| Whilst it may seem far fetched to think of beer as a | | | | (8PN), and is stronger than other estrogens studied |
| natural menopause treatment, there is actually | | | | so far. It is present in beer, but levels are low |
| credible scientific research to support it. The key | | | | compared to levels in plant extracts. |
| feature of beer in relation to menopause is the | | | | 8-prenylnaringenin (8PN) is a flavone. It has been |
| presence of phytoestrogens. | | | | found in the animal model to have milder but similar |
| Phytoestrogens are estrogen-like plant compounds | | | | effects to estradiol. The hops flavone also had a |
| that are also in alternative menopause treatments like | | | | stimulating effect on the uterus in this study (on |
| soy. They work by binding to estrogen receptors, | | | | animals). It has not been established if this effect is |
| and so provide a mild estrogenic effect on the body. | | | | also present in women taking hops. If so, progestins, |
| Phytoestrogens are not as strong as regular | | | | or natural progesterone, would need to be taken at |
| estrogen, but as estrogen levels decline in | | | | the same time to prevent overstimulation of the |
| menopausal women, this boost of estrogen has a | | | | endometrial tissue. |
| balancing effect on the body. Supplementing with | | | | Czech scientists have developed this research by |
| phytoestrogens in soy and hops (which is made into | | | | using a new technology to create a non-alcoholic |
| beer, but can be purchased as a supplement), can | | | | beer that contains the same amounts of hops and |
| alleviate hot flushes and improve the general quality | | | | malt as regular beer. No mention was made at this |
| of life for women during menopause. | | | | stage as to whether the menopause beer would |
| Find A-------->beer of the month club NOW! | | | | have higher levels of phytoestrogens. The idea came |
| Hops has more typically been used by herbalists for | | | | about because the Czech Republic is a strong beer |
| its mild sedative effect. It's great for sleeping | | | | drinking nation, and menopausal women there had |
| problems, and also for nervous gastrointestinal and | | | | low levels of estrogen in their diet. The menopause |
| stomach problems. It is stimulating to the stomach, | | | | beer is aimed at relieving the symptoms of |
| and has been used for anorexia, irritable bowel | | | | menopause and improving bone density. |
| disease, inflammatory bowel disease, dysmenorrhoea | | | | Scientists have also found hops to have an |
| and amenorrhoea. | | | | anti-inflammatory effect. Compounds in hops have an |
| Hops has long been suspected of having an effect | | | | effect similar to regular pain killers like ibuprofen, but |
| on the hormonal system. Before the advent of | | | | with less of a disturbing impact on the gastrointestinal |
| machine pickers, women and girls picked the plants at | | | | system. These active constituents of hops work in |
| harvest, and would often spend 3 weeks doing so. It | | | | the same way as the arthritis drugs vioxx and |
| was observed amongst the young girls picking hops | | | | celebrex, in that they are COX-2 inhibitors. |
| that their menstrual periods would come on early. But | | | | Hops is also an antioxidant, it may reduce insulin |
| it wasn't until hops was studied scientifically that this | | | | resistance, and is being investigated for its potential |
| result was explained and validated. It turns out that | | | | anti tumor properties. Hops was found to inhibit the |
| hops contains very high levels of phytoestrogens - | | | | growth of breast cancer cells 'in vitro', or in the lab, |
| between 30,000 IU to 300,000 IU per 100 grams. | | | | paving the way for further studies to be done. Hops |
| The levels of phytoestrogens are highest when the | | | | should not be taken by people with depression |
| plant is fresh. | | | | however, according to traditional herbalists. |
| The phytoestrogen in hops is called 8-prenylnaringenin | | | | |