Category: Gynecomastia

  • Estradiol Level in Men: Check Yourself If You Have These Nasty Symptoms

    Estradiol Level in Men: Check Yourself If You Have These Nasty Symptoms

    Estradiol Level in Men and Its Effects

    We’ve always had this notion that estrogen is for women as testosterone is for men. However, recent studies on estradiol level in men show that both hormones are considered important for both genders.

    That’s right, your estradiol level can greatly influence your wellness. Low levels promote the development of osteoporosis while high levels can increase the risk of cancer, arterial plaque, and prostatitis.

    This means that the levels of estradiol in your body should hit the so-called Goldilocks zone – the “just right” zone. Not scarce, not over-the-top, but just right. However, before we discuss what level of estradiol you should maintain in your body, let’s learn more about this hormone in general.

    Estradiol Explained

    Estradiol is a hormone that the human body synthesizes from cholesterol, just like all other steroids (testosterone included). It is a type of estrogen, a female sex hormone. There are abundant amounts of this hormone in the female breasts, ovaries, and adrenal glands. The placenta also produces estradiol during pregnancy.

    The human body needs estrogen to survive. As men don’t have organs that synthesize enough of it (like the ovaries in women), they produce estrogen through the action of the aromatase enzyme.

    The problem is that due to age and other health reasons, the human body can end up with too much aromatase activity. In turn, this leads to testosterone in the bloodstream getting converted to estradiol even if the body no longer needs estrogen. This decline in T levels can have unpleasant consequences including low libido, gynecomastia (the so-called “man boobs”), mood swings, and other manifestations of estrogen dominance.

    The good news is that if your estrogen production is in overdrive due to obesity and other factors, there are supplements and natural ways to inhibit aromatase and lower estrogen levels. And, of course, get your testosterone levels back to normal.

    frustrated man

    How is Estradiol Important to the Male Body?

    As mentioned bove, estradiol is also present in males, although in much lower levels than in the female body.

    In the human male body, estradiol is produced by the testes and the adrenal glands. This hormone protects sperm cells, although it is less important in sexual function in males than in females.

    There is a reason why nature created estradiol. Although it’s been proven that estradiol is important for bone density, the role of this hormone in the male body composition, sex drive, and other elements is still under study.

    One medical fact is certain, though. High levels of estradiol can cause breast tissue growth in males because of the decreased production of testosterone in the HPT (Hypothalamic–pituitary–thyroid) hormonal axis.

    low sex drive

    What Are the Effects of Low Estradiol Level in Men?

    We already know what high levels of estradiol can do the male body. But what about when they are abnormally low?

    In addition to decreased bone density, studies show that low levels of estradiol can result to even more serious illnesses.

    A recent study on the effects of high testosterone and low estradiol levels on the male body brought some surprising findings. The goal of the study was to evaluate the impact of these hormonal fatures on fat mass, erectile dysfunction, and libido.

    In the study, male participants were subjected to an increased testosterone level through Androgel supplementation. Half of the participants were subjected to suppressed estradiol by administering anastrozole which blocks the hormone from being converted from testosterone.

    Those subjected only to high testosterone levels showed decreased body fat in the subcutaneous and abdominal areas. Sexual desire and erectile function were also significantly increased.

    Those subjected to suppressed estradiol showed increased body fat in the subcutaneous and abdominal areas. There was also decreased improvement in erectile function and sexual desire.

    This clinical study shows that estradiol plays an important role in sexual function and body fat regulation, as well as bone density in males. Higher estrogen levels also can lead to a hormonal imbalance in men. To suppress estrogen, there are supplements that can help you.

    Another study has shown that simultaneous low estradiol and serum testosterone levels can increase mortality in males. 

    Here are other common signs of low estradiol levels:

    • Sleeping often and long
    • Unexplained fatigue
    • Retention of water or edema
    • Erectile dysfunction
    • Depression
    • Anxiety
    • Irritability

    There is a recent study that seems to point to the effect of low estradiol levels in people with type 2 diabetes. These patients show lower than normal levels of testosterone and estradiol.

    All of these studies show that estradiol plays an important role in men’s health and may even reduce mortality. Therefore, maintaining the proper level of this hormone is essential. To boost the levels of free testosterone in your body, supplements like DIM can help.

    What’s the Healthy Level of Estradiol in Men?

    According to studies, the healthy estradiol levels are between 10 to 40 pg/mL and 20 to 55 pg/mL, depending on the source. The latter study also indicates that the healthy range of free estradiol levels are at 0.3 to 1.3 pg/mL.

    blood test

    What Tests Are Available?

    The only way to check your estradiol levels is through a blood test. It can be the same blood test you do during your annual physical checkup, but this time your estradiol and free testosterone levels will be checked as well.

    Similar to keeping track of your blood pressure, blood chemistry, and cholesterol levels, regularly checking estradiol levels is important. Early detection of low levels of this hormone can help in preventing strokes, heart attacks, and bone fractures.

    There are medications, however, that can affect the test results like glucocorticosteroids, some antibiotics (like ampicillin and tetracycline), and phenothiazines which are mental disorder medications.

    Now that you have the results and you are below or above the range, there’s no need to worry. Each person reacts differently to low levels of estradiol.

    As long as you don’t feel the symptoms discussed in this article, you are safe. But if you do get the symptoms, it won’t hurt to consult your physician and get hormone treatment to increase your estradiol levels.

    A healthy estradiol level in men might be crucial to prevent and cure a lot of nasty illnesses. There are continuing studies about this hormone, and doctors are developing new methods of estradiol treatment.

  • Best Gynecomastia Pills: 10 Evidence-Ranked Supplements vs Tamoxifen vs Surgery

    Best Gynecomastia Pills: 10 Evidence-Ranked Supplements vs Tamoxifen vs Surgery

    Gynecomastia, more commonly termed as man boob or gyno, is a medical condition that seems to affect more and more men worldwide. It’s marked by the swelling of a man’s chest, almost resembling a woman’s breasts. Surgery used to be the only solution to gynecomastia, but now there are several supplements and medications on the market that address this problem. That said, here are the best gynecomastia pills and supplements that can help you get rid of those unsightly man boobs.

    Best Gynecomastia Pills Comparison Table

    Picture

    Product

    Brand

    Ingredients

    Gynexin Alpha Formula

    Gynexin Alpha Formula

    Gynexin

    • Guggulsterones
    • Theobromine Cacao
    • Green Tea Extract
    • Caffeine
    • Sclareolides
    • Chromium Picolinate
    Gynectrol

    Gynectrol

    Crazy Bulk

    • Caffeine
    • Sodium
    • Chromium
    • Green Tea Extract
    • Theobromine Cacao
    Testosterone Booster by PCT Extreme

    PCT Extreme Testosterone Booster

    PCT Extreme

    • Reservatrol
    • Fenugreek Extract
    • Cissus Quadrangularis
    • Tongkat Ali
    • Milk Thistle
    • Magnesium Stearate
    Ultimate GyneMax

    Ultimate GyneMax

    UGMarketing LLC

    • Caralluma Fimbriata Extract
    • Green Tea Extract
    Organic Mucuna Extract

    ​Organic Mucuna Extract

    ​Lost Empire Herbs

    • ​L-DOPA
    • ​Serotonin
    • 5-HTP
    • Mucuna Pruriens
    Alpha GPC Choline Supplement

    Alpha GPC Choline Supplement

    Double Wood Supplements

    • Alpha GPC
    • Gelatin
    • Cellulose
    • Magnesium Stearate
    Jarrow Formulas Toco-Sorb

    Jarrow Formulas Toco-Sorb

    Jarrow

    • Vitamin E
    • Palm Tacotrienol-Tocopherol Complex
    • Tocotrienols
    • Palm oil
    • Polyoxyl Castor Oil
    Agaricus Blazei Mushroom Extract

    Agaricus Blazei Mushroom Extract

    Swanson Superior Herbs

    • Agaricus Blazei Mushroom Extract
    NOW Indole-3-Carbinol Capsules

    NOW Indole-3-Carbinol Capsules

    NOW Foods

    • Flax Seed Lignan Extract
    • Silica
    • Magnesium Stearate
    • Cellulose
    • Rice Bran

    healthy workout

    A Quick Look at the Best Gynecomastia Pills

    Gynexin is a popular breast reduction product. It provides quick results and contains beneficial ingredients such as sclareolides and chromium.

    Gynectrol is a new product developed by CrazyBulk. It aids in weight loss and fat-burning, and claims to cause no side-effect.

    PCT Extreme is intended to treat steroidal gynecomastia. TS Brand Lab’s offering blocks estrogen and boosts testosterone.

    Ultimate GyneMax is essentially a fat burner. It’s suited for those that mainly have concerns with the amount of fat in their chest area.

    Organic Mucuna Extract is a dopamine ​powder. It ​has been shown to support Hormones, Testosterone, Adrenaline and more.

    Alpha GPC Choline Supplement is made with natural ingredients that enhance memory and cognitive functions.

    Jarrow Formulas Toco-Sorb promotes brain and cardiovascular health. It contains vitamin E, tocotrienols, and palm tacotrienol-tocopherol complex.

    Agaricus Blazei Mushroom Extract is a natural cellular defender. It supports the immune system and regulates blood sugar levels.

    NOW Indole-3-Carbinol Capsules facilitates detoxification and fights cellular damage by neutralizing free radicals.

    Reviews of the Best Gynecomastia Pills

    Gynexin Alpha Formula

    Gynexin is definitely a popular breast reduction pill and is formulated specifically for treating gynecomastia. It works relatively fast, as reported by many consumers who buy gynexin, and has an impressive success rate.

    Its ingredients include chromium picolinate, guggulsterone, the obromine (cacao), a proprietary blend, green tea extract, caffeine, and sclareolides—with each ingredient providing specific benefits.

    Gynexin Alpha Formula

    How does Gynexin work? The supplement reduces body fat, regulates blood glucose levels, fights inflammation, helps stimulate hormones, and boosts natural testosterone (there’s no need to take an anabolic steroid).

    Gynectrol Natural Alternative

    Gynectrol

    CrazyBulk’s Gynectrol is a natural supplement designed to aid in weight loss and fat-burning. It contains natural ingredients that get rid of man boobs without causing any side effect.

    Its ingredients are chromium, sclareolides, caffeine, theobromine cacao, green tea extract, guggulsterone, and L-arginine, which is the one responsible for increasing testosterone and aiding muscle development.

    This product is made in the USA, processed in FDA- and cGMP-certified facilities. However, note that it’s mainly recommended for those looking to burn chest fat and do not have breast tissue problems.

    PCT Extreme Testosterone Booster

    PCT Extreme is a 3-in-1 post-cycle therapy supplement that blocks oestrogen while boosting testosterone production. It restores normal hormone levels and supports liver health.

    Its ingredients are indole-3-carbinol, resveratrol, chrysin, fenugreek extract, tongkat ali, Cissus quadrangularis, divanillytetrahydrofuran, n-acetyl-l-cysteine, milk thistle, magnesium stearate, maltodextrin, and gelatin.

    Testosterone Booster by PCT Extreme

    This supplement is recommended for cases in which gynecomastia resulted from steroid use.

    Ultimate GyneMax

    Ultimate GyneMax

    There’s no denying that this supplement is essentially a diet pill. Aside from being touted as capable of burning chest fat, GyneMax is said to suppress appetite.

    Like others on this list, GyneMax contains caffeine, chromium, green tea, theobromine, and other similar ingredients. What makes it different though, is the addition of Caralluma extract – a new appetite suppressant.

    Organic Mucuna Extract

    ​Organic Mucuna Extract supports brain health by supplementing dopamine, a neurotransmitter that ​can easily​ be depleted by stress, drug abuse, and stimulants; and is an essential part of the brain properly working. ​This powder contains 30g of Mucuna—15.76% of which is L-Dopa, the direct precursor to dopamine.

    ​Organic Mucuna Pruriens ​has been shown to increase androgens levels, lutenizing hormone, dopamine, adrenaline, and noradrenaline while decreasing levels of prolactin and follicle stimulation hormone. It doesn’t contain GMO’s, fillers, preservatives, added sugar, artificial flavorings or colorings.

    Organic Mucuna Extract

    ​Mucuna dosage is recommended as one gram per day. This is approximately 1/2 of a teaspoon. Thus, it is best not taking in combination with anti-depressants, anti-anxiety drugs, or other mind altering substances.

    Double Wood’s Alpha GPC Choline Supplement

    Alpha GPC Choline Supplement

    Alpha GPC by Double Wood is a highly bioavailable supplement made in the USA. It’s made with natural ingredients and contains 300mg of Alpha GPC per capsule.

    Its other ingredients are gelatin, magnesium stearate, and cellulose. This supplement increases choline levels, which in turn enhances memory, improves focus, and increases motivation levels.

    Jarrow Formulas Toco-Sorb

    Jarrow Formulas’ Toco-Sorb promotes healthy brain and cardiovascular functionsby reducing LDL oxidation and affecting cholesterol biosynthesis.

    Each dose contains 15mg of vitamin E, 57mg of tocotrienols (d-alpha, d-gama, d-beta, d-delta), and 375mg of palm tacotrienol-tocopherol complex. The softgel itself is made up of water, gelatin, and glycerin.

    Jarrow Formulas Toco-Sorb

    Toco-Sorb doesn’t contain wheat, gluten, soybeans, dairy, egg, fish/shellfish, peanuts, and tree nuts.

    Agaricus Blazei Mushroom Extract

    Agaricus Blazei Mushroom Extract

    Swanson’s offering is what some call an all-natural cell protector. It contains 500mg of Agaricus blazei mushroom (hime matsutake) extract per serving.

    Its other ingredients include hypromellose, rice bran, calcium palmitate, maltodextrin, and silica. This product is standardized to 55 percent beta-glucan concentration for optimal potency.

    Agaricus blazei strengthens the immune system and helps maintain healthy blood sugar levels. Likewise, it aids in improving heart and liver health.

    NOW Indole-3-Carbinol Capsules

    Indole-3-Carbinol is a sulfur-containing compound found in cruciferous vegetables. It supports detoxification and neutralizes free radicals.

    Each dose of the supplement contains 200mg of Indole-3-Carbinol and 200mg of flax seed lignin extract. Its other ingredients include cellulose, rice bran, magnesium stearate, and silica.

    NOW Indole-3-Carbinol Capsules

    It doesn’t contain wheat, soy, milk, gluten, fish/shellfish, and tree nuts. The powerful antioxidants contained in this supplement can also help maintain proper hormone levels.

    best gynecomastia pills doctor consulting

    How Gynecomastia Pills Work

    Note that some supplements, despite being labeled as gyno pills, are simply diet pills.

    By burning overall body fat, excess fat in and around the chest will also be cut down, thereby reducing breast size. Most pills are to be taken in conjunction with regular exercise and reduced dietary fat consumption.

    As gynecomastia may also result from hormonal imbalance (e.g. low testosterone, excessive estrogen, elevated prolactin), medications that restore proper balance can help. Consuming a natural aromatase inhibitor (such as red wine, olive oil, and oyster) could also be beneficial.

    Natural pills are a safe non-surgical treatment to gynecomastia. They may increase testosterone, reverse breast enlargement, lower estrogen level, and burn fatty tissue (specifically subcutaneous adipose tissue) —addressing issues concerning both hormonal imbalance and pectoral fat.

    Gynecomastia Pills Benefits

    • Effective, possibly eliminating the need for invasive procedures
    • Much cheaper option compared to surgery
    • Do not require any recovery time
    • Not known to cause any adverse, long-term side effect

    Gynecomastia Pills Drawbacks

    • Results are not instant (as opposed to undergoing male breast reduction surgery)
    • Consistency and effort are needed to get the best outcomes
    • Diet pills may cause diarrhea, while medications that deal with hormonal imbalance may cause vomiting, nausea, skin rashes, muscle cramps, and weight gain, among others (these side effects are temporary and will improve as the body adjusts to supplementation)

    Safety of Gynecomastia Pills

    Given the lack of generally accepted dosage guidelines, it’s often best to follow what’s printed on the label of your chosen supplement. Look for specific intake instructions on treating enlarged breast.

    Aside from that, if you’re suffering from any condition, it’s recommended to check with a physician before starting any supplementation regimen.

    It’s also a must to purchase only from reputable manufacturers and retailers. Take time to read consumer reviews before making a purchase, even if you’re planning to buy straight from the manufacturer website.

    Conclusion

    As gynecomastia can be caused by several factors, taking a single supplement might not be enough. However, consulting with a physician becomes more important if you’re planning to take a combination of pills.

    In getting rid of man boobs, it’s also necessary to reduce your fat consumption, to eat healthy, and to get enough exercise – in conjunction with taking the best gynecomastia pills. Keeping your hormones balances is also key as it is because of a hormone imbalance you got the problem to begin with.

    Image credits: Amazon.com

  • 4 Best Prolactin Inhibitors: Reduce Refractory Period and Increase Libido

    4 Best Prolactin Inhibitors: Reduce Refractory Period and Increase Libido

    You need prolactin inhibitors – that’s something you’ll have to accept if you wish to reach peak health. Without its help, your testosterone level could suffer (and you should know by now that the primary male hormone greatly affects libido, mood, and vitality).

    Keep in mind that a high prolactin level is only needed by women, particularly whenever they have to breastfeed. As for men, it’s still unknown whether the hormone serves any real purpose – even if it does though, having prolactin (PRL) at low levels should be enough.

    So, what can you do to keep your serum prolactin minimal and protect yourself from dips in testosterone levels? Well, there are several supplements that can help you achieve that – and you’re going to learn all about them, including their pros and cons, right in this article.

    Vitamin E

    1. Vitamin E: It’s Not Just an Antioxidant

    Compared to many other supplements that can serve as a prolactin inhibitor, vitamin E is much cheaper and a lot safer.That doesn’t mean it’s not effective though – it’s capable of reducing serum prolactin level by more than 60 percent.

    What makes Vitamin E great is that it doesn’t interfere with beneficial hormones, including follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and testosterone.

    By using pregnenolone cream or pregnenolone supplements, the levels of the compound in the body increases, and this brings about various benefits such as fatigue relief, and delay of the aging process.

    You won’t have to worry about adjusting your other supplements and any of your hormone-boosting habits when taking Vitamin E.

    No matter how impressive the vitamin is, we’ll have to remind you that there’s still much to learn about it – and we’re not only talking about potency. Experts are merely starting to uncover how the vitamin interferes with central prolactin secretion.

    Fortunately, there’s nothing to worry about in terms of safety. You’ll be fine as long as you don’t take more than 300 IU daily– go past that and you might end up experiencing side effects like headache, nausea, fatigue, and even blurred vision.

    2. SAMe: Prevents Prolactin Release

    S-Adenosyl-L-Methionine (SAMe) is typically taken by those suffering from depression, liver disease, or arthritis. It has been recently discovered though, that the compound is more than capable of lowering the milk-production hormone.

    Taking SAMe for two weeks might actually be enough to cause a significant reduction in plasma prolactin. What makes SAMe really interesting, however, is that it doesn’t directly interfere with hormone production – it targets the thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) instead.

    TRH is mainly responsible for stimulating the anterior pituitary to release prolactin. SAMe makes that part of the pituitary gland much less responsive towards TRH, which in turn results to a drop in the amount of prolactin that gets released into the bloodstream.

    Despite being among the most potent prolactin inhibitors though, SAMe isn’t perfect. Nausea and stomach upset are among its common side effects, and there’s a small chance that you’ll get too stimulated by it –not taking more than 1,200 milligrams daily should keep you away from these problems.

    Vitamin B6

    3. Vitamin B6: Unlocking It’s  Potential

    Taking vitamin B6 is another excellent way of solving concerns associated with an elevated prolactin level.The micronutrient acts by mimicking dopamine (a chemical neurotransmitter), allowing it to inhibit prolactin secretion.

    The dopamine agonist also triggers the release of growth hormone. That’s something you should want, especially since it accelerates fat metabolismand prevents muscle loss – that, by extension, means that you’ll have an easier time attaining (and maintaining) your ideal physique.

    In addition to stimulating dopamine receptor sites, vitamin B6 comes with several other noteworthy benefits. Taking relatively high doses of the micronutrient should improve not only your blood pressure and mood, but also your blood sugar levels.

    If you’re often at the gym, you’ll probably need more than 200 milligrams of the vitamin daily. You need to watch out for side effects, however, like numbness (most often in the leg area), loss of balance, and allergy – although the first two are usually resolved by stopping your intake.

    4. Bromocriptine & It’s Risks

    Taking bromocriptine is another way of tricking your body into thinking that it has reached a high dopamine level (and thus, should stop from releasing the hormone prolactin). It’s actually classified as a drug and is mainstream medicine’s answer to hyperprolactinemia.

    Given that it suppresses the lactogenic hormone, it can help resolve issues with male mammary gland development – which, as you’ve probably guessed, is another effect of having excessive amounts of prolactin in the bloodstream.

    While it’s true that bromocriptine is much more potent than vitamin B6, we can’t recommend the former due to the side effects associated with it. Taking it could make you suffer from issues likeheartburn, depression, and fatigue – which are enough to affect your sense of well-being.

    Those aren’t the only things you’ll be worrying about though. The drug can also cause fainting, hallucinations, vomiting (blood), swelling throughout the body’s lower regions, and seizures – regardless of the things you do on a daily basis, suddenly experiencing any of those can put your life at risk.

    Prolactin inhibitors blood test

    Side Effects of High Prolactin Levels

    At this point, you know enough about some of the best options available for limiting prolactin receptor activity. However, you might still be wondering whether you should really worry about the hormone and its effects – well, there are signs that highlight the need for action.

    For the typical man, sexual function and desire become problematic when prolactin levels stay elevated.

    By using pregnenolone cream or pregnenolone supplements, the levels of the compound in the body increases, and this brings about various benefits such as fatigue relief, and delay of the aging process.

    Erectile dysfunction, loss of facial or body hair, a rise in estrogen levels, and even infertility might indicate a problem with the hormone’s abundance.

    Don’t forget that prolactin-release abnormalities have also been associated with Parkinson’s Disease. Clearly though, you don’t have to wait until you’ve checked all the signs – it’s best to act right away and be proactive about your health.

    Besides, instead of merely checking for concerns usually linked with high prolactin levels, you could visit your doctor and ask to have your blood tested. While the procedure’s simple, do note that you should have it done not more than four hours upon waking up.

    Don’t Wait Until It’s Too Late

    Most of the prolactin inhibitors we listed here are micronutrients that you should be supplementing with in the first place. Even though they can trigger mild side effects, they offer other remarkable benefits – and truth be told, you’ll have a hard time searching for much safer alternatives.

  • Progesterone Cream for Men: The Andropause Antidote

    Progesterone Cream for Men: The Andropause Antidote

    ​Progesterone is commonly known as the pregnancy hormone, but there’s a growing trend these days in the use of progesterone cream for men. Progesterone is a very important hormone even for men and comes with plenty of benefits.

    Progesterone can be used to increase testosterone levels, fight hair loss and man boobs, lower estrogen levels and keep men healthy when aging. It turns out that progesterone is more than just a pregnancy hormone for women.

    Progesterone and Men: The Crucial Balancing Act

    Progesterone helps maintain balance between testosterone and estrogen. It keeps estrogen levels low to allow testosterone levels to stay high. Progesterone is also the precursor of the stress hormone cortisol and is a calming hormone, effective for stress reduction. Hence, progesterone for men is very important.

    structure

    Our hormone balance is maintained with the right concentration of progesterone. This balance is important for men in order to maintain their masculine characteristics such as sperm production and lean muscle mass.

    Progesterone also affects the production of another hormone- prolactin. High concentrations of prolactin cause “man boobs”. Prolactin increases when levels of progesterone in men go down.​

    Why Increase Progesterone

    The benefits of progesterone are numerous. It is needed in maintaining overall hormonal balance and good health.

    If you want to boost your testosterone levels and enjoy the benefits of masculinity, improved moods and libido, and better overall health including enhanced muscles mass and greater bone density, you might want to increase your progesterone levels.​

    Health suffers with low progesterone. Side effects include reduced sex drive (libido) and increased body fat, among many more.​

    In the body, progesterone has many functions such as:

    • It protects against certain cancers such as breast cancer​
    • It reduces incidence of obesity
    • It prevents hair loss. Progesterone helps keep DHT and estrogen balanced, which can be beneficial for hair loss.

    What Causes Low Progesterone Levels?

    Many factors result in low progesterone levels in men. Some of these include high cortisol levels, aging and estrogen dominance. Exposure to xenoestrogens is another common cause of progesterone deficiency.

    Since Progesterone is the precursor of cortisol, you can run out of progesterone during times of prolonged stress because the body uses up all of it to produce more cortisol. This is why estrogen dominance and low testosterone is often an problem during chronic stress. Progesterone levels also naturally decline from aging, causing issues such as low testosterone, high estrogen, hair loss and prostate inflammation.

    You can check your progesterone levels by doing a blood test.

    Before you start any progesterone cream treatment, its important you get your levels tested first so you know your baseline. 

    Progesterone cream will counter the effect of high estrogen levels, bringing them down and allowing testosterone levels to rise, moving your system back into balance. But if estrogen dominance or low progesterone is not present and you undergo progesterone cream therapy, you can place yourself at risk for high progesterone-related problems. This is why it is always important to monitor your levels.

    Blood tests can be used to monitor your levels of progesterone, testosterone, cortisol, estriol, estradiol and estrone. Results will provide a more reliable explanation for any symptoms. Also keep in mind that low progesterone is not always the cause for low testosterone levels.

    Once you have determined that you do have progesterone deficiency symptoms, you should look into starting therapy with progesterone creams to correct your low levels.

    How to Improve Low Progesterone Symptoms

    You can improve symptoms of progesterone deficiency in men by using any of the following recommended progesterone creams. 

    ProgestaCare Superior Natural Progesterone Body Cream, Men’s Formula

    This progesterone cream is manufactured by Life-Flo. It contains USP-grade micronized progesterone harvested from wild yam. This is a healthier and more effective product than those using synthetic progesterone for reducing symptoms of low progesterone.

    Each ounce of this progesterone supplement contains 240 mg of natural progesterone. Each pump (one dose) delivers 10 mg progesterone.

    ProgestaCare Superior Natural Progesterone Body Cream

    Life-Flo Pregnenolone

    Life-Flo Pregnenolone

    Pregnenolone is a natural ingredient that is used by the body as the main precursor to produce important hormones such as testosterone and progesterone. If you want to increase the level of these hormones, apply this pregnenolone cream. 

    In this form, testosterone levels are naturally boosted. You also get to improve your sex drive, penis erectility and sperm count. Progesterone cream is more effective at boosting progesterone levels but pregnenolone is harder to overdose for men.

    Conclusion

    Progesterone is important not just for women, it is also important in men. It affects the balance of other hormones and has an impact on overall health as well. Keeping progesterone levels within normal ranges is crucial and using progesterone cream for men is one way to ensure that you maintain those levels even while aging or suffering prolonged periods of stress.

    Product image credits: Amazon.com

  • The Complete Guide to Arimistane / Androsta-3,5-diene-7,17-dione

    The Complete Guide to Arimistane / Androsta-3,5-diene-7,17-dione

    ​To lower chronically high estrogen, some men turn to anti-estrogenic foods and pharmaceutical compounds such as Nolvadex and Arimidex. But you’ll be glad to hear, there is something even better you can use: Arimistane, Androst-3 5-diene-7 17-dione

    Made available for use as a dietary supplement through ​popular products such as PES Erase and PES Erase Pro, Arimistane is here to stay. However before we dig deeper into what Arimistane is it is crucial that we first discuss estrogen:

    Pes Erase Pro

    Why does estrogen matter so much? Good question!

    If you are a guy, you may have heard how estrogen can cause you big problems. Being predominately a female hormone, estrogen is something some men either have too much of or simply want to keep on the down low. The reason for this is that estrogen can directly affect the amount of testosterone production you have.

    For men, there is no hormone more important than testosterone. Testosterone is essentially what makes men manly! Linked directly or indirectly to a host of important bodily functions, all men will benefit from optimizing their testosterone levels.

    While testosterone is a naturally occurring substance, for several reasons your levels can fall into decline. Exposure to environmental and nutritional toxins, stress, a poor diet, excess body fat, too little sleep, high blood pressure – all these things and more can cause your testosterone levels to fall.

    Low Testosterone Side Effects

    The side-effects of lowered testosterone are far-reaching and potentially serious and include:

    • Lowered sex drive
    • Infertility
    • Weight gain
    • Loss of muscle mass or/and muscle building
    • General weakness and fatigue
    • Poor concentration and memory
    • Poor memory (joke!)

    Estrogen Up? Testosterone Down!

    Androsta-3 5-diene-7 17-dione estrogen structure

    Another thing that can lower testosterone is elevated estrogen levels. Where testosterone is the dominant male hormone, estrogen is the dominant female hormone.

    While it’s normal for men to have low levels of estrogen – in fact it’s all but essential – too much will drive testosterone levels down and many of the factors that decrease testosterone do so by elevating estrogen.

    The opposite is also true; if your testosterone levels fall, estrogen levels will rise.

    If you imagine testosterone and estrogen as two things on opposite sides of a set of balancing scales, if estrogen levels go up, testosterone levels go down and vice versa. However, if you can lower your estrogen levels, natural testosterone production will go up and that’s the subject of this article.

    Increased estrogen can be a real problem for some men and leads to loss of muscle, excess body fat storage, water retention, mood swings, weight gain, loss of sex drive and basically feeling less-than-manly. It’s fluctuating estrogen levels that make woman moody and gain weight during their periods. This is, of course, something all men want to avoid.

    Slightly elevated estrogen levels can usually be addressed easily by eating a diet high in natural anti-estrogenic foods such as cruciferous vegetables or taking a mild anti estrogen supplement such as DIM Plus by Nature’s Way which contains broccoli extracts. It’s also important to keep track of what estrogen rich foods you are eating and if they might be impacting your estrogen levels.

    Losing weight can help too. However, if you think you have a more serious issue with estrogen, you should get a blood test to confirm:

    Natures Way DIM-Plus Diindolylmethane

    Arimistane Androsta-3 5-Diene-7 17-Dione – Powerful and Natural Estrogen Blocker

    If, after blood and urine tests, you discover your estrogen levels are elevated, there are supplements you can take that will help bring you back to balance and the most effective active ingredient is called Arimistane, also known as Androst 3 5-dien-7 17-dione 3-deoxy-7-oxo-DHEA, 17 dione, and 7 Keto DHEA.

    Don’t let those chemical-sounding names put you off though, Arimistane is a naturally occurring substance and is NOT an anabolic steroid or drug. It is, however, a very effective estrogen blocker or, more properly, an potent aromatase inhibitor.

    androst35dien717dioneandrost35dien717dioneantiaromatase

    Arimistane is a derivative from DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone), sometimes associated with the chemical name 3-desoxy 7-keto DHEA. DHEA is a hormone produced by your body’s adrenal glands – located on top of your kidneys.

    DHEA is a precursor of the hormones testosterone and estrogen. In simple terms, DHEA’s function in the body is to produce adequate amounts and control levels of both of these important hormones.

    If DHEA levels should fall, as they tend to do with advancing age, for example, testosterone and estrogen levels can become disrupted. Using a supplement containing Arimistane can help restore proper levels of natural testosterone production and estrogen and thus restore endocrinological balance.

    You may not have heard of Arimistane but don’t let that worry you; it’s been researched by the impartial boffins over at Examine.com and we here at Anabolic Health have successfully used it to reduced very high estrogen levels over 1-2 months’ time; our results confirmed with blood tests. It also is effective at reducing cortisol so can be very effective to lean you out and lose body fat – more on that later.

    Aromatase inhibitors prevent excess testosterone converting to estrogen. This is a common if somewhat ironic problem sometimes associated with increased testosterone levels and one that can, thankfully, be avoided.

    For example people on TRT (testosterone replacement therapy) can suffer too high estrogen levels from artificially boosting their testosterone too much. Aromatase inhibitors like Arimistane can help with these issues keeping estrogen and testosterone balanced.

    Arimistane is the most effective natural aromatase inhibitor on the market today. However if you for some reason want to look at other options there are a few others also available, we covered all the best ones in our roundup article on estrogen blockers. Also check out our featured article on natural SERMs, another way of treating high estrogen levels.

    arimistane benefits

    Arimistane Benefits

    Arimistane has been shown to be a safe and effective supplement for lowering estrogen, increasing testosterone and improving general health and well-being. It works in the same way as pharmacuticals such as Aromasin (Exemestane), but with less side effects. In fact, some studies have revealed that anti estrogen supplements containing Arimistane, such as PES Erase Pro, are the best aromatase enzyme inhibitors available without a pre-existing medical prescription:

    e-arimistane-benefits-conclusion

    Although many Arimistane supplements are aimed at sportsmen and, in particular bodybuilders, that doesn’t mean a man with elevated estrogen levels will not also benefit. Such benefits include:

    • Blocks high levels of estrogen and cortisol
    • Increase in testosterone levels
    • More muscle mass or/and muscle gain
    • Weight loss
    • Boosts libido

    Another great benefit of using Arimistane is that it can help you lose fat. This is because estrogen has an affinity for causing increased fat storage – especially around the chest, thighs and butt, and cortisol tends to increase abdominal fat accumulation. Hence, bodybuilders often use Arimistane in cutting protocols to help reduce fat while maintaining muscle mass.

    By lowering both estrogen AND cortisol, you get a one-two knockout punch that can help you lose fat fast; great if you are struggling to lean out despite eating right, exercising, weight training and other physical activity.

    How Does Arimistane Work?

    Arimistane is the closest thing you can get to Arimidex in the supplement world, Arimidex being a popular estrogen blocker used by bodybuilders and also in the treatment of breast and other estrogen-related cancers.

    As an aromatase inhibitor, Arimistane lowers estrogen by stopping circulating “free” testosterone being converted to estrogen – something it often does.

    By lowering estrogen, your testosterone levels will automatically rise. This also means that available testosterone is better able to do it’s manly job; it’s a win-win situation.

    Reducing estrogen will lead to an increase testosterone level no matter what your initial estrogen level is. However, estrogen should not be reduced to boost testosterone if you’re estrogen levels are within normal range. Men need estrogen too, it’s not all bad as many guys think, unless it is present in excess.

    Lowering estrogen levels too far can cause unwanted side effects and may lead to serious health implications such as bone loss. If you reduce your estrogen levels too low, you will also kill your sex drive and may suffer from mental issues along with painful joints.

    The take home message? Do not use Arimistane capsules or supplements product without confirming that your estrogen levels are excessively high first.

    Another interesting fact is that Erase Pro and other similar products containing Arimistane, are suicide inhibitors of estrogen, which means that you do not have to taper down on the dosage at the end of a post-cycle therapy as estrogen will not be rebound.

    However, because it is a suicide cortisol inhibitor, it takes longer for estrogen rebound back if you happen to drive it too low so be careful and monitor your estrogen levels during use. Again, do not use these products if your estrogen levels are within or only slightly above normal levels.

    Just How Effective Is Arimistane?

    Arimistane supplement reviews and research reveal that aromatase inhibitors containing Arimistane such as PES Erase, PES Erase Pro, Olympus Labs ELIM1NATE, and MAN Sports Nolvadren XT are very effective and do exactly what they say they do.

    Arimistane is not a new substance but has only gained popularity relatively recently. However, we’re ahead of the curve with cutting-edge information here and we produced an Erase Pro review some months ago – before many people knew of this supplements remarkable properties. Check out our Erase supplement review here along with our reviews of other popular estrogen blockers.

    The Best Natural Estrogen Blocking Supplement

    From anecdotal reports, Arimistane reviews, and our own strenuous research, we have come to the conclusion that PES Erase Pro is indeed the best Arimistane supplement currently available on the market.

    It also contains Pine Bark Extract which further increases testosterone by reducing estrogen production and is a proven fertility test booster.

    How to Use

    Because PES Erase Pro is so effective, you don’t need to use it for very long and it should generally be used in cycles of four to six weeks.

    After successfully completing a post cycle therapy, get your estrogen levels checked and then repeat if you need to take your levels down a little more. Of course, you should always pay attention to the directions on your chosen Arimistane product but, in general, this is the protocol that most of them recommend.

    Conclusion

    If you have proven elevated estrogen levels, Erase by PES, is the best source of Androsta-3 5-diene-7 17-dione around and it will help lower your prohormones levels within a few short weeks and the compound is so effective that you’ll only need one capsule per day to achieve a noticeable improvement.

    Remember though, you still need some estrogen for health and libido so only use such a powerful supplement if you already know your estrogen levels are higher than normal. You can also find a simple saliva estrogen test here you can do at home if you do not have access to a local lab.

    Product Image credits: Amazon.com

  • Elevated Prolactin Levels: How to Avoid Them and Get Rid of Gynecomastia

    Elevated Prolactin Levels: How to Avoid Them and Get Rid of Gynecomastia

    ​Hormones are amazing substances. They control your cells, organs and ultimately your brain and body function. Normally, hormones go about their business “under the radar” and your body operates as it should. However, sometimes, hormone levels become unbalanced and that can lead to problems, for example elevated prolactin levels.

    Most hormones have equal-but-opposite counterparts. When the levels of one hormone increases, it’s opposite decreases. This is where the trouble starts.

    Hormone imbalances can knock you out of homeostasis – the medical term for a body in  balance. For example, if estrogen levels increase, testosterone levels decrease and any man who cares about his health, vitality, and libido knows that lowered testosterone is nothing but bad news.

    While most men have heard of testosterone and its evil counterpart, estrogen, far fewer would have heard of an equally unwanted hormone that can also drive testosterone levels south. Its name is prolactin.

    What Is Prolactin?

    prolactin definition, also known as PRL hormone, is a hormone produced in the pituitary gland and is so-named because it has a role in mammalian lactation. Prolactin levels in women is vital so they can produce breast milk, high prolactin in men can contribute to lowered testosterone. Also, if you suffer from hyperprolactinaemia, the scientific term for elevated prolactin levels, you have an increased risk of developing gynecomastia – better known as man boobs.

    gynecomastia

    High Prolactin Symptoms

    If you have excess and hard-to-shift fat around your chest, painful nipples, difficulty losing weight, experience loss of libido or erectile dysfunction, or are suffering from any other condition commonly associated with decreased testosterone, you are experiencing the symptoms of elevated prolactin. You could submit to a prolactin test to verify that you have high prolactin levels but this is not always necessary when the symptoms are obvious. Nipples and libido issues are common signs.

    Elevated prolactin level can also be caused by a prolactinoma which is a type of tumor in the pituitary gland. This is usually diagnosed by MRI and while rare, is something to consider if you continue to suffer high prolactinoma symptoms after putting the advice of this article into practice. Consult your doctor if you have any concerns.

    How to Lower Prolactin Levels

    Lowering your prolactin hormone levels will result in elevated testosterone levels and if you want to feel more manly, virile, and energetic, this is a must. You don’t even need to know if your prolactin levels are actually elevated – it’s better not to take the risk!

    In addition, many of the things you can do to lower prolactin levels are linked to improved health and elevated testosterone levels so it’s less of a question why do it, but why not?

    Supplement With Ashwagandha

    Ashwagandha is an Indian medicinal herb known for its ability to fight stress. Known as an adaptogen, ashwagandha can help elevate testosterone and research also reveals that it can significantly lower your prolactin levels. You can read more about Ashwagandha in our article covering it in detail here.

    With so many ashwagandha supplements available, it can be hard to know which ones to choose but we recommend Banyan Botanicals Ashwagandha Powder because of its purity and value for money.

    Use Kapikacchu Powder

    Kapikacchu powder is a tropical legume also known as Mucuna Pruriens. From the Himalayas, it has been used since ancient times in Ayurvedic medicine, most commonly as a Parkinson’s disease treatment and for overall brain health. However, it is also a known treatment for lowering prolactin levels because of its high content of a substance called L-dopa which naturally increase dopamine levels.

    Increase Dopamine Levels

    Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that is produced when you feel good and that makes you feel good. Increased dopamine levels reduce stress and therefore can help to produce normal prolactin levels. Studies reveal that increased dopamine can lead to lowered prolactin levels in people suffering from hyperprolactinemia.

    Dopamine is produced naturally, when you sleep and after sex for example, but levels can also be elevated through the use of supplements such as Dopa Mucuna. We  have made an ultimate guide to dopamine supplements to cover this area in detail.

    Increase Vitamin E Consumption

    Vitamin E has been shown to lower prolactin levels by an astounding 69%. Vitamin E is present in a wide range of foods including:

    • Almonds
    • Sunflower seeds and sunflower oil
    • Avocados and avocado oil
    • Olives and olive oil
    • Broccoli
    • Squash and pumpkin
    • Kiwi fruit
    • Dark, leafy green vegetables

    Vitamin E is also available in supplement form and while no supplement can match real food, this one comes very close and is highly recommended.

    St. John’s Wort

    St. John’s Wort is a herb that has long been used as a natural anti-depressant and treatment for stress. Available in supplement form, some studies suggest that St. John’s Wort may lower prolactin levels.

    However, do not take Mucuna Pruriens (Kapikacchu, L-dopa) together with St John Wort as these two substances interact badly.

    Get More Vitamin B6

    Vitamin B6 (also known as pyridoxine) has been shown to significantly lower prolactin levels. The richest sources of vitamin B6 include fish, beef liver and other organ meats, potatoes and other starchy vegetables and fruit (other than citrus). If you don’t eat a lot of these foods, a B6 supplement will help.

    Eat More High-Zinc Foods

    Seafood such as oysters as well as red meat and poultry are all high in zinc. Zinc is great for your immune system and also essential for testosterone and sperm production. Studies reveal that zinc is a powerful effect on lowering prolactin levels.

    While you can take a zinc supplement, getting your zinc from “real food” is generally a better and more enjoyable choice.

    Get Plenty of Sleep

    Sleep is essential for virtually every process in your body including the normalization of hormone levels. Ideally, you should be getting 6-9 hours of sleep per night.

    Lack of sleep has been shown to increase prolactin levels so make sure you go to bed early enough to get a decent night’s sleep every night. While you are there, try and have sex too as this will increase dopamine levels, elevate testosterone levels, lower prolactin levels further, and help you sleep!

    Conclusion

    Lower prolactin levels will elevate testosterone levels naturally and without having to resort to testosterone-raising drugs such as Clomid and HCG, which often have unwanted side effects.

    While you can lower prolactin levels using medications such as Gabapentin, which increases dopamine, it’s far healthier to try and control your prolactin levels naturally.