Stopping DHT Without Side Effects: Natural Methods and Supplements
Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) is a male hormone responsible for various physical characteristics such as facial hair, deep voice, and muscle mass. It’s also the hormones that tells us when it’s time to go through puberty. However, too much DHT can cause hair loss, acne, and prostate enlargement as well as fatigue and other problems. Thus, many seek ways to block or stop DHT without side effects.
This discussion will explore how to stop DHT without side effects.
It’s important to know that its not actually possible to block or stop anything within our bodies. If you recall from school the 1st Law of Thermodynamics – nothing can be eliminated, instead it changes from one form to another.
The 1st Law of Thermodynamics also applies to our hormones, of which DHT which stands for Di-Hydro-Testosterone is one. The enzyme 5-alpha-reductase makes DHT by adding 2 extra hydrogen molecules (Di-Hydro) to the total testosterone that is in turn created from the HDL fats we eat. All of our hormones are made from fat.
How is it that some of us make too much DHT you might ask?
What we’ve been able to see via a special type of x-ray called X-Ray Crystallography which can see the tony molecules in our blood is that some of us inherit the genes which cause us to make some of our enzymes with a little piece missing. When that piece is missing it makes the enzymes overactive so they turn more of our testosterone into DHT leaving less to become free testosterone which causes our ratio of free testosterone to DHT to become unbalanced.
When we have too much DHT those excess molecules become radicalized – free radicals – that roam around the body and do things we don’t like – for example bind to the hair follicles and cause them to miniaturize gradually over time and shorten their hair growth lifecycles until eventually they stop producing hairs and become dormant. After more time the body will eventually determine they are no longer needed and reabsorb them.
So how can we get our bodies back to producing the correct amount of DHT and not excess?
Things That Block DHT
First of all, as you learned above, it is not even possible to block DHT. Really what we need to do is work on repairing the broken 5-alpha-reductase enzymes so that, just like nature intended, our bodies create the correct ratios of DHT to Free testosterone.
Lets take a look at the available market treatments and assess them.
Finasteride: Is an FDA-approved medication for hair loss and prostate enlargement. Finasteride works by partially repairing the enzyme responsible for converting testosterone into DHT. Finasteride has been around for over 30 years now, and using X-Ray crystallography we can see that it does fit pretty well into the genetic defect missing piece on the reductase enzyme. However the half life of finasteride is only 6 hours which means it isn’t even there working for most of the day. This on again off again hormone product can cause side effects for many men.
Avodart: Was created to treat prostate cancer. It’s newer that Finasteride and it’s main ingredient dutasteride was made to fit the reductase enzyme so it is extremely effective at repairing the reductase enzyme. It also has a much longer half-life of 4-6 weeks so it builds up in your system very slowly over time. HOWEVER the Avodart formula also contains 6 other ingredients including butylated hydroxytoluene which combines with the dutasteride to causes endocrine disruption. This is desirable when treating cancer, however not when hair regrowth is your goal.
Saw Palmetto: Is a natural supplement that, as with any plant based ingredient, is comprised of thousands of molecules. Many of which can cause allergies and other reactions in people. Also because it is available naturally there is no incentive for the pharmaceutical industry to test is, so knowledge is scarce on how exactly it works or what dosing is needed, plus many people are commonly allergic to plant based ingredients.
Pumpkin Seed Oil: Also a plant based supplement, contains phytosterols, which are promoted as helping reduce the conversion of Testosterone to DHT. It’s important to note that there is no conclusive evidence supporting pumpkin seed oil blocking DHT or even impacting its production. Pumpkin seeds are however a source of the protein needed for healthy hair growth and pumpkin seed oil is also a healthy LDL fat which also supports healthy hair and overall health.
Zinc: Is a mineral that some very small studies have shown decreased serum DHT production, however there are other studies showing zinc increased DHT production. As zinc is a naturally occurring substance there is no incentive for pharmaceutical companies to invest money in studying it’s impact due to their inability to commercialize its use and make money. It is known however that Zinc plays a role in maintaining healthy hair and skin.
How to Stop DHT Without Side Effects
People looking for things that stop or block DHT should understand how DHT is produced. How our bodies take in food which is broken down by enzymes and turned into us. How we rebuild (from food) and replace every single cell in our bodies over time. They should learn how balanced hormones and healthy cells result in our best and healthiest lives as well as mental state. We then can understand how our daily choices impact our health.
Exercise: Exercise helps reduce stress and it maintains a healthy metabolism which is our motor that keeps everything running correctly. Exercise also helps maintain a healthy hormone balance and helps keep hormone production running.
Diet: A healthy diet of lean protein, healthy fats, and a variety of vegetables provide the nutrients we need to improve overall health. Foods such as eggs, nuts, fish and avocados are rich in nutrients that can help grow healthy hair.
Stress Management: Stress has been shown in clinical studies to trigger the release of cortisol, a hormone that can also stimulate the production of DHT. Thus, stress management techniques such as meditation, yoga, and deep breathing can help reduce both stress related hair loss and DHT levels.
Stop & Regrow Program: The best and safest way to address your hair health issues is under the guidance of a hair regrowth expert. Stop & Regrow uses precision medicine to diagnose and treat hair-related problems systematically. It solely focuses on the underlying biochemical causes of hair fall and baldness.
The End Note
Hair loss is a symptom of something deeper going on. It’s your body’s way of telling you something is wrong. Take the time to listen, learn and treat the underlying cause of your hair loss. Your future you will thank you!
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