Broccoli, a DHT inhibitor? REALLY??
Yes indeed, really! According to researchers at UC Berkelely, a chemical that is produced when digesting broccoli, called 3,3'-diindolylmethane (DIM), can block DHT. Apparantly the effect is a powerful one. DIM can also help prevent the growth of prostate cancer cells. As you are probably aware by now, DHT, a potent androgen is bad news for your scalp hair if you are genetically susceptible to hair loss or baldness. As such, just as with finasteride (the active ingredient in Proscar and Propecia), this effect of DIM is probably good news for your scalp hair.
I believe that every little thing that you can do to inhibit DHT in your blood stream in a healthful way, helps. Whether you use Propecia or not, it just makes sense for hair loss sufferers to take advantage of findings like this. Eat more broccoli, drink more green tea. Eat more vegetables and fruit in general. I think they contain many compounds and nutrients that we still haven't learned the effects of, but that can potentially help (if not with hair loss, than with your overall health in general!). A UC Berkeley press release also mentions brussel sprouts and kale as having similar benefits to broccoli. These veggies all contain a compound called indole-3-carbinol (I3C), which gets converted by the body during digestion to DIM. DIM acts by binding to the same receptor on the cells that DHT binds to.
So eat your broccoli and brussel sprouts because they are good for you.
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