One of the more embarrassing side-effects of drinking alcohol is that many men seem to develop “man-boobs”, as extra tissue builds up in their chest.
You can google “man-boobs” and you’ll get a million results, with everything from silly jokes to drastic remedies, including surgery (here’s a good, in-depth article).
Needless to say, enlarged breasts and shrunken testicles are characteristics that most men do not want. This is VERY serious stuff for the guys who suffer from it. So, are man-boobs a reality? Can alcohol really cause this?
The Truth About Man-Boobs
Yes, alcohol can directly cause man-boobs. And for two primary reasons: First, the increased intake of calories can add a great deal of fatty tissue to the chest area, especially in men who are prone to gynecomastia (male breast enlargement).
Secondly, the Hops in beer is converted to estrogen in the body. Your over-worked liver simply cannot adequately remove this excess estrogen.
The result of all this extra estrogen is that the male body will begin to exhibit female characteristics, such as breast enlargement and loss of body hair. You will also experience testicular atrophy (shrunken testicles), as the estrogen begins to exert its dominance in your body.
How to Rid Yourself of Man-Boobs
The quickest way to rid oneself of man-boobs is to QUIT drinking as soon as possible. You must allow your body to heal. By removing alcohol from your life you are removing one of the MAIN CAUSES of gynecomastia and testicular atrophy. The result of quitting drinking is that over the next few weeks and months your body will begin to heal itself.
You also will want to start exercising again. A simple daily walk and a couple of days of weight training will work wonders for you. You’ll lose weight (often in the chest area) and tone up those flabby muscles.
So, there you have it. Are you battling “man-boobs”? Then do something about it! Make up your mind to quit (or cut back substantially) on your drinking, and start a moderate exercise program. Before you know it you’ll be happy to see that man in the mirror, and feeling better than you have in years. ♦