Post: #26

An estradiol level of 29 is not that bad. What are your SHBG and testosterone levels?

Be careful with an AI like anastrozole. I started taking it 2 months ago, at 1/4 mg per week. My estradiol dropped from 34 to 16, with my SHBG constant at around 29-31. I was starting to feel some soreness in my joints, so my doctor instructed me to take 1/4 mg every two weeks. Haven't retested yet, so we shall see. This is pretty potent stuff, and I cannot imagine taking the standard TRT dose of 1 mg/week.

Post: #27

(01-04-2016 11:53 AM)CleanSlate Wrote:  An estradiol level of 29 is not that bad. What are your SHBG and testosterone levels?

Be careful with an AI like anastrozole. I started taking it 2 months ago, at 1/4 mg per week. My estradiol dropped from 34 to 16, with my SHBG constant at around 29-31. I was starting to feel some soreness in my joints, so my doctor instructed me to take 1/4 mg every two weeks. Haven't retested yet, so we shall see. This is pretty potent stuff, and I cannot imagine taking the standard TRT dose of 1 mg/week.

Yeah CS is right but some guys are very sensitive to E2, maybe that's you. What are you symptoms?

Agree with CS on the power of an AI. CS seems to be almost an over responder but I agree that 1mg a week is a huge dose. I do .20mg every 3 days but if I didn't take HCG I would do half that. But my SHBG is lower than CS's so I have more E2 freed up.

It's pretty rare for guys to take an AI unless they're on TRT. Have you tried DIM? Might give that a go before messing with an AI.

Using an AI can be a bit like bobbing for apples. It took me time to figure out how much I needed and it was a frustrating process. These days I mostly go by feel as I understand what low and high E2 feel like.

Post: #28

http://www.berkeyfilters.com/ is having a Memorial Day sale right now. Now is a great time to buy.

Email says:

Quote:15% OFF
Systems & Replacement Filters
Now - Friday June 2nd
Use Code: BERKEY15 at checkout

Sales like this don’t come around often - hurry to get the best deals before they expire!

Sale Details: includes all new Berkey Stainless Steel & Berkey Light Systems, Black Berkey Purifiers, Fluoride Filters, Shower Filter (with & without head), and Sport Berkey Filters. Sale excludes all Scratch & Dent units and all accessories. Must use code BERKEY15 at checkout to receive the 15% discount.

I purchased:

Travel Berkey
Fluoride Filters
Stainless Steel Spigot
Lifetime Warranty

Regular $270.50
Sale $229.93

Shipped Free

Post: #29

I posted in some other threads but BPA free is a marketing scam. Avoid all plastics and stick to metal or glass.

Post: #30

(11-29-2015 11:07 PM)xxMarco Wrote:  Just finished a documentary on estrogen chemicals in the plastics. I have heard about it but didn't know it was so widespread.
The doc is called The Disappearing Male if anyone wants to check it out. I'll look into purchasing a water filter because I been buying plastic gallons for years. fuck.
http://topdocumentaryfilms.com/the-disappearing-male/

Just watched this. I recommend all men watch it.

Post: #31

I tried using a carbon over the counter filter. Gave me twitching muscles after a short time due to filtering out too much minerals.
How can you drink heavily filtered water without fucking a balanced mineral intake?

Post: #32

Whilst it is from Men's Health, this article about a Texan farmer who started growing swollen breasts and had eight times the normal level of estrogen in his bloodstream, explains why every man should avoid soy products.

It also mentions how soy milk is being used to feed some babies in the US.

Post: #33

(05-28-2017 02:28 AM)void Wrote:  I tried using a carbon over the counter filter. Gave me twitching muscles after a short time due to filtering out too much minerals.
How can you drink heavily filtered water without fucking a balanced mineral intake?

I don't think carbon filters filter out the minerals, even if it did, I take a daily multivitamin.

Post: #34

(05-28-2017 03:42 AM)CaptainChardonnay Wrote:  

(05-28-2017 02:28 AM)void Wrote:  I tried using a carbon over the counter filter. Gave me twitching muscles after a short time due to filtering out too much minerals.
How can you drink heavily filtered water without fucking a balanced mineral intake?

I don't think carbon filters filter out the minerals, even if it did, I take a daily multivitamin.

You can also take an additional multi-mineral.

This one from Swanson is great and affordable ($0.11/day):

https://www.swansonvitamins.com/swanson-...e-120-caps

Post: #35

Has anyone used the Berkey Filter Gym Bottles?



I'm using a Brita filter at the moment but taking it around is a pain in the ass.

Post: #36

^You should avoid all plastic bottles. BPA free doesn't mean anything. What I will start doing is filtering my water and bringing it to the gym in a Klean Kanteen metal bottle.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25477047

Quote:Our data showed that some (4/14) unstressed and stressed BPA-free thermoplastic resins leached chemicals having significant levels of EA, including one polystyrene (PS), and three Tritan™ resins, the latter reportedly EA-free. Exposure to UV radiation in natural sunlight resulted in an increased release of EA from Tritan™ resins. Triphenyl-phosphate (TPP), an additive used to manufacture some thermoplastic resins such as Tritan™, exhibited EA in both MCF-7 and BG1Luc assays. Ten unstressed or stressed glycol-modified polyethylene terephthalate (PETG), cyclic olefin polymer (COP) or copolymer (COC) thermoplastic resins did not release chemicals with detectable EA under any test condition.

Post: #37

(05-28-2017 03:42 AM)CaptainChardonnay Wrote:  

(05-28-2017 02:28 AM)void Wrote:  I tried using a carbon over the counter filter. Gave me twitching muscles after a short time due to filtering out too much minerals.
How can you drink heavily filtered water without fucking a balanced mineral intake?

I don't think carbon filters filter out the minerals, even if it did, I take a daily multivitamin.

Multivitamins have minerals, but just a handful. The real concern is the dozens of trace minerals in water and real foods that you might be missing and which are not included in broad multivitamins. If you eat organic produce you likely will get some of those minerals there.

Post: #38

On getting tested, if you have insurance through your employer, you probably get a free "wellness" physical each year. Blood testing is included as part of this. My doc doesn't normally test for testosterone, but if you tell them in advance you suspect low T, ED, etc. and you ask, they'll test for it. My doc didn't test for estrogen - this time I'll tell him my breasts may be getting bigger and ask him to test for estrogen. Getting these tests is important because it gives you a baseline to determine whether what you do - whether its diet, enviroment, or pharma - has an effect.

If you don't have insurance, I have seen in the U.S. stores in strip malls called "Any lab test" which can probably run this for you.

Post: #39

Here are some more tips on how to avoid estrogens and Pthalates - some of these were covered, some were not:

Eat mostly fresh, raw whole foods. Processed and packaged foods are a common source of BPA and phthalates—particularly cans, but also foods packaged in plastic wrap.

Buy products that come in glass bottles rather than plastic or cans.

Store your food and beverages in glass, rather than plastic, and avoid using plastic wrap. Use glass containers if heating food in your microwave, as heat tends to increase the release of chemicals from plastic. Be aware that even "BPA-free" plastics typically leach other endocrine-disrupting chemicals that are just as bad as BPA. I buy canning jars at Walmart for this, and I use a pumpnseal to remove air


Be careful with cash register receipts. If you use a store regularly, encourage the management to switch to BPA-free receipts. I shop at Publix for my food and when I called them about the receipts it turns out they already switched. Nevertheless it is wise to limit your contact with all these receipts.

Look for products that are made by companies that are Earth-friendly, animal-friendly, sustainable, certified organic, and GMO-free. This applies to everything from food and personal care products to building materials, carpeting, paint, baby items, furniture, mattresses, and more. When redoing your home, look for "green," toxin-free alternatives in lieu of regular paint and vinyl floor coverings, the latter of which is another source of phthalates.

Use natural cleaning products, or make your own.

Switch over to organic toiletries, including shampoo, toothpaste, antiperspirants and cosmetics. EWG's Skin Deep database21 can help you find personal care products that are free of phthalates and other potentially dangerous chemicals.

Replace your vinyl shower curtain with a fabric one.

Look for fragrance-free products; phthalates are often used to help the product hold its fragrance longer. Artificial fragrance can also contain hundreds—even thousands—of potentially toxic chemicals. Avoid fabric softeners, dryer sheets, air fresheners, and scented candles for the same reason.

Check your home's tap water for contaminants and filter the water if necessary. You may also want to use an alternative to PVC pipes for your water supply.

Teach your children not to drink water from the garden hose, as many are made with phthalate-containing plastics. They are typically more expensive but usually higher quality hoses and well worth the investment.

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articl...nol-a.aspx

Post: #40

Hypnos good post.

Can you freeze jars and then microwave food in them from frozen?
I do big batch cooking and am really flummoxed on how to store and reheat my prepared meals - I freeze them after cooking then microwave at work. But I frequently use plastic containers because glass jars seem likely to break.i have a couple Pyrex containers but that's unsustainable because they are expensive. But I need to stop this reheating of food in plastic!

Post: #41

Hypno. Earth to Hypno. I continued eating out of plastic this week and am dangerously close to changing my username to Caitlin. What are your suggestions for cooking food from frozen? Are mason jars ok to freeze and then microwave from frozen?