natural treatments to take effect.
Even though you may not see results right away, the important thing is to keep going and remain optimistic.
There are many different natural treatments, so you’re likely to achieve a DHT level that’s sufficient enough to reverse or stop hair loss in one way or another.
