Attention all men

If you are a man and you're tired of hearing about female hormone problems and 'women's issues', then you should read this.

Many men today are unknowingly experiencing a hormone shift that is giving them health problems similar to women's.

As men age, their testosterone (the dominant male hormone) levels naturally decrease. As a result, the ratio of male-to-female-hormones shifts and oestrogen (the dominant female hormone) starts to become dominant in men's bodies, slowly making their 'female-like' symptoms more prominent.

The problem is, oestrogen levels in men's bodies are not only increased due to natural changes; men today are more and more exposed to hormones and hormone-like substances that are coming from their diet and environment.

Where are hormones coming from?: Many animals are pumped with hormones (mainly oestrogen) to make them grow fatter and faster. As a result, many of the animal products that we consume contain hormones that we have no control over. Examples of such products are meat, poultry, milk, cheese, eggs, etc.

Sugar is another reason for hormone imbalance. When you eat too much sugar, your body produces high insulin levels. Too much insulin shifts the balance of male and female hormones in the body, allowing female hormones to become more dominant.

These days, people are consuming more sugar than ever before. Sugar is not only found in chocolates and desserts but also in cereals, fizzy drinks, alcohol, juices and even some pasta sauces.

Furthermore, with the increase in prescriptions for birth control pills and hormone replacement therapy, as well as the increase in hormonal treatments for animals, an excess of hormones is flushing out into the sewage system, then reintroduced into water circulation. So, even if you don't drink tap water, the water is still used to treat crops and feed animals.

Hormones are also coming from environmental toxins that enter your body and act just like hormones. They are called xeno-oestrogens and come from a number of sources including; the polluted environment, pesticides used on fruits and vegetables, smoking, mercury fillings, fluoride and plastic bottles.

What are hormones doing to you?: In women excess hormones cause PMS, breast pains, period problems, infertility, and even different cancers of the reproductive organs; whereas in men, effects of dominant female hormones include:

Reduction in muscle mass and strength.

Feminisation of the male body (e.g. increase in breast size, or even shrinking of the male appendage).

Weight gain, especially around the abdomen.

Mood swings and depression.

Loss of sex drive, and possibly impotence.

Infertility and low sperm count.

Higher risk of diseases like prostate cancer, heart disease, and diabetes.

Lowered immunity and less resistance to colds and infections.

Memory loss and accelerated ageing.

How to reclaim your manhood: Start by looking at all the different possible sources of hormones or hormone-like substances in your diet and lifestyle. Do you smoke? Are you exposed to a polluted environment at work or at home? Do you drink a lot of coffee and tea? Do you eat lots of dairy products? Red meat? Alcohol? Sugar and desserts? All these factors contribute to your body's hormone levels.

Identify the problem and then introduce steps to help rebalance your hormones. Start by replacing animal fats and trans fats (e.g. dairy products and animal fats, fried foods, etc.) with 'good' fats such as raw nuts and seeds. Add more fibre from wholegrains such as brown rice, oats, rye bread, beans and pulses. Fibre flushes out excess hormones and so does regular exercise.

Finally, reduce your stress levels and eat foods that naturally help combat an assortment of health problems. These foods include: Raw honey, ginger, garlic, broccoli, parsley and flax seeds to name but a few.

Studies have shown that men are a lot less likely to see a doctor for a health problem than women, especially if it concerns their reproductive health. If you suspect you may have a hormone-related problem, find someone you trust and talk about it.

And, for all of you parents out there, make sure you watch what hormones or 'hormone-like' substances your children are consuming.

Children today are reaching puberty much earlier than 20 or 30 years ago, and they are showing signs of hormonal imbalance such as anger, irritability, acne and fat around the belly.

Hormones are not just a female problem, they affect men, women, and children. Make sure you're doing what it takes to keep yourself healthy.

I will leave you to ponder this quote by Robert Cohen: "When it comes to food and semen quality, ask the expert. The research of Dr Jaime Mendiolas shows that antioxidants found in fresh fruits and vegetables help to improve the quality of semen. When the quality of semen is compared between those eating from different food groups, milk drinkers come last."

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