Top DHT Blocker Foods to Naturally Reduce Hair Fall

Hair loss affects millions globally, and Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) is often the key culprit behind it. DHT binds to hair follicles, causing them to shrink and eventually stop producing hair. While traditional treatments like medications are available, many people prefer natural solutions. DHT-blocking foods can help reduce DHT levels, support hair follicle health, and promote hair growth.

The top DHT-blocking foods include pumpkin seeds, green tea, flaxseeds, turmeric, spinach, avocados, tomatoes, almonds, berries, and soy. These foods are rich in nutrients like zinc, antioxidants, omega-3s, and phytosterols that work together to block DHT, reduce inflammation, and balance hormones.

In addition to incorporating DHT-blocking foods, it's important to avoid foods that can increase DHT levels, such as red meat, fried foods, sugar, and dairy. These foods may disrupt hormonal balance and increase inflammation, further contributing to hair loss.

For those looking for a comprehensive solution, combining a DHT-blocking diet with supplements and topical treatments can lead to faster and more effective results. Traya’s holistic approach, combining Ayurvedic healing, dermatological expertise, and personalized nutrition, offers a tailored treatment plan that addresses the root causes of hair loss for long-term hair health.

With consistency, these natural strategies can help reduce hair fall, support hair regrowth, and create a healthier environment for hair to thrive.

Introduction

Hair loss affects millions of people worldwide, and understanding its root causes is the first step toward effective treatment. The main culprit behind most hair thinning is Dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a hormone that attacks hair follicles, causing them to shrink and eventually stop producing hair.

While there are medical treatments available, many prefer natural solutions. The good news is that certain foods can help block DHT naturally, reducing its impact on your hair and scalp.

This guide covers everything you need to know about DHT and how specific DHT blocker foods can fight hair loss naturally. You'll discover which foods effectively reduce DHT levels, how they work in your body, and which foods you should avoid. At Traya, we’re here to help you take control of your hair health with natural, proven methods that really work.

What is DHT, and Why is Blocking It Important for Hair Health?

Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) is a hormone that’s found in both men and women. It’s a byproduct of testosterone, created when an enzyme called 5-alpha-reductase converts testosterone into DHT. While DHT plays a key role in the development of male traits during puberty, too much of it can cause problems for hair health.

For people who are genetically prone to it, DHT attaches to receptors in the hair follicles on the scalp. Over time, this binding causes the follicles to shrink or “miniaturize.” As the follicles shrink, they start producing thinner, shorter, and weaker hairs, and eventually, they stop producing hair altogether. This process shortens the hair’s growth phase and lengthens the resting phase, leading to more shedding and less new growth.

DHT is the main culprit behind androgenic alopecia, which causes male and female pattern hair loss. For men, it often shows up as a receding hairline or thinning at the crown of the head. In many cases, the hair loss forms a horseshoe shape around the back and sides of the head because the follicles in these areas are less affected by DHT.

In women, androgenic alopecia usually looks like general thinning across the crown of the head, while the hairline in the front stays intact. While DHT plays a role in this type of hair loss, women’s hair loss can be influenced by other factors, including other hormones, genetics, and stress. In either case, getting DHT levels under control is often one of the first steps in tackling hair loss.

Can Food Actually Block DHT?

Traditional treatments for hair loss caused by DHT typically involve synthetic drugs, which can come with side effects ranging from mild to more serious. While these treatments can work, they may not be ideal for everyone, especially those looking for more natural alternatives.

A diet-based method containing foods that block DHT naturally provides a safer, sustainable, and natural alternative. Including these foods that are high in natural DHT inhibitors and essential nutrients, you can:

• Reduce Side Effects: Natural substances in food tend to be better-tolerated and less susceptible to causing adverse reactions than prescription drugs.
• Addressing Root Causes: Diet has a broad impact on overall hormonal balance, inflammation, and nutrient deficiencies, all of which are factors in hair health. DHT-reducing foods address these root causes.
• Promote Overall Health: Foods that are good for hair health tend to be full of antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals that nourish the body as a whole, resulting in better energy, skin health, and immunity.
• Long-Term Sustainability: Making healthy foods a part of your everyday life is something that can be sustained forever, having ongoing positive effects on your hair and overall health.
• Empowerment: Taking charge of your own health via nutrition can be very empowering, allowing you to be in control of your hair loss process.

So, how exactly do these foods work? Certain nutrients found in everyday foods can impact DHT in a number of ways: 

• Inhibiting 5-alpha-reductase (5-AR) action: The 5-AR enzyme is the one that converts testosterone into DHT. Some foods have natural compounds that can block this enzyme, which helps lower DHT levels. Phytosterols (plant-based compounds) and certain antioxidants are great examples.
• Reducing inflammation: If inflammation hangs around for too long on your scalp, it can make hair loss worse. Luckily, many of the foods that naturally block DHT also have anti-inflammatory properties, which can create a better environment for hair to grow.
• Balancing hormones: For healthy hair, your hormones need to stay balanced. Some foods, especially those rich in lignans (compounds found in plants), can help keep hormone levels in check, which in turn can impact DHT production.
• Providing key nutrients for hair growth: Even if you’re reducing DHT, your hair follicles still need vitamins, minerals, and proteins to stay strong and healthy. Thankfully, DHT-blocking foods are also packed with these essential nutrients to support hair growth.

10 Best Natural DHT Blocker Foods You Must Include in Your Diet

Nature is full of effective ingredients that can counteract the effects of DHT and promote healthy hair growth. Here are ten of the best natural DHT blocker foods to include in your diet:

1. Pumpkin Seeds

Pumpkin seeds are packed with nutrients, especially zinc and phytosterols. Zinc is a key mineral for hair growth and repair, and it also helps manage testosterone levels. Phytosterols, which are plant compounds similar to cholesterol, actually block the action of 5-alpha-reductase (5-AR), the enzyme that turns testosterone into DHT.

Research has shown that pumpkin seed oil can really lower DHT levels and support hair regrowth in people with androgenic alopecia. 

2. Green Tea

Green tea is famous for its health advantages, and its benefits to hair are no exception. The active ingredient in them are Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), a very effective catechin. EGCG inhibits 5-alpha reductase activity and thus suppresses testosterone's conversion into DHT. 

It also contains strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, which promote general scalp health. 

3. Flaxseeds

These tiny seeds are a big player when it comes to hormonal balance and hair health. Flaxseeds are among the most concentrated dietary sources of lignans, phytoestrogens with the ability to regulate hormones by encouraging the elimination of excess androgens (such as testosterone) from the body. They are also rich in alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), an omega-3 fatty acid with anti-inflammatory properties, which can contribute to the development of a healthier scalp environment.

Lignans which are also found in them can bind to estrogen receptors, exerting a subtle effect on hormone activity and potentially reducing circulating levels of free testosterone, thereby decreasing the amount available for conversion to DHT.

4. Turmeric

Turmeric, a key ingredient in Ayurvedic medicine, is famous for its powerful health benefits. The active compound in turmeric, curcumin, has strong anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Chronic inflammation on the scalp can damage hair follicles and lead to more hair loss, but curcumin helps reduce this inflammation, creating a healthier environment for hair to grow.

Curcumin also supports liver detoxification, which is important for metabolizing and balancing hormones. While it doesn't directly inhibit 5-AR, its overall hormone-balancing and protective effects can still play a role in managing DHT-related hair loss.

5. Spinach & Leafy Greens

Leafy greens are essential for your overall health, and that includes the health of your scalp. Greens like spinach, kale, and Swiss chard are packed with nutrients that support hair growth. Iron deficiency is a common cause of hair loss, so keeping your iron levels up is key. Magnesium, which is found in these greens, plays a role in many processes in your body, including protein synthesis (important for hair growth) and reducing inflammation.

These greens also contain antioxidants like vitamins A and C, which help protect hair follicles from oxidative stress and support good blood circulation to the scalp. This ensures your hair follicles get enough oxygen and nutrients to thrive.

6. Avocados

Avocados are not only delicious, they are highly nutritious and hair-friendly. They are rich in monounsaturated fats, which are important for overall wellness, and may help transport fat-soluble vitamins essential for hair health. 

Notably, they contain beta-sitosterol, a plant sterol known for its ability to inhibit 5-alpha reductase, similar to the phytosterols found in pumpkin seeds. This makes avocados a valuable food supplement for anyone aiming to naturally regulate DHT levels and balance hormones, which are inherently connected to hair health.

7. Tomatoes

These juicy red fruits are more than a cupboard staple; they contain a powerful compound that can benefit hair. Tomatoes are rich in lycopene, a powerful antioxidant. Lycopene has been studied for its potential to inhibit 5-alpha reductase activity, which can slow down the conversion of testosterone to DHT. 

Additionally, lycopene helps maintain prostate function, and there is a proven link between hair loss mechanisms and prostate health due to androgen sensitivity. Lycopene may also promote healthier hair follicles by reducing oxidative stress and inflammation. Cooking tomatoes, especially with a small amount of healthy fat, makes the lycopene more bioavailable.

8. Almonds & Walnuts

These hip nuts are not only an effortless snack; they are nutrient-rich with chemicals that are important to the health and strength of hair. Almonds are a source of biotin, a vitamin B needed to make keratin, the primary protein of hair. Walnuts are unique among the nuts because they contain a high content of omega-3 fatty acids (specifically ALA), which is an anti-inflammatory and provides nutrients to the scalp. 

They are also both high in selenium, a trace element that acts as an antioxidant and is a component involved in thyroid function, indirectly responsible for hair growth. These DHT blocker foods all work together to fortify hair roots, improve hair flexibility, and enhance overall scalp well-being, resulting in hair that is more resistant to loss and damage.

9. Berries (Strawberries, Blueberries, Amla)

Not only do these fruits taste delicious, but they also possess a lot of chemicals that greatly benefit hair. Berries like blueberries and strawberries are full of Vitamin C, an essential nutrient required to produce collagen, a protein that makes hair strands thicker and less susceptible to breakage. Vitamin C is also a powerful antioxidant that helps protect hair follicles from free radical damage and oxidative stress, which can contribute to hair loss. 

Berries are also packed with many polyphenols and anthocyanins, powerful plant-derived compounds with additional antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that help create a healthy scalp environment. Amla (Indian Gooseberry) is especially remarkable for its very high Vitamin C content and its long-time usage in Ayurvedic treatment for hair growth.

10. Soy (if tolerated)

Soy and soy foods can be a useful addition to a DHT-blocking diet for certain individuals. Soybeans contain compounds called isoflavones, which are plant-based and act like a mild form of estrogen in the body. Two common isoflavones, genistein and daidzein, can help balance hormones and may reduce the action of the enzyme 5-alpha reductase, which turns testosterone into DHT.

If you're not sensitive to soy, including moderate amounts of fermented soy foods like tempeh, miso, or tofu can be a natural way to help balance hormones and support hair health.

Foods to Avoid with High DHT

Incorporating DHT-reducing food is important, but restricting or avoiding foods that can work against hair growth by raising DHT levels, stimulating inflammation, or disrupting hormonal balance is equally necessary. Some of these foods are: 

• Red meat: While red meat contains vital nutrients such as iron, too much consumption, especially of higher-fat cuts, can result in too much saturated fat intake. According to some research, diets with high levels of saturated fat may actually boost testosterone, thus providing more substrate for 5-alpha reductase to convert to DHT. Choose lower-fat protein sources and keep your red meat consumption moderate.
• Fried foods and trans fats: Fried foods are typically fried in unhealthy oils and have trans fats, which are extremely inflammatory. Chronic inflammation, particularly on the scalp, may cause damage to the hair follicles and impede healthy hair growth. Trans fats may also have a negative effect on overall hormonal balance and cardiovascular health, both of which are associated with hair vitality.
• Sugars and dairy: Excessive sugar consumption may result in insulin resistance and elevated levels of Insulin-like Growth Factor 1 (IGF-1), which has been associated with heightened androgenic activity and, as a result, DHT production. 

Dairy products, particularly those derived from conventionally raised animals, may contain hormones and growth factors that may be responsible for hormonal imbalances and inflammation in certain individuals and cause DHT-induced hair loss.

• Caffeine: Although moderate use of caffeine may be beneficial, excessive use can increase stress hormones such as cortisol. Continuous stress and high levels of cortisol can interfere with hormonal balance and possibly with androgen activity. Additionally, caffeine can occasionally hinder nutrient absorption.
• Alcohol: Chronic alcohol use can adversely affect the functioning of the liver, which is vital for hormone metabolism and detoxification of the body. An impaired liver may cause hormonal imbalance, such as elevated estrogen or disturbed androgen metabolism, which indirectly influences DHT levels. Alcohol also removes essential nutrients required for hair growth.

Traya's DHT-Focused Diet + Supplements Strategy

As we've discussed, avoiding certain foods that increase DHT and disrupt hormonal balance is important. However, it's not just about cutting things out of your diet, it's also about bringing in the right nutrients to actively support your hair health. 

At Traya, we believe that addressing hair loss requires a holistic, science-backed approach. Our DHT-focused best food for hair fall combines ancient Ayurvedic wisdom, modern dermatological practices, and precise nutritional science to create a comprehensive, personalized plan for your hair health.

Traya's distinct methodology is founded on three pillars:

• Ayurveda: We utilize the principles of Ayurveda to determine the constitution (doshas) of the body and spot internal imbalances that lead to hair loss. Ayurvedic practices and herbs aim to balance hormones, enhance digestion, minimize inflammation, and create overall well-being, all of which are essential for healthy hair.
• Dermatology: Our dermatological expertise guarantees that your treatment targets the unique biological processes of baldness, such as DHT's involvement. This includes an understanding of follicle health, scalp conditions, as well as the optimal topical and internal medical treatments where appropriate.
• Nutrition: Since we know hair growth begins within, nutrition is an essential part. We highlight the importance of diet in delivering necessary nutrients, balancing hormones, and maintaining the proper internal environment for hair development. This involves suggesting anti-DHT foods specifically and determining dietary instigators.

Combining these three practice areas, Traya creates a treatment program that treats the underlying causes of your hair loss, rather than its symptoms, resulting in better and longer-lasting outcomes.

Personalized Dietary Advice Through Root-Cause Diagnosis

Each person's body is different, as is the reason why they lose their hair. That's why Traya doesn't have a blanket solution. When you do Traya's free hair test, our team of experts examines several factors, such as your medical history, lifestyle, and individual hair fall pattern, to determine the underlying cause of your hair loss. 

Then, from this detailed diagnosis, you get:

• Personalized DHT Blocker Diet Plan: This diet plan contains tailored food suggestions, with special emphasis on anti-DHT foods that are most suitable for your individual requirements, along with additional foods that promote general hair health and replace any nutritional gaps or hormonal imbalances detected. 
• Foods to Avoid Instructions: We include transparent guidelines on what foods would possibly be detrimental to your hair condition, according to your diagnosis.

Traya Ayurvedic Healing Diet Plan provides a personalized program for employing food as medicine. The plan includes:

• Individual meal recommendations and recipes: So easy to incorporate DHT-blocking and healthy hair-supportive foods into your daily diet.
• Counseling diet: Adjusting habits such as eating mindfully, meal frequency, and food mixing based on Ayurvedic theory to optimize digestion and nutrient uptake.
• Dosha balancing strategies: Based on Ayurveda, dosha constitution balancing (Vata, Pitta, Kapha) is the foundation for overall well-being and can directly influence hormone balance and scalp wellness.
• Emphasize anti-inflammatory and detox foods: To decrease systemic inflammation and nourish the body's own detoxification process required for hormonal balance.

This comprehensive diet plan puts you in the driver's seat to utilize food as a tool to balance your hormones, in this case, DHT, and optimize healthy hair care from the inside out.

Traya Hair Vitamin: A Supplement to Complement Your Diet

To support your diet plan, Traya Hair Vitamin is a carefully crafted supplement that is formulated to complement your diet. It packs a potent combination of natural DHT blockers and vital nutrients commonly lacking in today's diets. 

Key ingredients usually consist of:

• Pumpkin Seed Extract: A plant 5-alpha reductase inhibitor.
• Green Tea Extract (EGCG): Well-known for its DHT blockade and antioxidant properties.
• Biotin, Zinc, Iron: Essential vitamins and minerals vital to hair growth, hair strength, and overall follicle health.

It acts as an internal system support and acts specifically on DHT and providing the root building blocks necessary for thick, healthy hair growth, in addition to your dietary changes.

Real Results Need Real Consistency

Achieving healthier hair, especially when addressing a complex issue like DHT, requires patience and time. While the benefits of  DHT blocker foods are proven, it's important to understand that results won’t happen overnight.

Incorporating the best foods for hair fall into your diet gradually is the most effective approach. Natural remedies, like diet, work by slowly helping the body restore balance.

Here’s why this process takes time:

• Hair Growth is Progressive: Hair typically grows about half an inch per month. This slow pace allows time for new, healthier hair to grow and gives miniaturized follicles the chance to recover.
• Hormonal Changes are Progressive: Dietary changes gradually influence hormone release and enzyme activity. It takes weeks or even months for DHT levels to shift, and for the effects on follicles to become visible.
• Accumulated Damage Takes Time to Repair: The damage caused by DHT and potential nutrient deficiencies may have built up over years, so it can’t be undone instantly. Follicles need continuous nourishment and care to heal and restore.

This is why consistently including DHT-blocking foods in your diet is so important. Make them a regular part of your routine, not just a short-term fix.

Diet, Internal Supplements, and Topical Applications for Improved Outcomes

While diet offers a solid basis, for the majority of individuals, particularly those suffering from extensive loss, an attack with multiple dimensions is best. A combination of dietary modification and specific internal and topical treatment increases effects because:

• Synergistic Action: Each aspect of a well-rounded treatment plan works through different mechanisms, complementing each other. Diet addresses internal balance, supplements provide high concentrations of nutrients and DHT blockers, and topical treatments directly stimulate the hair follicles.
• Faster and More Dramatic Results: By tackling DHT from all angles, you’ll see quicker improvements and more noticeable hair regrowth than if you relied on just one method.
• Addressing All Contributing Factors: A multi-faceted approach doesn't just focus on DHT. It also targets the nutritional deficiencies, inflammation, and scalp health issues that often accompany hair loss.

For the most effective results, Traya’s personalized treatment plans typically recommend combining the following:

• Hair Vitamin (Internal DHT Blocker Food): This supplement delivers a powerful dose of natural DHT blockers like Pumpkin Seed Extract and Green Tea Extract, along with other vital nutrients, to help combat DHT internally and promote overall hair health.
• Minoxidil and Procapil/Finasteride (Topical Treatments): These topical treatments are applied directly to the scalp. Minoxidil helps increase blood flow to the scalp and encourages hair growth, while Procapil strengthens follicles. In some cases, Finasteride is used as a potent 5-alpha reductase inhibitor, locally reducing DHT on the scalp.

We’ll determine the best course of action based on your unique diagnosis and situation.

• Ayurvedic Oils for Scalp Health: These traditional oils, enhanced with powerful herbs, help nourish the scalp, improve circulation, reduce inflammation, and strengthen hair roots, creating an ideal environment for hair growth.
• Healing DHT Blocker Diet Plan for Long-Term Hormonal Balance: As previously discussed, this personalized diet plan is essential for addressing the root causes of hair loss, promoting long-term hormonal balance, and ensuring your body gets the nutrients it needs for healthy hair.

Final Thoughts

Understanding the function of DHT in baldness is half the battle in effectively solving the problem. Although a variety of treatments are available, adopting a food-based approach is a safe, natural, and sustainable way to achieve healthier hair. DHT blocker foods are a long-term investment in the health of your hair and your well-being.

By consciously incorporating foods that are rich in zinc, phytosterols, EGCG, lignans, antioxidants, and essential vitamins and minerals, you can naturally help reduce DHT, strengthen your hair follicles, and create the ideal conditions for healthy hair growth. Remember, consistency is key. While dietary changes are important, the most effective results often come when combined with science-backed treatments.

To get started, try Traya's complimentary hair test. It helps determine if your hair loss is related to DHT, and provides you with a personalized diet and treatment plan tailored to your needs.

FAQs

Can food prevent hair fall due to DHT alone?

For minor hair loss or as a preventative measure, a diet high in foods that inhibit DHT can be highly effective at slowing down hair loss and promoting healthier hair. But for more serious cases of androgenic alopecia, or if there is some other reason behind your hair loss, diet alone may not be sufficient. 

In such cases, in combination with dietary alteration, certain supplements and topical products work best.

How soon will results be seen?

Hair growth is a slow process, and also a hormonal adjustment, which is slow. Results are also variable from individual to individual. You generally need to be consistent with your DHT-blocking diet at least for 3-6 months to start observing noticeable signs of decrease in hair fall and growth of new hair. 

Complete outcomes can take 9-12 months or longer because hair follicles need time to regenerate and produce new hair. You must be persistent and consistent.

Can you supplement and also follow a DHT blocker diet?

Yes and it's often advised! A DHT-blocking diet is a wide-ranging form of nutrition and natural substances. Supplements, especially ones such as Traya Hair Vitamin, are super doses of certain DHT inhibitors and key nutrients that may be hard to find in adequate amounts through diet alone.

Combining both strategies is a synergistic superpower, addressing thinning hair from many different directions for even greater effectiveness.

Is it safe to take Traya Hair Vitamin together with these foods?

Yes, it is completely okay and advisable to use Traya Hair Vitamin on top of a diet rich in DHT-blocking foods. Traya Hair Vitamin is specifically designed to complement your nutritional efforts by providing additional natural DHT blockers and nutrients. 

It serves as an inside booster, ensuring that you get maximum amounts of the substances that are healthy for your hair, thereby increasing your chances of success.

Can DHT-blocking foods help with receding hairlines?

Yes, DHT-blocking foods can be effective in slowing down or preventing the progression of a receding hairline. By reducing DHT levels, these foods help prevent hair follicle miniaturization, which is a key cause of a receding hairline. Consistently including these foods in your diet can help maintain hair density and support regrowth over time.

References:

• https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/24555-dht-dihydrotestosterone
• https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/dht-blocker-foods
• https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/303864
• https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4017725/
• https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/egcg-epigallocatechin-gallate
• https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2752973/
• https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6390141/
• https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7522354/
• https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/11/6198