6 Natural DHT Blocker Foods to Reduce Hair Loss

Turn to the natural routine and include these DHT blocking foods in your diet to prevent hair loss!

Are you skeptical about consuming supplements but require DHT blocking?

These natural DHT blocker foods will be your answer and can help you in the long run.

What is DHT?

Dihydrotestosterone, also known as DHT, is an androgen hormone that contributes to the development of “masculine features”.

Some of these features include a deep voice, facial hair, and chest hair. It also affects how fat is stored in the body.

Although DHT is derived from testosterone, it is present in both men and women. With age, it offers benefits such as the ability to maintain your overall muscle mass, fertility, and promoting sexual health.

Did you know that an excess of DHT in women may cause amenorrhoea, a condition where they stop menstruating.

Around 10% of the testosterone present in our bodies is converted to DHT with the help of an enzyme by the name 5-alpha reductase (5-AR) [1].

DHT contributes to the growth of facial hair and body hair once you reach puberty,yet, studies show that it is responsible for MPB (Male Pattern Baldness) if your ancestors had a hair loss history. DHT is found more in men than in women, and contributes to the growth of facial hair and body hair once you reach puberty. However, studies show that hair fall is prominent in men and women with higher DHT levels.

Once this DHT is in your bloodstream, it can link to receptors on hair follicles in your scalp and cause them to shrink and be incapable of supporting a healthy growth of hair.

Having too much DHT in your bloodstream can put you at risk of various conditions. DHT blockers are one way to prevent an increase in your DHT levels. It is efficient, and can help prevent hair loss when put into practice after thorough research and the advice of your doctor.

Finasteride, an oral prescription-only medication, is an effective DHT blocker. It works by inhibiting the (5-AR) enzyme. This in turn prevents the conversion of testosterone to DHT.

However, Finasteride can have side effects such as a decreased sex drive, gynecomastia (the development of breasts in men), and depression. During a double blind placebo effect research, people who were given finasteride showed an overall incidence of sexual function disorders, decreased libido, ejaculation disorders and erectile dysfunction [2].

An alternative to prescribed DHT blockers, are natural DHT blockers that we can find in our day to day lives.

This article covers how to prevent hair loss by managing your DHT levels through your diet.

Before we discuss foods that are natural DHT blockers, let us do a quick recap of the hair loss cycle.

The four stages of hair growth

Our body goes through four stages of hair growth. An excess of DHT in our blood stream, can slow down the process of hair and hair follicle growth.

1. Anagen Phase (Growth Phase)

The growth phase lasts from two to six years. During this phase, the cells in the root of the hair divide rapidly, adding to the hair shaft. It is essential to take good care of your hair and protect your hair follicles during this period [3].

You can also consume DHT blocking foods regularly for future-proofing your hair follicles.

2. Catagen Phase (Transition Phase)

The Catagen phase involves a transition to adulthood that creates a change in hair quality. It lasts for around 3-6 weeks. Unless you protect your hair with hair masks, supplements, and nutrition, hair loss in this phase will be higher [3].

3. Telogen Phase (Resting Phase)

The Telogen phase begins. It lasts for about three months. This phase is vital as one would have made enough efforts to protect their hair in the catagen stage. In this phase, hair growth can improve, or hair continues to thin down [3].

4. Exogen Phase(Shedding Phase)

Each day, you lose between 100 – 150 hair strands. It is the final stage, and the hair starts thinning and shedding. It is tough to nurture your hair in this phase [4].

Natural DHT blocker foods

While you can take supplements, few DHT blocking foods perform the same function. Foods from natural sources have a better effect on the body compared to supplements. The chances of having side effects also reduces with consumption of natural DHT blocker foods. Check the natural dht blocker food information on Keevs.

Here is a list of foods that block DHT.

1. Onions

Onions are rich in many antioxidants. Quercetin is an antioxidant and a major DHT blocker that plays a vital role in hair fall reduction and hair growth.

Quercetin decreases oxidative stress and inhibits alpha-5 reductase enzyme. This contributes to hair follicle growth.

You can eat raw onions or cook them. But you should include them in your daily diet (at least 150g/1 cup).

You can also apply onion seed oil to your hair to avoid hair fall. Quercetin is also present in other foods such as spinach, berries and kale [5] [6].

2. Green tea

One of the most consumed beverages that is rich in antioxidants. It has several benefits such as weight loss, the ability to improve skin health, and to serve as a pre-workout drink.

Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), one of the major components of green tea, might block DHT production and therefore promote the growth of hair follicles [7].

Daily green tea consumption (2-3 cups/ day) helps you combat hair fall. You can also use shampoos and conditioners made using green tea for preventing hair loss.

However, consumption of too much green tea can also cause side effects, one of them being the onset of periodontitis [8].

The study on the effects of green tea as a DHT blocker is minimal, but paves the way for further research on said topic.

Also Read: Green Coffee for Weight Loss

3. Turmeric

It is a widely used antiseptic, antioxidant and anti-viral component found in every household. Turmeric contains curcuminoids, one of the unique antioxidants, that protects skin and hair [9] [10].

It acts as a natural DHT blocker, promotes hair growth and maintains hair follicles.

4. Pumpkin seeds/ Pumpkin seed oil

Soaked pumpkin seeds act as great protein-rich food for vegetarians. It serves as a great post-workout meal when added with fruits and salads.

Sometimes, pumpkin seeds act as better protein sources than eggs for muscle building. Pumpkin seeds have iron, zinc, magnesium, and other antioxidants.

Its ability to promote hair growth is due to phytosterols, which are known to inhibit 5α-reductase and to have antiandrogenic effects [11].

5. Coconut oil

Coconut oil has numerous benefits when it comes to hair maintenance, and has been used to massage the scalp since ancient times.

In certain parts of Southern India, coconut oil is used for cooking. It is said to withhold its clinical properties at extreme temperatures.

Coconut oil consists of linoleic acid, a middle chain fatty acid (MCT), which blocks DHT secretion. Blocked DHT secretion promotes hair follicle growth and maintenance [12] [13].

You can heat coconut oil with curry leaves and apply it to hair regularly. Regular use of coconut oil in cooking also promotes healthy hair growth.

6. Black sesame

Like coconut oil, you can use sesame seeds for cooking. Sesame seeds contain 41% linoleic acid, 39% oleic acid, 14.5% lauric acid and lignans. All these elements help in maintaining skin, hair and the heart.

Sesame seed oil improves the quality of hair follicle even before it is grown. It leads to improved hair quality [14].

Sesame seed oil that consists of linoleic acid and other fatty acids also aids in restricting DHT secretion [13]. Consumption of sesame seed laddu by women reduces testosterone(a male dominant hormone) level in women. You can make it in the form of a bar by mixing it with jaggery and ghee.

Sesame oil is also used for cooking fish. Fish is rich in healthy fats such as omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. Fish consumption provides additional benefits for hair growth.

Related Article: Top 7 Benefits of Sesame oil for Hair

7. Saw Palmetto

Saw Palmetto, also known as the serenoa repens , is popularly found in the Southeastern United States.

The extract from this shrub like palm tree is used as a DHT blocker. It slows down the production of the 5-AR enzyme that is responsible for the production of the DHT hormone [15].

It is usually consumed in the form of supplements, and may cause side effects like diarrhea, fatigue, nausea, and other stomach related issues.

Further research about the efficacy and safety of this supplement is yet to be conducted.

8. Soybean

Soybean is an edible part of a legume that is grown in east asia.

The beans can be consumed as is, or can be used to make soy milk and tofu.

Soybeans and soybean extracts consist of a flavonoid isoflavone called daidzein. When this compound is digested in the intestine, it produces a compound equol that is known to be an effective DHT blocker [16].

Moderate consumption of natural DHT blockers is helpful. But you must be careful while you take DHT blocker supplements without medical supervision.

DHT blocker supplements have proven side effects such as erectile dysfunction, a feeling of sickness, excess fat development and skin darkening.[17].

DHT blocker foods	How to incorporate them in your day to day life
Onions	Apply onion seed oil to hair or add onions to your diet. Also add quercetin-rich foods like kale, spinach, and berries.
Green Tea	Drink 2-3 cups of green tea per day.
Turmeric	Add turmeric to your diet to get the benefits of curcumin.
Pumpkin seed oil	Pumpkin seeds are edible and you can add them to your diet. If you don’t wish to consume pumpkin seeds, you can apply pumpkin seed oil to the hair. But proceed with caution, as applying pumpkin seed oil on hair may cause allergies.
Coconut Oil	Use it during cooking or apply it to hair(with/without curry leaves mixture). It promotes healthy hair growth.
Black Sesame seed oil	Gently warm the oil, massage your hair with it. After 20 minutes wash your hair with a mild hair cleanser. Use 1 – 2 times a week.
Saw Palmetto	Can be consumed in the form of supplements.
Soybeans	The beans are cooked and consumed. You can also opt for soy milk or tofu as an alternative to the bean itself.

Also Read: Top 9 Benefits of Vitamin E for Hair

Wrapping up

Hair Fall is a common condition that both men and women experience. This can be a result of various external factors like stress, diet, heredity, etc.

At times it could also be the effect of certain hormones like DHT.

DHT is an androgen sex hormone that can cause hair loss in both men and women.

DHT blocking is one of the most reliable options to prevent hair fall when triggered by this hormone.

You can use natural foods to block DHT secretion. In addition to blocking DHT secretion, all the food items used also provide complementary health benefits.

A few other foods that are considered DHT blockers are tomatoes, watermelons, carrots and mangoes.

These DHT Blocking foods help us nourish our hair and aids us in maintaining a healthy mind and body.

What next? Educate yourself about hair care and hair treatments. Start with