Beer – The Natural Menopause Treatment

Whilst it may seem farfetched to think of beer as a natural menopause treatment, there is actually credible scientific research to support it. The key feature of beer in relation to menopause is the presence of phytoestrogens.

Phytoestrogens are estrogen-like plant compounds that are also in alternative menopause treatments like soy. They work by binding to estrogen receptors, and so provide a mild estrogenic effect on the body. Phytoestrogens are not as strong as regular estrogen, but as estrogen levels decline in menopausal women, this boost of estrogen has a balancing effect on the body. Supplementing with phytoestrogens in soy and hops (which is made into beer, but can be purchased as a supplement), can alleviate hot flushes and improve the general quality of life for women during menopause.

Hops have more typically been used by herbalists for its mild sedative effect. It’s great for sleeping problems, and also for nervous gastrointestinal and stomach problems. It is stimulating to the stomach, and has been used for anorexia, irritable bowel disease, inflammatory bowel disease, dysmenorrhoea and amenorrhoea.

Hops have long been suspected of having an effect on the hormonal system. Before the advent of machine pickers, women and girls picked the plants at harvest, and would often spend 3 weeks doing so. It was observed amongst the young girls picking hops that their menstrual periods would come on early. But it wasn’t until hops were studied scientifically that this result was explained and validated. It turns out that hops contain very high levels of phytoestrogens – between 30,000 IU to 300,000 IU per 100 grams. The levels of phytoestrogens are highest when the plant is fresh.

The phytoestrogen in hops is called 8-prenylnaringenin (8PN), and is stronger than other estrogens studied so far. It is present in beer, but levels are low compared to levels in plant extracts.

8-prenylnaringenin (8PN) is a flavone. It has been found in the animal model to have milder but similar effects to estradiol. The hops flavone also had a stimulating effect on the uterus in this study (on animals). It has not been established if this effect is also present in women taking hops. If so, progestin, or natural progesterone, would need to be taken at the same time to prevent overstimulation of the endometrial tissue.

Czech scientists have developed this research by using a new technology to create a non-alcoholic beer that contains the same amounts of hops and malt as regular beer. No mention was made at this stage as to whether the menopause beer would have higher levels of phytoestrogens. The idea came about because the Czech Republic is a strong beer drinking nation, and menopausal women there had low levels of estrogen in their diet. The menopause beer is aimed at relieving the symptoms of menopause and improving bone density.

Scientists have also found hops to have an anti-inflammatory effect. Compounds in hops have an effect similar to regular pain killers like ibuprofen, but with less of a disturbing impact on the gastrointestinal system. These active constituents of hops work in the same way as the arthritis drugs Vioxx and Celebrex, in that they are COX-2 inhibitors.

Hops are also an antioxidant; it may reduce insulin resistance, and is being investigated for its potential anti tumor properties. Hops was found to inhibit the growth of breast cancer cells ‘in vitro’, or in the lab, paving the way for further studies to be done. Hops should not be taken by people with depression however, according to traditional herbalists.

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-journals.org/cgi/content/abstract/188/3/397

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HealthStatus has been operating since 1998 providing the best interactive health tools on the Internet, millions of visitors have used our blood alcohol, body fat and calories burned calculators. The HealthStatus editorial team has continued that commitment to excellence by providing our visitors with easy to understand high quality health content for many years. Our team of health professionals, and researchers use peer reviewed studies as source elements in our articles. Our high quality content has been featured in a number of leading websites, USA Today, the Chicago Tribune, Live Strong, GQ, and many more.

Karen
10. August 2017
Karen
10. August 2017
Hi , how much beer a day would be good for helping menopause please?...Karen

Ali Hamm
27. February 2017
Ali Hamm
27. February 2017
Please be careful about health advice you give! Beer is NOT good for menopause. I am finishing a PhD studying menopause, hop extracts and gut health. And also teach brewing science at the college level. The active estrogenic compound in hops is 8-prenylnaringenin, a flavonoid (type of polyphenol). Polyphenols are actively removed from beer during the brewing process. Most are lost in the trub during kettle boil, and the rest are actively filtered out by plate filtration and centrifugation, because these compounds cause haze. Bottom line: the more clear the beer, the less beneficial polyphenols. HOWEVER, with that said, some beers may have appreciable amounts of 8-prenylnaringenin, if they are unfiltered and packed with hops (think 'cloudy IPA'). Furthermore, depending on your gut bacteria, the ability to convert precursors into 8-prenylnaringenin varies considerably among humans. But hey, if a beer makes you feel good, drink up!!!! But remember the bottom line: The alcohol content in beer will most likely override any health effects. Fact check: - 8PN does NOT have a stimulating effect on the uterus... quite the opposite. It lowers mitotic activity compared to synthetic estradiol. Higher mitotic activity is associated with cancer risk. - Hops do indeed have appreciable antioxidant activity, but for same reason as 8PN, we don't benefit from that by drinking beer.

Barbara
13. October 2016
Barbara
13. October 2016
this article is very true. when i don't drink for a few weeks I get very depressed and the hot flashes are very bad. Im having a beer right now after 12days with out one and it is cooling me down nice.

Jacqueline
26. March 2010
Jacqueline
26. March 2010
Interesting. I had read about hops being used in treatment for insulin resistance and restless leg syndrome, but not menopause. Your explanation makes sense. Cheers! Here's a good article, too, about Phytotherapy ? the key to hormonal balance? -- explains how phytoestrogens and other plants and herbs work in the body to balance hormones.

Anita Taylor
17. March 2010
Anita Taylor
17. March 2010
I feel that this is a very interesting. Due to the fact that I had a very early onset of menapause. Because of a tubaligation.I usually drink beer or wine. And never have an upset stomach. Which amazes my husband who have stomach problems. And have never had hot flashes on anything associated with menapause

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Written by HealthStatus Team
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HealthStatus has been operating since 1998 providing the best interactive health tools on the Internet, millions of visitors have used our blood alcohol, body fat and calories burned calculators. The HealthStatus editorial team has continued that commitment to excellence by providing our visitors with easy to understand high quality health content for many years. Our team of health professionals, and researchers use peer reviewed studies as source elements in our articles. Our high quality content has been featured in a number of leading websites, USA Today, the Chicago Tribune, Live Strong, GQ, and many more.

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