It’s mightn’t be an issue for celebrities sporting moobs, but it’s become a hot topic as the boomer generation puts on years and pounds or kilos, and there are varied ideas about be moob-free – from surgery to exercise.

Like most things in life applying a little discipline and restraint can make big inroads to the flesh mountain… Surgery is drastic and expensive; commonsense is available to all and costs nothing.

Ten Steps to Reduce Manboobs

1) Eat whole foods and cut processed foods
Our body’s production of estrogen can be affected by eating a lot of processed and chemically treated foods. Eat hormone free or organic meat, and do not eat fat on meat or poultry where the chemicals accumulate. Avoid artificial additives.

2) Reduce the effects of environmental estrogen
Never heat food in plastic containers either in a conventional oven or microwave. Avoid wrapping food in plastic wrap. Use glass or ceramic containers to store food. Avoid solvents.

3) Eat more cruciferous vegetables
Eat more cabbage, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, kale, mustard, turnip, bok choy, kohlrabi and rutabaga (swede). They contain the phytochemical indole-3-carbinol, that improves detox of environmental estrogen and improves the balance of all hormones.

4) Increase Calcium D-glucarate
D-glucarate is a natural subtance is found in apples, oranges, broccoli, spinach, and Brussels sprouts that will help detox  estrogens, according to The detox specialist. Take it in supplement form as well. One 500 mg tablet or capsule of Calcium D-Glucarate is equivalent to the phytonutrient activity found in 82 pounds of fresh fruit and vegetables.

5) Remove beer from your diet.
Beer is capable of raising estrogen levels as well as building the famed “beer gut”.

6) Find an exercise regime you enjoy and stick to it
Ideally combine cardio and strength training. Do high intensity workouts but low reps.

Rowing is a great way to get your heart rate up to fat burning level. Aim for intervals of 1:3. That means really push hard for 30 seconds, take it easy for 1.5 minutes and repeat 15 times.

7) Increase natural plant estrogens and fibre
Phytoestrogens are compounds that occur naturally in plants and are thought to help protect against the effects of estrogen dominance. The two that have been studies the most are isoflavones, such as soy and lignans which occur in linseed, grains and vegetables.

There are over 300 foods are known to contain phytoestrogens. The main sources are soy beans, tofu, tempeh, soy beverages, linseed (flax), sesame seeds millet, barley, rye, dried beans, lentils and fennel.

8) Workout to build muscle
Cable Crossovers are a great way to tone up your pectoral muscles. You’ll need a pulley station for this exercise. Grab the handles of each side of the station and stand with your arms extended at about shoulder level. Slowly bring your arms together and cross them in front of you. Bring them back to their original position and then repeat. Shoot for about 4 sets of 10 reps.

9) Find a doctor who understands integrative medicine.
Get your hormone levels checked and use bio-identical hormone or iodine treatments if required.

10) Keep smiling
Whatever you decide on, you need to feel good about it, not stressed. Maintain your humour, and give yourself a stress break. It’s your personality and attitude that will count for more with the women in your life.

And while “moobs” as they are being called are a source of embarrassment for many men, it seems many more – possibly all of the above – are relaxed about “letting it all hang out” and embrace what nature has given them.

Manboobs have got a fancy clinical name (gynecomastia) and can be caused by serious health problems; however in many cases it’s just as likely to be the result of too many years of good (make that hard) living.

Do Moobs Make a Man Less Attractive?

It’s obvious man breasts are not too much of a turn off if like Jack Nicholson you’ve got wealth, power and celebrity to offset them. (BTW do you reckon that picture was photo-shopped – does he really look like that these days?)

But moobs are usually seen as a source of embarrassment – typified in this YouTube spoof:

Popular wisdom says women put the size of a man’s butt in first place on the things they look for in a man’s physique, so don’t obsess on how you’ll never get another date. Many women find mobs easier to accept than a big beer gut, but there’s no doubt having an over developed chest can knock a man’s confidence if it’s obvious it’s unwanted and not just well-developed pecs. (A lot of women don’t like big pecs either because they’re too much like mobs.)

Having a great sense of humour and being able to act naturally are a big plus in appealing to women, but if “man breasts” are dimming your confidence, there’s plenty you can do in the way of a healthy eating program and regular exercise to tone them down….

Why You Develop Manboobs

• Putting on too much weight,
• Getting heavy doses of environmental estrogen
• Heavy alcohol, marijuana, methamphetamine or heroine use
• An overactive thyroid,
• Side effects with some cancers,
• The use of pharmaceutical drugs for  some serious conditions (steroids, ulcer, heart and anti-depressant drugs,)
• And products containing tea tree or lavender oil

Can all lead to the development of manboobs.
How Are Moobs Treated?

Some people have surgery to remove the excess tissue, but this is an extreme measure. I 

If caused by medicine or disease, stopping the medicine or treating the disease will often cure the gynecomastia.

If caused by a lack of testosterone and increase in estrogen, hormonal treatment may be prescribed.

Otherwise disciplined exercise and a healthy eating regime can do wonders, but the results won’t be instant.

How To Get Rid of Manboobs gives a lot more information about best ways to treat manboobs.