They say you are what you eat. So if you’re suffering from male pattern baldness, does that mean you’re eating DHT? “What is DHT and how does it impact hair loss?” you ask. It’s the chemical that leads to androgenic alopecia (male or female pattern baldness)! Eating DHT, however, isn’t what causes your hair to fall out, although there’s plenty of ways in which diet does affect hair loss.

What is DHT?

To begin with, DHT (dihydrotestosterone) is the product of a chemical reaction that entails testosterone mixing with enzyme Type II 5-alpha reductase. When that happens in the scalp (and not in your stomach), those who have a genetic predisposition toward male or female baldness will experience hair loss. According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, upwards of 50 million men and 30 million women have androgenic alopecia to some degree! That can’t be changed by diet, although it can be exacerbated by stress.

Stress-Reducing Foods

Diet may reduce the severity of stress-induced hair loss. How? Because there are foods that can help reduce anxiety. Magnesium is often touted for its natural relaxation properties. It’s found in foods like spinach, tofu, rolled oats, and salmon. Citrus is high in vitamin C, which reduces the presence of cortisol, the stress hormone. And tofu, salmon, and soy are all high in Omega-3 Fatty Acids, which journals like Pharmacology, Biochemistry, and Behavior have noted for their associations with improved mood.

Diet & Vitamins

When WebMD reported on the connection between diet and healthy hair, they highlighted that Omega-3 Fatty Acids help keep your hair strong and shiny. Vitamins B6, B12, and folic acid do as well. Vegetarians and vegans are at risk of not getting enough of these B vitamins and, as a result, may need to take a supplement. Trace minerals like iron, magnesium, zinc, and biotin are important for hair as well, so you may need to take a multivitamin for that as well. Protein is indispensable for hair production, so make sure to consume plenty!

Get Your Calories!

When Healthline reported on the 9 signs that you’re not eating enough, number two was hair loss! That’s because no matter how important your hair might be to you, your body doesn’t prioritize it over organ function. So, one of the first things to stop when you don’t get enough calories is hair growth!

Coconut Oil

There are ways in which the constitutive elements of your diet may positively impact your hair that doesn’t involve eating. Rather than put it into your food, the popular Women’s Magazine Marie Claire recommends rubbing coconut oil into your locks to make them more luscious and into your scalp to help reduce dandruff. In total, the publication identified 10 ways coconut oil can give you the best-looking hair of your life. And that’s just coconut oil!

Conclusion

Unfortunately, there’s no food you can rub into your hair to keep DHT from inducing hair loss if you’re predisposed to androgenic alopecia.

Fortunately, scalp micropigmentation is an option. That’s when you get a cosmetic hair tattoo that makes it look like you just got a buzz cut. See the hairline results for yourself! Your hairdo will look as fresh as a farm to table salad. You can call the procedure a scalp tattoo, a hair tattoo, or tattoo hair. Just don’t call scalp micro pigmentation late for dinner!