In this blog we talk about the best DHT blocking foods - these foods help to reduce dht levels in the scalp and inhibit an enzyme called 5-alpha reductase which is responsible for converting testosterone to DHT.
Watermelon
Watermelon is high in lycopene, it creates the red pigment in certain fruits like tomatoes and watermelons and it's fantastic for blocking DHT.
Watermelon is also a rich source of Vitamin C, B12 and B6 and citrulline which helps to eliminate excess DHT from the body also don't forget to pick up your free ebook everything you need to know about blocking DHT from itreallyworksvitamins.com
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Carrots
Carrots help to inhibit dht so we recommend eating at least one raw carrot per day which helps to reduce DHT levels in the scalp.
Rumour has it that the darker the carrots the more lycopene it's likely to have.
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Other foods that are high in lysine are guava, tomatoes, interestingly tinned and processed tomatoes have a higher lycopene content than fresh tomatoes.
Stock up on tinned tomatoes or processed pasta sauces that you can get from the shop. They are better for you for your hair than fresh tomatoes - who knew!
Other foods that are high in lycopene include
- pink grapefruit
- papaya
- red bell peppers
- persimmon
- Asparagus
- red cabbage
- and mangoes
Some of the highest lycopene foods by nutrient density:
- sun-dried tomatoes
- pasta sauces,
- ketchup
- rose hips
- canned minestrone
- manhattan clam chowder
- watermelon
- and papaya
As well as being useful in helping to block DHT, lycopene has been found in some studies to help to:
- reduce the risk of certain cancers
- protect against heart disease and
- Reduce the risk of macular degeneration
White mushrooms
White mushrooms are high in zinc and pantothenic acid both of which help hair follicles remain healthy.
Pumpkin Seeds
Pumpkin seeds contain a compound called Delta Seven Uterine which can help to prevent the buildup of dht in the hair follicles .
Peanuts
Peanuts contain l-lysine which is a helpful DHT blocker.
Oysters
Oysters are one of the richest sources of zinc - a mineral that can help to reduce the production of DHT.
Oysters are also extremely rich in potassium and magnesium.
Other foods that are also extremely high in zinc are:
- Kale
- Spinach
- Cashew nuts and
- Wheat germ
Biotin
We have to mention biotin, it doesn't actually block dht but it's fantastic for keeping your hair and scalp healthy and when your scalp is healthy that’s the best environment possible for healthy hair growth. Foods that are high in biotin include:
- Eggs
- Berries
- Wheat germ
- Swiss chard
- Tuna,
- Salmon
- Legumes as well as
- Bananas
- Peanuts
You want to have as many of these as possible in your daily diet to ensure that your scalp is as healthy as possible.
Remember even if you are taking on sort of a DHT blocking diet it's not going to be as effective if it's not part of a larger healthy balanced diet.
Sleep
You need to really aim to get seven to nine hours of sleep per night. Sleep helps to repair all of your cells - including cells at the scalp.
Aim to do at least one bit of exercise per around 30 minutes per day of cardio helps to reduce DHT levels in the blood- i've got a previous video on this where I talk about how dht can increase with certain types of exercise.
Exercise
Aim to do at least one bit of exercise per around 30 minutes per day of cardio helps to reduce DHT levels in the blood- i've got a previous video on this where I talk about how dht can increase with certain types of exercise.
Did you know that if you do weights - lifting it can increase DHT levels in conjunction with taking Whey Protein or Creatine.
This is something you'd want to bear in mind if you're genetically predisposed to balding, Whey Protein and things like Creatine accelerate the rate of hair loss. So for example if you're in your mid-20s your hair could start shedding as if you were in your 50s.
Avoid whey protein and creatine and stick to natural sources of protein and creatine for example eggs, red meat and fish. It's also a really good idea to reduce stress levels.
Cortisol which is the stress hormone can shift hair follicles out of the growing or resting phase and into the shedding phase which is why when we're stressed hair can seem to shed much faster and can start to go gray.
So try as much as possible to reduce your stress levels and take on stress coping mechanisms, for example meditation and doing something you enjoy - even if it's just reading or going for a walk and watching a program that really makes you happy
As well as these foods, it's a great idea to incorporate certain drinks especially Green Tea.
Green Tea
Green Tea is extremely high in antioxidants which help to slow down the conversion of Testosterone to DHT.
You can also do a green tea rinse so boil a little pot of green tea, let it cool and you can rinse it through your hair before or after washing and that helps to block DHT on the scalp.
It may not always be possible to incorporate all these DHT blocking foods into your diet. This is where our vitamins come in, with 22 natural vitamins and ingredients most of which are proven DHT blockers.
