Nuts – especially walnuts can help boost SHBG and thus helps reduce androgen levels, you will need about 30 grams of nuts daily to see a benefit! (Kalgaonkar, et al., 2010). Vitamin D – supplementing with Vitamin D to ensure adequate vitamin D levels (always check with a blood test before considering supplementation!
Research shows low-glycemic or low-carb diets can lower insulin, androgens, and improve ovulation and symptoms like acne and excess hair growth. Focus on whole, minimally processed carbs from vegetables, fruits, legumes, and nuts to blunt blood sugar spikes, rather than eliminating carbs.
Strength Training. Strength training significantly changes body composition, which lowers high levels of androgens in females [3]. For a general prescription, strength train 2 to 3 times a week with a rest day or two in between sessions to allow for all the beneficial adaptations to take place.
Natural Products as Antiandrogens
Natural antiandrogens are used mostly to either decrease testosterone synthesis (white peony, licorice, and spearmint) or reduce DHT level by inhibiting 5-alpha reductase (red reishi, saw palmetto, and Camellia sinensis).
Therefore zinc both lowers androgens and supports optimal androgen metabolism therefore not only reducing symptoms of PCOS but also supporting the root drivers of PCOS too.
Al-Bayyari N′ et al. [36] has reported that vitamin D3 at a treatment dose of 50,000 IU per week improved 25(OH)D levels and decreased the hirsutism scores and androgen levels of overweight women with PCOS.
Red reishi, commonly known as LingZhi in Chinese, is a mushroom thought to have many health benefits. In a research study exploring the anti-androgenic effects of 20 species of mushrooms, reishi mushrooms had the strongest action in inhibiting testosterone (3).
Here, we provide evidence that epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), the major polyphenol in green tea, is a direct antagonist of androgen action.
Testosterone blockers, also known as anti-androgen drugs, are used to block the masculinizing effects of testosterone in transgender women. Aldactone (spironolactone) is most commonly used, but other drugs like Propecia (finasteride), Avodart (dutasteride), and flutamide may also be prescribed.
PCOS belly occurs when you develop excess fat or weight gain around your abdomen. This symptom often occurs due to an underlying diagnosis of polycystic ovary syndrome. Hormonal imbalances and insulin resistance due to PCOS can influence your weight, causing you to gain unwanted weight.
Findings suggest that flaxseed may have a profound impact on testosterone levels, and also may diminish symptoms associated with hyperandrogenism, such as hirsutism. The reductions in androgen levels observed in this case study far surpass those reported with any other dietary intervention conducted to date.
Beans and other protein-rich legumes instead of meat. Non-starchy vegetables such as leafy greens (spinach, kale, escarole, endive, lettuce, etc.), tomatoes, mushrooms, peppers, broccoli, cauliflower, snow peas, celery and fennel. Whole grains, such as brown rice, barley, sorghum and others.
Improving blood glucose levels & insulin resistance management – high circulating insulin levels exacerbate ovarian dysfunction and interfere with androgens too, so it's a bit of a vicious cycle, so getting your blood glucose management under wraps with dietary management and exercise and other strategies, a moderate ...
This can be observed after both resistance and endurance acute exercises. For chronic exercise/training, the picture is definitely less clear and there are even circumstances where exercise leads to a decrease of circulating androgens.
Spearmint Tea
Some studies have suggested that certain teas or tea extracts may help improve PCOS symptoms. This is especially true of spearmint tea, which is known to have anti-androgenic effects.
Both matcha and green tea are rich in polyphenols, especially catechins. Catechins have antioxidant effects, meaning they fight oxidative stress and reduce inflammation, both of which can improve hormone balance.
Dietary supplements that contain vitamins B6 and E are also believed to help get rid of unwanted hair growth in the facial areas. For one, vitamin B6 is thought to help lower testosterone in women and inhibit prolactin hormone production.
Symptoms of high androgens in females include acne, excessive hair growth, and irregular or absent periods. This is commonly due to polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a hormonal disorder that impacts females and leads to cysts or small sacs found in the ovaries, which are glands that produce eggs.
Nuts like almonds and peanuts, as well as seeds like pumpkin seeds and sunflower seeds, reduce facial hair growth.
Zinc improves ovarian function, thereby decreasing androgens and increasing progesterone, which is a natural androgen blocker. Zinc also downregulates the enzyme 5-alpha-reductase, reducing the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT).
In total, ten trials were identified in the search. The results suggested that various herbs, including fennel, licorice, spearmint, saw palmetto, green tea, combination of Zingiber and neem, curcumin, and teupolioside have the potential as herbal remedies for hirsutism.