There are two main reasons why men develop fat around the chest area. Man boobs can either be the result of weight gain or caused by a medical condition called gynecomastia. The latter is caused by a hormonal imbalance in the body. When the testosterone in the body reaches a very low level, one of the repercussions is the development of man boobs. Obesity is a leading problem in the world today and the main culprits are improper eating habits and lack of exercise. Weight gain and the loss of testosterone are actually correlated. Someone who eats the wrong kinds of food is susceptible to having low testosterone levels in the body which may lead to the development of chest fat. So it is important for all men to know the different types of foods that cause chest fat.
The most notorious food that may give you man boobs is meat and its by-products. These meat products that are available in supermarkets are most likely filled with estrogen. Many of today’s farmers inject hormones into their livestock without realizing the possible side effects. One such disadvantage is that these hormones find their way into man’s system which may cause the imbalance of the hormones in the body. As mentioned, this imbalance where testosterone is decreased may trigger the enlargement of a man’s chest. Since you still need protein and animal meat is a good source of the nutrient, you can consume organic meat.
Some nuts and seeds that contain high levels of estrogen are definite no-nos. Among them are almonds, anise seeds, cashews, walnuts, fennel seeds, flax seeds, sesame seeds and sunflower seeds.
Among the many types of foods that cause chest fat, you’d least expect fruits and vegetables to be among the list. Generally, fruits and vegetables are the best food to have in your diet when you wish to lose weight. However, fruits such as apples, blueberries, cherries, dates, dried apricots, dried prunes, peaches, pomegranates and raspberries contain high levels of estrogen that may hinder your fight against your man boobs. The same can be said with some vegetables and legumes like beets, carrots, chickpeas, red clover, cowpeas, cucumber, edamame, eggplant, garlic, alfalfa sprouts, licorice, mung bean sprouts and potatoes.
Some grains also cause hormone imbalance that triggers man boobs. They are barley, hops, oats, millet, tapioca and wheat. Since beer is made from hops, barley and wheat, it is quite obvious that you must refrain from drinking them.
Next to flax seed, soy contains the most estrogen. Avoid soybeans and soy products like tofu and soy yogurt as much as possible. Other foods that are high in estrogen that should be avoided are olive oil, eggs, dairy products and baker’s yeast.
Though all these types of foods that cause chest fat have their own benefits when it comes to health, it is advised to avoid them or at least moderate their consumption if you are suffering from gynecomastia and if you don’t want to have those dreaded man boobs.