4 Common Reasons Why Men Have Man Boobs - And How To Solve Them

Modern men increasingly are suffering from man boobs. Men with this problem experience embarrassment in a whole range of social situations. While it isn't considered medically dangerous, unless coupled with obesity, it does impact enormously on a man's self-esteem.

Many men who have developed breasts are not aware that not man boobs are the same. In truth there are two distinct types: gynecomastia and pseudo-gynecomastia.

The exact cause of gynecomastia is unknown, but it is commonly believed to be the result of hormonal imbalance between the male and female sex hormones testosterone and estrogen. Here the glandular tissue swells, making it look similar to breasts.

Whereas, pseudo-gynecomastia occurs when a man is overweight or obese. In this case fat builds up over the pectoral muscles, giving them the appearance of breasts. So, I will outline some of the more common reasons for each type.

There are a myriad of factors that are suspected of being responsible for the development of gynecomastia. One of the simplest to deal with is those that are medical related. There are certain medications that are known to have the development of man boobs as a side effect. Moreover, certain medical conditions can cause the development of gynecomastia. So, a change of medication and treating the underlying medical condition should remove the man boobs.

Another common reason for a man to develop gynecomastia is substance abuse. Illegal drugs like marijuana, heroin, methamphetamines, and even anabolic steroids can result in man boobs. Not just illegal drugs can cause gynecomastia: both high alcohol and caffeine consumption are linked to this problem. It is simplistic to say the solution here is to stop the substance abuse, as usually there is a variety of psychological factors that also come into play.

Hormone altering chemicals are also suspected of being a reason why men are now getting man boobs. This includes a common chemical Bisphenol A (BPA), which is found in a range of plastics. Another possible toxin that could be responsible is the Teflon coated cookware that is so prevalent nowadays. So, it is a good idea to avoid plastics containing BPA and switch to an alternative to Teflon.

Unlike with gynecomastia, the reasons why a man has developed pseudo-gynecomastia are clear. Here it is the poor diet of processed foods and lack of exercise all too common today that are to blame. So, switching to a healthy diet and doing regular exercise are the solution.

The diet should be a mix of lean protein, whole grains, and lots of vegetables. The type of exercise done should be a mix of cardio to burn off the fat, and weight training to build strength and muscle tone. Men with gynecomastia also could benefit from this approach, as exercise can help raise a man's testosterone levels. Moreover, most processed foods are presented in plastic containers that could be leaching BPA.