Hormones are chemical messengers that play a wide variety of roles in the body. They form part of the endocrine system, and when it comes to men, the hormone that generally takes reign is testosterone. This is a steroid hormone and is also considered the primary sex hormone in the male body.
Men also have some estrogen. However, if levels of this hormone get too high in the male body, it can cause complications to develop. High estrogen in men can cause fat gain, mental decline, and more. Let’s look at the role of estrogen in men and what happens if levels get too high.
Do men need estrogen?
While most people think of estrogen as the female hormone and testosterone as the male hormone, both hormones are needed for every person’s’s well-known that testosterone plays a role in sexual function among men. However, a lesser-known fact is that estrogen also contributes to overall sexual behavior and libido in the male body.
Men also need estrogen for spermatogenesis, which is the term used to describe the production of sperm.
Other important reasons why estrogen plays a role in men include:
- It helps to maintain bone density in men.
- The hormone assists with the resorption, as well as the formation of bone.
- It has an impact on neurotransmitters, which means estrogen also plays a role in cognition and mood.
- Research shows that estrogen in the male body is also vital to protect the cardiovascular system.
While estrogen is really a crucial hormone in men, it should be noted that too high levels can cause problems.
What are the Signs of High Estrogen in Men?
When estrogen and testosterone levels are not adequately balanced, issues arise.
There are multiple ways in which high testosterone in men can affect a person. Some of the potential symptoms can include:
- Gynecomastia is a term that refers to an enlargement of breast tissue.
- Signs of erectile dysfunction include difficulty getting or maintaining an erection.
- Low sperm count can have an adverse effect on fertility.
- Reduced libido, making it harder to participate in sexual activities.
- Changes in mental health, including mood swings.
- Fatigue and a sense of low energy.
In addition to the sitit’s it is also important to note that high estrogen in men has been linked to a greater risk of developing certain types of cancers.
What Causes High Estrogen in Men?
Once you know more about the symptoms of high estrogen in men, you might notice some of them in yourself. Understanding the potential causes offers two significant benefits. First, you can determine if you are at risk, providing a clearer view of whether your symptoms may be related to hormonal imbalances. It also gives you a series of preventative measures you can take to avoid high estrogen in men.
Some of the most common reasons why men have higher than normal estrogen levels include:
- Obesity: A widespread cause of high estrogen in men is obesity. When men have excessive fat accumulation in their bodies, an increased amount of aromatase is present, a type of enzyme that converts testosterone into the estrogen hormone.
- Dietary habits: Certain foods actually contain plant-based or animal-based estrogens. These are also known as phytoestrogens and can mimic the actions of estrogen in a person’s body. In addition to this, an unhealthy diet contributes to weight gain, which can lead to obesity.
- High stress: We all experience anxiety from time to time. However, if stress becomes chronic, that’s not good for y u. It leaves too much cortisol in your body, which can disrupt the natural hormonal balance.
- Environmental factors: Additionally, external environmental factors can have a negative impact on estrogen levels and overall hormone balance in men. Synthetic compounds like BPA and parabens, for example, can act as endocrine disruptors.
How Can Men Balance Hormone Levels?
Some things can be done without medicine to help balance hormone levels.
A combination of dietary changes, lifestyle adjustments, and adjustments to your physical activity level can all be effective starting points for balancing your hormone levels.
Certain foods are recommended for controlling estrogen levels, such as:
- Red grapes, which contain natural estrogen blockers such as proanthocyanidins and resveratrol, are considered to be both offense and defense molecules that promote good health.
- Sesame seeds, flax seeds, and whole grains like oats, rice, and corn contain micronutrients and polyphenols, which are abundant antioxidants.
- Green teas also contain polyphenols.
- Shiitake and portobello mushrooms naturally reduce aromatase, which promotes estrogen production.
- Pomegranates are high in phytochemicals, which block estrogen production.
- Cruciferous vegetables, like broccoli or kale, also contain phytochemicals.
Ongoing research continues to look at the relationship between these foods and hormone levels in men.
Additional Tips For Balancing Estrogen
Lifestyle changes are also vital if you are serious about not only controlling estrogen production but also living a healthy life.
Try to relieve the stress in your life. Reducing the amount of stress hormones will reduce the overproduction of estrogen.
Limit or eliminate alcohol intake. Alcohol puts a burden on your liver, an organ essential for both metabolizing and clearing out estrogen from your body. Too much alcohol can also lead to weight gain, which further contributes to the increase in estrogen. Decrease the percentage of body fat in relation to the percentage of the body’s muscle mass by exercising regularly.
Try not to use plastic containers or plastic wraps for food storage because the plastics can absorb into your food. There are BPA-free bottles and other plastic containers available, which have become more popular in modern da s. It might be a good idea to switch to these if you often use plastic containers.
Also, learn to read the ingredients in your body wash and shampoo, as some are made with parabens that contain estrogen.
What are the Risks of High Estrogen in Men?
Living with elevated levels of estrogen in the body increases the risk of growing large male breasts, of becoming diabetic, of having a stroke, and of getting certain cancers like breast cancer. The high estrogen isn’t a direct cause, but can be a contributing element along with other associated factors.
Men can also begin to experience signs of erectile dysfunction if they do not address this hormone imbalance in their bodies.
The symptoms of high estrogen in men may start subtly. You may not immediately notice the signs of high estrogen in men. However, when this problem isn’t addressed, the high estrogen in men’s symptoms can become more noticeable over time.
You may also begin to notice a reduction in muscle mass and an increase in fat accumulation in your abdominal area. This can lead to even more problems, such as obesity, and increase your risk of metabolic disorders.
How can Androgenix help?
Hormone imbalances are pretty common in men. Androgenix is here to help you assess your situation and determine the most suitable treatment plan for your specific needs.
Getting started is as simple as contacting us to schedule your first consultation.
