In recent human history this is becoming more and more common. Why? Well, male hormones are all jacked up with the modern diets and chemical exposures. From those soy boys with low-T drinking their soy milk growing their man-boobs, to testosterone support supplements that actually boost estrogen, to BPAs and all sorts of other chemicals that the modern man gets into his system causing low-T and or an increase in estrogen, all leads to Gynecomastia. Because, now, so many men are affected by this, how is it reversed?
First, we need to really understand what it is. Gynecomastia (guy-nuh-koh-MAS-tee-uh) is an increase in the amount of breast gland tissue in boys or men, caused by an imbalance of the hormones estrogen and testosterone [1]. Now, it is possible to have more of a fatty build up and not actual breast tissue that can appear to be similar. But, first, understand, it is not a serious condition in and of itself. It may be uncomfortable and some may feel ashamed or embarrassed, but that is the extent of the issue.
So, what causes it, exactly? Gynecomastia is triggered by a decrease in the amount of the hormone testosterone compared with estrogen. The decrease can be caused by conditions that block the effects of testosterone, reduce testosterone or increase your estrogen level. That’s it. That’s why. This is why healthy dieting and limiting certain chemical exposure needs to be at the forefront of men’s minds.
Some MEDICATIONS may cause this as well. More common medications that can cause this are ADHD medications that contain amphetamines, such as Adderall; Anti-anxiety medications, such as diazepam (Valium); Tricyclic antidepressants; and Antibiotics. (You ever notice how big pharma meds treat one problem, but also cause other problems, that they also have drugs for? $$$)
So, if you have or are growing man-boobs, there are some actions you can take:
Burn Body Fat
Have you ever noticed how female body builders and female athletes generally do not have voluptuous breasts? How most female body builders have breast implants but are so obvious because of the lack of fatty tissue around their implants? These women have essentially burned off all the fat stored in their breast tissue. Thus, they have shrank their breast size considerably. For males with fatty breast tissue, do the same, burn off body fat. Your mid section will be the last to go as far as body fat goes, so the fat in the breast tissue should be easier to get rid of.
This can be done through proper dieting and controlling calorie intake to shrink fat storage, in combination with HIIT workouts that assist in the burning of body fat.
PS: Running actually increases the stress hormone and can reduce testosterone production a long with burning muscle too. Why do you think hardcore runners are muscleless twigs? Stick with HIIT and resistance training to burn the same amount of calories as running, without having to sacrifice muscle and testosterone.
But, this should NOT be the only thing done to prevent/fix man-boobs. Diet needs to be the primary focal solution.
Improve The Diet
If man-boobs are present, that means that your diet needs to be improved, period. Your diet assists or harms your hormone balance and testosterone production. When your hormones are out of wack and or you have low-T, man-boobs are a possible direct result. That is how you know you need to re-evaluate what you eat.
Fast food, microwaved foods in plastics, TV-dinners, dry foods that last a million years on the selves and never expire (sarcasm), high in trans fats fried foods, soy based foods, all these are destroying your testosterone and causing a hormonal imbalance with the various chemicals and preservatives they add in most of these fake foods. This trash is normal, it’s everywhere in America.
Stop drinking alcohol. This is one of the contributors to this condition.
Reduce you sugar and fat intake. Maintain a calorie deficit, and get your testosterone level checked by your doctor.
There are nutrients and supplements you can take that support healthy testosterone levels, naturally, without any artificial stimulant.
Environmental Affects
It’s not only what you willfully ingest and willingly put into your body, it may also be something that you do not knowingly put in your body that is impacting your hormones.
Lavender oils and tea tree oils have been shown to boost estrogen levels in men. All you have to do is rub that on your skin or breath it in. Second-hand smoke from cigarettes may negatively impacts your testosterones production as well. Quick smoking, asap. Cigarettes are one of the most destructive things you can do to yourself. It’s is just like a slow suicide. Quit that unhealthy shit.
When you eat out of a plastic container, you may be scraping some micro plastics into your food and eating it as well. Those microplastics go into your body and mess with your hormones. When you microwave food in a plastic container, the radiation from the microwave loosens up those plastic bonds and some can flake off into your food. BPAs are chemicals found in plastic that has been studied and determined to be linked to several cancers. The expiration date on bottled water, isn’t for the water, it’s for the plastic container…
And just imagine all the chemicals and all the various particles that float around in your tap water.
Also, being more knowledgeable and aware of the different kinds of ingredients in your food can go a long way too.
The sort of “Last ditch effort” and the more expensive and abrasive thing someone can do to get rid of their man-boobs is through breast reduction surgery. During this procedure, a plastic surgeon removes breast tissue to make breasts smaller. But, without changes to the activity level, diet, and environment, that tissue could just grow back.
How Long?
How long does it take to reduce the appearance of man-boobs? Well, that can vary on several factors such as your consistency with exercise, dieting, and staying away from environmental effects like smoking, alcohol, and plastics. The condition usually gets better on its own without advanced medical treatment. This may take from 6 months to 2 or 3 years [3].
Think about it though, 3 years of consistent solid dieting, weight lifting, and environmental awareness… the likelihood of boosting your testosterone, getting toned, ripped, and shaving off the fat in your man-boobs is extremely likely. This can even be done in less than a year for a lot of men. But, the biggest factor of its success, is you.
Sources:
The Life Gym 