Gynecomastia (male breasts) is on the rise. The term gynecomastia (male breasts) is becoming more widely known, but the derogatory terms, i.e., man boobs, bitch tits, and moobs to name a few, are more descriptive and hit home with a lot of men.
Excess breast tissue is a result for men who have a hormonal imbalance. The National Institute of Health states that 65% of men will be affected at some stage in their life with some form of gynecomastia. It used to be that most men seeking male breast reduction surgery were bodybuilders who used steroids, male models, and the aging male.
Since the ‘70s and ‘80s, there has been a gradual decline of testosterone in men. And since 1980 testosterone levels in men has dropped 25%. Chances of developing diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and gynecomastia double when testosterone levels decline.
Why are Testosterone Levels in Men Dropping?
Researchers are trying to determine why estrogen levels in men are increasing, and testosterone is decreasing by looking at current lifestyles.
You may have heard the warnings about Bisphenol A (BPA) and that it is something you want to avoid. BPA is a chemical that hardens plastic. The chemical is everywhere; in fact, 90% of us have some in our bodies now. BPA can be in plastic containers and bottles that hold food and beverages. The FDA believed that BPA was safe until 2010 when studies showed the chemical might be risky. BPA can alter your natural hormone balance; it is linked to many health issues, including gynecomastia.
How to Avoid BPA
Many products now claim to be BPA free as consumer awareness increases. It is advisable to store food in glass, stainless steel, or porcelain. When heating food in the microwave, do not use plastic as BPA can seep into food.
There may be BPA in the epoxy coatings in the lining of some canned foods; however, many manufacturers are removing BPA. It isn’t always noted if your canned goods are BPA free, you can check the color of the inside lining, if it is white it contains BPA, you want off white, copper color, reddish or yellow. Unfortunately, there have been instances of BPA found in some products that claim to be BPA free. For men who want to avoid BPA, it is better to eat fresh or frozen foods.
Is Soy Healthy?
Soy products have been considered a healthy food, but studies have shown significant amounts of soy may lead to gynecomastia. There was a story about a 60 year-old man with gynecomastia who was consuming 3 quarts of soy milk a day when he stopped on the advice of his endocrinologist, his man boobs disappeared. Different people have different reactions to soy; it is best to avoid any genetically modified organism (GMO) when purchasing soy; unfortunately, it is in the majority of soy products today.
Watch Your Hops!
Two alcoholic beverages a day can lower testosterone, and the hops in beer are known to contain estrogen. Not all hops are bad; it contains xanthohumol, which is known to have anti-clotting, anti-inflammatory, and antiviral properties. Note that your body metabolizes alcohol first and then may store food as fat.
For more information on this subject, you may read the entire article here.
See Your Gynecomastia Specialist for Evaluation
While all the causes for gynecomastia are not known, your gynecomastia specialist will want to review with you your lifestyle, diet, medications, and even hygiene products to rule out some of the suspected triggers of man boobs.
