Understanding and Overcoming Estrogen Dominance in Men: A Comprehensive Guide

Although men require some estrogen to maintain bone and heart health, estrogen dominance is a far more common problem for men. Estrogen dominance is a condition where you have too much estrogen or not enough progesterone or testosterone to balance out the effects of estrogen. Estrogen dominance causes you to become less manly – you lose muscle mass, body hair becomes sparse, and you gain belly and breast fat (man boobs). Your libido and sperm count are also reduced, you may become highly emotional, and in advanced stages, erectile dysfunction and infertility can develop.

Causes of Estrogen Dominance

Common causes of estrogen dominance include prolonged stress, excess body fat, a high-fat diet, poor liver function, animal products (more on this later), and overexposure to xenoestrogens. Xenoestrogens are environmental, estrogen-like compounds that mimic estrogen in the body. They are found in water, personal care and cleaning products, industrial chemicals, mattresses, furniture, plastic, tin cans, food storage containers, and pesticides. They are also found in many packaged and processed foods and in a few plant foods.

Phytoestrogens

Phytoestrogens are a subtype of xenoestrogens that are of plant origin, and they function similarly to estrogen in the body. Soy products are the greatest dietary source of phytoestrogens, but phytoestrogens are also found in smaller amounts in foods such as oats, barley, flaxseeds, and sesame seeds. There is a lot of controversy about phytoestrogens and their effects on the human body but consuming them in excess is undoubtedly bad for male sexual functioning and performance. 

One man reported in Men’s Health Magazine: “It was like my body was feminizing. My sexual desire disappeared and my penis—I won’t say it atrophied, but it was so flaccid that it looked very small in comparison with the way it used to be.” Lab tests revealed he had estrogen levels in his blood that were eight times the normal limit for men. He didn’t have any of the usual risk factors for estrogen dominance, but he was drinking about 3 quarts of soy milk a day. After discontinuing the soy milk his estradiol (an estrogen metabolite) levels gradually returned to normal and his estrogen dominance symptoms reversed.

Animal Products

Many men associate meat-eating with masculinity and virility, but its effects are quite the opposite. Animal products are the highest dietary sources of estrogen and exposure to estradiol is nearly 10,000 times greater from meat than it is from xenoestrogens. Factory farming practices make the estrogen load even higher because many animals are injected with estradiol to enhance their growth. And dairy products are the absolute worst offenders — researchers have found that milk makes up 60-70% of the total estrogen consumed in the average American diet.

How to Reverse Estrogen Dominance and Regain Your Lovelife

To reverse estrogen dominance you need to address its main causes. It’s important that you reduce stress and excess body fat, and support liver health by cutting out alcohol and taking a liver support and rejuvenation supplement that contains nutrients such as silymarin, asparagus, and wasabi root. This is beneficial because a healthy liver will be better able to metabolize toxic estrogens. Also, lower your exposure to xenoestrogens by using natural, organic cleaning and personal care products and a water filter; and avoiding containers with BPA. 

The Western diet is the leading cause of estrogen dominance, and I highly recommend you reduce your intake of fat, eliminate processed oils and soy, eat more fiber, and re-think your consumption of animal products. Eliminating animal products not only helps fight estrogen dominance, but researchers have found veganism also helps increase testosterone levels, and testosterone is the leading hormone for sexual desire and performance. If veganism is impractical for you, then consider reducing the frequency and portion size of the dairy, meat, and poultry that you consume, buying organic, and taking in high doses of DIM and I3C.

DIM and I3C

Diindolylmethane (DIM) and Indole 3-carbinol (I3C) are two plant compounds found naturally in cruciferous vegetables. These potent antioxidant compounds have a unique ability to metabolize the toxic estrogens that lead to estrogen dominance. Some excellent sources of DIM and I3C that you should consume plentifully include broccoli, Bok choy, cauliflower, kale, mustard greens, Brussels sprouts, turnip, collard greens, and radish. 

If you’re already experiencing the sexual symptoms of estrogen dominance or other symptoms of too much estrogen (acne, fatigue, urinary tract issues, anxiety, male pattern baldness, etc.) then a concentrated DIM and I3C supplement is recommended. EstroBlock Pro is a clinical strength supplement that provides the equivalent doses of DIM and I3C as you would get by consuming 10 pounds of raw cruciferous vegetables. It will help detoxify harmful estrogen hormones from fat cells and restore hormonal balance. With regular use, estrogen will be reduced and virility restored.