When it comes to dandruff, nothing can be more embarrassing then walking around with white flakes on top of your head and shoulders.  Even the best dandruff shampoo sometimes isn’t enough to control the embarrassing symptoms of a dry scalp.

Many are under the impression that dandruff is an external issue, when in reality, dandruff is really an internal issue.  Poor diet and gut dsybosis are the primary causes of dandruff.  Pouring harmful chemicals onto your scalp and then rubbing in vigorously in hopes to get rid of dandruff is ill advised and not good for your health.  The skin is the largest organ in the entire body and will absorb pretty much anything you put on it.  Catch my drift?

Luckily, you can stop looking for the best dandruff shampoo because this is not a solution to the problem, but rather a harmful band aid.  In order to correct a dandruff issue, it must be addressed internally.  This means cleaning up the diet and introducing key super foods which can help get rid of dandruff naturally.

What is Dandruff?

To put it simply, dandruff is simply dead pieces of skin that flake off as white specks.  It’s caused by a yeast-like fungus called malassezia globosa that feeds on the oils produced by the scalp (1).

Normally, a healthy body and immune system would be able to defend itself against this yeast-like fungus.  As mentioned before, improper diet and dsybosis within the gut microbiome is the number one reason for the occurrence of dandruff.

Research has shown that the majority of an individual’s immune system is controlled and maintained by the gut microbiome (2)(3).

As a result, if an individual’s diet is full of processed foods and sugar, the gut microbiome will inevitably suffer and the immune system will not be a strong as it should be.

Home Remedies for Dandruff

Before any type of home remedies are utilized as a dandruff treatment, it’s vital that the diet be addressed.  The Weston A. Price foundation is a great resource and contains numerous amounts of information in regards to diet.  You can also grab this FREE guide that outlines what an ideal diet should look like for optimal health.

Below are the top 5 natural home remedies for dandruff

1. Excessive Sugar Intake and Dandruff

It seems obvious but many are mindlessly eating copious amounts of sugar and wondering why their immune system is weak and symptoms such as dandruff are arising.  Sugar feeds yeast, plain and simple.  The more sugar that you eat, the more dysfunction you will cause in the gut microbiome.

Sugar should be limited to only natural organic fruits.  Even an abundance of natural sugars found in fruit can cause dsybosis in the gut.  For this reason, limit your intake to only a couple servings a day.

2. Cod Liver Oil

Cod liver oil is excellent for those dealing with a dry scalp.  The rich source of vitamins and minerals found in cod liver oil strengthen the immune system and build the body.

The omega 3’s found in cod liver oil can help protect the body against dandruff as well as dry cracking skin.  In fact, a symptom of omega 3 fatty acid deficiency is dandruff, dry skin, dry hair, dry patches on skin and fraying fingernails (4).

3. Fermented Foods

Fermented foods are a great option for anyone suffering from dandruff.  The probiotics found within fermented foods can help bolster the integrity of the gut microbiome, which in return boosts the immune system.   When the immune system is strong, it can better fight of pathogenic yeast and fungus’s such as dandruff.

In fact, one study showed that adding fermented foods into the diet improved both gut health and mental health issues such as depression (5).

You can read our post here to learn more about fermentation and how to start making your ferments at home.

4. Eat More Grass Fed Beef

The incorporation of high quality grass feed meats and organ meats cannot be emphasized enough for those dealing with dandruff.  If you’re a vegan or vegetarian, be sure to read out post here on why these diets are dangerous and eventually cause serious health issues.

Grass fed beef contains an abundance of highly bioavailable vitamins and minerals.  In fact, they contain the most bioavailable form of zinc out of any other food on the planet.  Zinc is essential for maintaining the health of the gut microbiome and the immune system.

Numerous studies show that zinc can help prevent and control dandruff by normalizing the sebum production of the scalp (6).

The best sources of zinc are grass fed red meat or liver.  Desiccated bovine liver from grass fed cattle is also a great option for those wishing to boost their zinc levels.

5. Increase Your Vitamin C Intake

Vitamin c from whole foods should be at the top of your list when trying to combat a dry scalp problem.  The vitamin c found in whole foods such as camu camu can help bolster the immune and improve the production of collagen in the body.

Research has found that several cells of the immune system require adequate amounts of vitamin c in order to perform correctly.  A vitamin c deficiency results in a reduced resistance against certain pathogens, while a higher supply of vitamin c will actually enhance several immune system parameter (7).

We highly advise that you stay away from synthetic vitamin c (ascorbic acid) and choose a whole food source of vitamin c such as camu camu.  The vitamin c found in camu camu is 20x more than that found in an orange!