Ispent much of the summer at the beach, and I was distressed and, OK, maybe even a little bit self-conscious, to see that many men now seem to have breasts bigger than my own. I kept picturing that Baywatch ad showing lifeguards running in slow motion, except the men were the ones with the bouncing breasts!

Male breasts, or "moobs" as they are known, are not only unattractive, they're unhealthy. It's a condition known as gynecomastia, and many physicians believe is caused by the estrogen-mimicking chemicals in meat and dairy products. Factory-farmed animals are fed growth-promoting hormones that accumulate in the fat tissue of animals and humans and are taken up by the estrogen receptor sites in the body. Hormone-treated cow's milk contains high levels of Insulin Growth Factor (IGF-1), which can also cause gynecomastia.

In other words, some guys have been eating too many hamburgers, hot dogs and cheese pizzas on the boardwalk and their breasts are becoming almost as big as their guts.

Fortunately, men with "moobs" don't need to resort to plastic surgery; they just need to change their diets. Vegetarians have significantly lower estrogen levels than nonvegetarians, in part because of the lower fat content of their diet. High-fiber foods can also reduce excessive estrogen levels, and vegetarians consume two to three times more fiber than meat-eaters.

C'mon, guys, big boobs may be a good thing - but not on men. Please visit www.GoVeg.com for a free vegetarian starter kit.

Heather Moore

senior writer People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals

Norfolk, Va.