Author:
John Stephens
Date Of Creation:
28 January 2021
Update Date:
3 July 2024
Content
Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) is a hormone produced naturally in the body that is responsible for the development of masculine traits such as body hair, muscle growth, low voice, and prostate gland. Normally, less than 100% of the testosterone in the body is converted to DHT, and most of us don't have to worry much about DHT levels. However, too much DHT in the body has been linked to hair loss and prostate cancer. You can control DHT levels through diet and lifestyle adjustments. Medicines and supplements may also be used to block DHT production in the body.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Controlling DHT through diet
Add tomatoes to the sauce. Tomatoes are high in lycopene, a natural DHT inhibitor. Lycopene in cooked tomatoes is absorbed more efficiently than lycopene in raw tomatoes. While a slice of raw tomato sandwiched in bread also helps, the delicious ketchup on the noodles is better.
- Carrots, mangoes and watermelon are also good sources of lycopene.
Eat nuts like almonds and cashews. L-lysine and zinc are also substances in foods that inhibit DHT naturally found in almonds, peanuts, pecans, walnuts, and cashews.- Incorporating nuts into your daily diet will naturally lower DHT levels.
- Zinc is also found in green leafy vegetables, such as kale and spinach.
Drink green tea. Green tea is rich in antioxidants and helps slow, even prevent the conversion of testosterone into DHT. Other hot drinks like black tea and coffee are just as effective.- For best results, drink organic tea with its leaves intact. Avoid processed green tea “drinks” that may contain less than 10% tea. You should also avoid adding sugar or artificial sweeteners to the tea.
Eliminate sugar in your diet. Sugar causes inflammation and increases the body's production of DHT. Too much sugar in your diet will lose the benefits you get from other foods.- Avoiding sweet foods, such as cookies and candies, seems pretty easy, but be wary of packaged or processed foods that may contain sugar, though not very sweet.
Drink caffeine in moderation. One cup of morning coffee can help reduce DHT production. However, consuming too much caffeine can have the opposite effect. Excessive caffeine intake can also lead to hormonal imbalances and dehydration, which are factors that inhibit hair growth.
- Stay away from caffeinated sodas; These juices also contain sugar and other chemicals that increase DHT production.
Method 2 of 3: Take medications and supplements
Drink a saw palmetto supplement. Dwarf palm tree extract is capable of inhibiting the activity of 5-alpha-reductase type II, an enzyme that converts testosterone into DHT.Taking 320 mg of a daily supplement can also stimulate hair growth.
- Although it doesn't work as quickly as prescription medications, dwarf palm extract is cheaper and more convenient to drink.
Try pumpkin seed oil. Pumpkin seed oil is also a natural DHT inhibitor, but not as effective as dwarf palm extract. Unlike dwarf palm tree extract, the effect of pumpkin seed oil was studied primarily in mice rather than in humans.
- In Germany and the US, pumpkin seed oil is approved as a treatment for prostate disorders.
- You can also eat a handful of pumpkin seeds a day if you want to increase your pumpkin seed oil intake, although you won't get as much oil as you would with a pill. Several beneficial properties can be reduced in roasted pumpkin seeds.
Ask your doctor about finasteride. Finasteride, also sold under the trade name Propecia, is a drug approved by the US Food and Drug Administration to treat hair loss, especially male pattern baldness. You can take the form of injections or pills.
- Finasteride acts on enzymes that are concentrated in the hair follicles, inhibiting the production of DHT.
- Finasteride can stop the progression of baldness and help grow new hair in some cases.
Talk to your doctor about topical minoxidil (Rogaine) 2% or oral finasteride. One consequence of high DHT levels is hair loss on the crown of the head. Medicines such as minoxidil or Finasteride can help reduce hair loss and even stimulate hair growth in some cases. However, you should consult your doctor before starting a new medication to make sure you don't interact with any medications you're using or cause other undesirable side effects.
- Some of the possible side effects of these drugs include decreased libido, decreased ability to maintain an erection, and decreased ejaculation.
Method 3 of 3: Lifestyle adjustments
Exercise 3-5 days per week. Being overweight and a sedentary lifestyle increase your risk of prostate cancer. Start with a regular exercise program, even if it's just walking for 20 minutes every two days.
- Add strength training exercises to train your muscles. The interval approach can be a good choice if you don't have a lot of time to practice.
Make arrangements for a time to rest and relax. An imbalance between work and play can increase stress levels, which in turn causes the body to produce more DHT. Spend 15-20 minutes a day doing something you enjoy.
- Choose a relaxing and quiet activity, like reading, coloring, or puzzle.
- You also need to make sure you get enough sleep. Sleeping too little can also increase stress levels and lead to increased DHT levels.
Get a massage to relieve stress. Stress can cause the body to convert more testosterone into DHT. Not only can a massage help reduce stress, but also stimulate and improve blood circulation, thereby helping to grow hair.
- Try massaging every 2 weeks for 2 months to see if your stress level improves ..
Give up smoking. In addition to other high health risks of lice, smokers also have higher DHT levels than non-smokers. If you smoke cigarettes and have high DHT levels, quitting smoking can help your body's DHT production get back to normal levels.
- Since smoking increases DHT and other hormones, it may also increase the risk of prostate cancer (although some studies suggest the opposite). Smoking cigarettes can actually increase your risk of dying from prostate cancer.
- Smoking itself causes hair loss, regardless of its effect on DHT levels.
Advice
- For best results, choose organic seasonal products. These foods have the highest nutritional content and are free of chemicals that can disrupt hormones.
