Studies have shown that flaxseeds inhibit the growth of human estrogen-dependent cancers. In the same way, they help to reduce man boobs by inhibiting the effects of excess estrogen.
In a 2005 study published in the journal Clinical Cancer Research, breast cancer patients who received a muffin a day containing 25 grams of flaxseed for 32 days, were found to have a significant reduction in tumor markers and significant increase in programmed cell death of the cancer cells. The researchers concluded that “Dietary flaxseed has the potential to reduce tumor growth in patients with breast cancer.”
Similar results have been found with other estrogen-sensitive cancers like prostate and colorectal cancer.
“How does it work?”
Flaxseeds have a particularly powerful effect when it comes to lowering estrogen because they do so via multiple different mechanisms.
1. High in Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Omega-3 is the good form of polyunsaturated fat, and we folks in the west these days are severely depleted of this ultra-healthy fat. We have a high omega-6 intake and low omega-3, giving us a high omega-6:3 ratio, resulting in a cascade of different illnesses, including inflammation (which itself leads to countless diseases like asthma, eczema, psoriasis, cancer, heart disease, etc), high blood pressure, depressed immune function, blood clots, sub-optimal brain function and development, and obesity.
Increasing your intake of omega-3s will help you to lose weight, help reverse inflammatory diseases, reduce your blood pressure, improve your immune system… the list goes on.
As though improving insulin sensitivity and helping us to lose weight wasn't enough, omega-3s in flaxseeds also help to lower estrogen. They do this by helping to modulate estrogen metabolism. Estrogen in the liver can either be metabolized via the C-2, C-4 or C-16 pathway. When metabolized via the C-2 pathway, it forms 2-hydroxylated estrone. 2-hydroxylated estrone is a “good” form of estrogen that has very low estrogenic activity. Studies show that when 2-hydroxylation increases, the body resists cancer, and when it decreases, the risk of cancer increases.
C-4 and C-16 hydroxylated estrone on the other hand, have more estrogenic activity than even the original mother compounds, estradiol and estrone. Where some foods are known to increase the C-16 pathway, omega-3s are a potent stimulator of the much preferred C-2 pathway.
2. Contain Lignans
Another property of flaxseeds that helps them to reduce your body's estrogen levels, is they contain ‘lignans'. Flaxseeds contain higher concentrations of lignan precursors than any other plant.
Like isoflavones in soy, lignans are another major form of phytoestrogen. They bind to your body's estrogen receptors and have a very weak estrogenic effect. While they're bound to the receptor, other, more powerful human and animal estrogens, and xenoestrogens will be unable to bind to it. So lignans act as competitive inhibitors to stronger estrogens.
3. Good Source of Fermentable, ‘Prebiotic' Fiber
Yet another property that helps flaxseeds reduce the estrogenic effect on your body, is they are a good source of fermentable, ‘prebiotic' form of soluble fiber. Soluble fiber increases butyrate production in your colon, which helps increase estrogen excretion and reduce estrogen re-uptake.
4. Down-Regulate IGF-1
Aside from estrogen, studies have found that flaxseeds also down-regulate IGF-1. As I mentioned in this article on dairy, IGF-1 may be just as important in the development of man boobs as estrogen.
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So what are you waiting for? Start getting some flaxseeds in your diet right away! I like to freshly grind mine in a coffee grinder, and add it to my freshly made fruit and vegetable juices. You can also sprinkle ground flaxseeds onto your food, but do this after you've cooked your food. Cooking flaxseeds above 120°F will destroy most of the omega-3s.
Whatever you do, you must grind flaxseeds first to benefit from the omega-3 goodness inside. Your body can't break down the rigid outer husk of flax seeds. After grinding, keep it refrigerated in an airtight container, else it'll go rancid.
I don't recommend flaxseed oil because of it's instability and tendency to go rancid very easily. That stuff can really make you feel sick, so best avoid the oil form.
Hey Garry. So as I understand it, flaxseed can really help with reducing gyno? I bought a small bag about 1/4 lb. and its more of an experiment to take this during my workout, and exercise program.
Hi Enrique
Flaxseeds can certainly help, but do be sure to grind them before you eat them. Also, as good as flaxseeds are for losing man boobs, they can only do so much on their own. Your best chances of success are if you combine flaxseeds with a comprehensive program for losing man boobs.
Hii Garry
Can we have sprouted flax seeds?Does it will work as grind raw one?
Greetings
I bought a bag of flexiseed which is already in powder form. How to I go about using it.
Is there any alternative instead of sprinkling it on food.
Eg. A way it can may be be drank.
Any other information will appreciate.
Thanks
Doesn’t flaxseed add more estrogen to your diet? Wouldn’t that only worsen the problem?
Hi Zack. Flaxseeds contain phytoestrogens, which are a weak form of estrogen that act as competitive inhibitors to the animal estrogens in your body. Most fruits and veggies contain phytoestrogens, but in general, a diet high in fruits and veggies gives you a better hormone profile, i.e. more testosterone and less estrogen.
hey if i eat flaxseeds with pyhtoestrogens it become normal as the others are you sure phyto estrogens wont worsen it
Hi Shiva
Most phytoestrogens are GOOD for you. They act as a competitive inhibitor to stronger animal estrogens, thereby reducing overall estrogenicity in the body.
Gary, I remember you saying that some people have Low estrogen and high testosterone and even then have gyno because of high sensitivity to estrogen, I have gyno. A very small grade and my testerone is at 500+, ive been using turmeric for a week now and I don’t think there’s any change, will using flax be of any help? Since any estrogen would be detrimental if the cause is sensitivity and not levels?
Hi Danna. Flax can only help. Even if the problem is just with sensitivity, the phytoestrogens in flax act as competitive inhibitors to the stronger estrogens in your body. This is where the weak phytoestrogens will take up a space on those highly sensitive (or high number of) estrogen receptors, so the stronger estrogens in your body won’t be able to.
Hi Sir,
I started taking Flax seeds for getting rid of man boobs. I’m using two spoons of powdered flax seeds in a glass of boiled water in an empty stomach.
Hope this will work out within 2 weeks.
Kindly advice me if i have to add anything more along with the Flax seed and also i hopr this is the way to take flax seed powder in boiled water.
Thanking You,
With Regards
Nahas
Hi Nahas. It’s good that you’re taking powdered flax seeds, because this way you’ll be able to access more of the benefits of flax seeds. However, I wouldn’t add it to boiling water, because the heat will destroy much of the goodness.
Though flax seeds will help, flax on its own will do little if your diet and training isn’t right.
More info here:
https://chestsculpting.com/how-to-get-rid-of-your-man-boobs-fast/
Even im suffering from man boobs, I guess it’s in the middle stage. Im grinding them beforei mixit with room temperature water. Within how many days can I see the changes. Im taking 2 spoons a day . Shouldi double the usage? I would be really nice of you if you provide me with a answer.