Why beer – The New Natural Menopause Treatment

While it might seem absurd to consider beer as a natural remedy for menopause, there are actually reliable scientific studies to support it. The main feature of beer in relation to menopause is the presence of phytoestrogens. Phytoestrogens are a plant-like compound of estrogen found in other menopause treatments such as soy. They act by binding to estrogen receptors, thus providing a mild estrogenic effect to the body. Phytoestrogens are not as potent as normal estrogen, but as estrogen levels fall in menopausal women, this increase in estrogen has an effect on balance in the body. Adding phytoestrogens to soy and hops (which are made from beer, but can be purchased as a supplement), can reduce hot flashes and improve the quality of life for women during menopause. Hops are widely used herbs with their cooling effect. It is very effective for sleep disorders, as well as gastrointestinal and gastrointestinal disorders. It stimulates the stomach, and is used for anorexia, irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease, dysmenorrhea and amenorrhoea. Hops have long been suspected of contributing to the hormonal system. Before the advent of the mechanics, women and girls harvested crops at harvesttime, and they often did so for up to 3 weeks. It was observed among young girls picking hops that menstruation would soon arrive. But it was not until hops was scientifically researched that this effect was explained and confirmed. It turns out that hops contain very high levels of phytoestrogens - between 30,000 IU to 300,000 IU per 100 grams. Phytoestrogens levels are very high as the plant grows. The phytoestrogen in hops is called 8-prenylnaringenin (8PN), and it is more potent than other estrogens studied so far. There is beer, but the rates are low compared to the standards in the extruded plants. 8-prenylnaringenin (8PN) is a flavone. It has been found in animal models to have mild but similar effects of estradiol. Hops flavone also had a stimulating effect on the uterus in this study (in animals). It is not yet known if this effect exists in women taking hops. If so, progestins, or natural progesterone, will need to be taken at the same time to prevent the overgrowth of endometrial tissue. Czech scientists have developed this research using new technologies to create non-alcoholic beers that contain the same amount of hops and malt as regular beer. It has not been mentioned in this section that menopause beer will have high levels of phytoestrogens. This idea came about because the Czech Republic was a strong brewing nation, and menopausal women had low levels of estrogen in their diet. Menstrual cramps are intended to relieve the symptoms of menopause and to improve bone density. Scientists have also discovered hops that have an anti-inflammatory effect. Ingredients in hops have the same effect as common painkillers like ibuprofen, but with less disruptive effect on the digestive system. These active components of hops work in much the same way as the arthritis drugs vioxx and celebrex, in that they are COX-2 inhibitors. Hops is also an antioxidant, may reduce insulin resistance, and is still being investigated for its anti-tumor properties. Hops were found to inhibit the growth of ‘in vitro’ breast cancer cells, or laboratories, opening the way for further studies. However, hops should not be taken by people with depression, according to traditional healers. References: 1. nutraingredients.com/news/ng.asp?id=68117 2. raysahelian.com/hops.html 3. R Weiss, Herbal Medicine 4. Fisher and Painter, Materia Medica of Western Herbs 5. joe.endocrinology-