If you are worried about hair loss, you may be wondering what lifestyle changes you can make to help combat it. In particular, many people wonder if there is a natural way to prevent DHT from causing hair loss in the first place. Understanding how DHT affects your hair and how your food choices impact DHT production may help you to find an anti-DHT diet that works for you.
What Is DHT?
DHT is short for dihydrotestosterone. It is a powerful androgen, a male sex hormone, that impacts many aspects of the body’s development. As men go through puberty, this hormone deepens their voices, increases body hair, helps grow muscles, affects genital development and alters how the body stores fat. In other words, it plays a huge role in typical male physical characteristics.
Later in life, DHT impacts factors such as muscle mass and fertility. Again, many of the effects of DHT are considered desirable by many people.
Despite being a male hormone, DHT is present in both men’s and women’s bodies. However, it is more common for males. About 10% of free testosterone is converted into DHT.
Unfortunately, DHT is also associated with hair loss. Specifically, it causes hair follicles to shrink and produce weaker hairs. Additionally, it prolongs the resting phase that all hair follicles go through every few years. At the same time, it shortens the growth phase. Ultimately, DHT can cause follicles to produce hairs that do not even erupt from the scalp.
Having excess DHT can also cause problems with the prostate, heart and skin. Some people are more prone than others to having high levels of DHT.
How Is DHT Produced?
As mentioned above, around a tenth of the free testosterone in the body is converted into DHT under normal circumstances for adults. This is done through a process catalyzed by the enzyme 5-alpha-reductase. The DHT then binds with cells in the skin, live, prostate and hair follicles. Again, this is a normal process for both men and women and has numerous benefits.
How Does DHT Blocking Work? Can It Be Done Naturally?
One of the most common ways to combat hair loss is to block DHT. Many popular treatments help fight hair loss this way. However, it is not uncommon for patients to want to find a more natural alternative.
Blocking DHT typically works by introducing a drug that can bond with the 5-alpha-reductase enzyme. This prevents it from converting testosterone into DHT. Some treatments may also bind with DHT receptors in the scalp to stop it from affecting hair follicles.
Although many of the chemicals used to block DHT have scary-sounding scientific names, a lot are either entirely natural or derives from natural sources. For example, azelaic acid is an effective 5-alpha-reductase inhibitor that occurs naturally in many common grains. Caffeine has also been observed to combat the effects of DHT.
So, there is hope that an anti-DHT diet could be effective in combatting hair loss. Additionally, many treatments, including several from DS Laboratories, may be more natural than you realize. It is possible to fight DHT and hair loss with natural ingredients only.
Are There Any Foods That Reduce DHT?
If you want to reduce DHT food choices may be able to help. These are a few easily found foods that have DHT-blocking properties:
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Avocado: These fleshy fruits have a lot to add to your DHT diet. They are high in proteins, amino acids, magnesium, folic acid, copper and iron. Avocados help to reduce DHT and also support healthy hair growth.
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Tomato: Lycopene is a natural DHT blocker and tomatoes have plenty of it. They also have antioxidants that can protect hair follicles and other cells from oxidizing damage.
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Eggs: Chicken eggs are believed to have some DHT-fighting powers, especially when they are cooked. They also can help produce a healthy environment for hair growth in your scalp.
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Almonds: These crunchy nuts are a major source of biotin, a nutrient that promotes hair growth. To reduce DHT foods with biotin can be a huge benefit. Hair health nuts love almonds because they have many nutrients that support strong, luscious hair strands.
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Walnuts: Unlike their ovular cousins, walnuts are known to block DHT. They contain a lot of L-lysine, a natural DHT-blocker. Like many other foods on this list, they also are high in protein and vitamin E. Better yet, they have some anti-inflammatory properties.
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Bananas: If you need a good source of biotin, look no further than bananas. They also support a healthy gut environment. Gut bacteria are believed to help maintain lower levels of DHT production.
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Kale: Most nutritionists will tell you to eat kale because it is nutrient-rich and a ‘superfood.’ You can add blocking DHT to the list. Kale is rich in zinc which contains phytosterol. This substance blocks DHT production.
- White Mushrooms: The same story applies to white mushrooms. They are high in zinc and can help you to minimize the DHT in your scalp.
People who are interested in nutrition will recognize a lot of the above foods. It turns out that a good anti-DHT diet is also a healthy one!
What If a DHT Diet Isn’t Enough?
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The above foods can help you reduce the amount of DHT in your scalp. However, if you are prone to having excess DHT, a healthy diet may not be enough. More concentrated and targeted treatment can help. Here are a few products from DS Laboratories that could help you fight hair loss:
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Revita Shampoo: This daily shampoo includes natural DHT-fighting ingredients such as caffeine, ketoconazole and emu oil. Many of the active ingredients in Revita Shampoo are scientifically tested and shown to improve hair growth and health.
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Spectral.DNC-N: This topical treatment includes Nanoxidil, a powerful blood vessel dilator that delivers oxygen and nutrients to your hair follicles. It also includes DHT-blocks such as azelaic acid and caffeine.
- Revita.CBD: Our CBD-based shampoo leverages the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties of CBD. It also includes ketoconazole and caffeine to combat DHT.
These products include many of the same DHT-fighting ingredients as a health DHT diet. Some even use extracts from fruits and vegetables. At DS Laboratories, our goal is to find clinically proven ingredients that are more natural and kinder to your scalp that other hair treatments.
Order From DS Laboratories Today
Are you ready to take on your hair loss? DS Laboratories has the hair health products you need to enjoy a luscious and strong head of hair. Take our hair assessment today to learn which products will work for you. Combine treatments with an anti-DHT diet for even better results. Take control today!