This is bad news for beer lovers! The hops that were used in your favorite drink could be giving you man boobs.
Not many people know this, but the hops in beers are actually wonderful medicine for menopause and insomnia, due to their high phytoestrogen content. The hops that were used in beer contain high amount of phytoestrogen, which is a plant derived chemical that is similar to the female sex hormone oestrogen.
Study
Several studies showed that these hops can have an estrogenic effect on a man’s body. This means that, it boosts the levels of female sex hormones in your body. The plants are commonly used as an herbal remedy for menopause. It helps in reducing night sweats, hot flashes, vaginal dryness, mood swings and other symptoms that come with menopause. It is like an herbal hormone replacement therapy.
But in men, the increased levels of estrogen can result in man boobs. Man boobs, or what is known as “moobs,” are usually caused by a medical condition called gynecomastia. This is caused by a build-up of fatty tissue or hormone imbalance around the breast area. The most common hormone imbalance which causes moobs is, too much estrogen.
Hops are commonly used in various herbal remedies for conditions such as insomnia, menopause and are a natural diuretic to help improve the flow of urine. Also, there have been some suggestion that hops could help stimulate the flow of breast milk and treat a prolonged, painful erection. All of these are due to the plant’s estrogen-like properties.
But according to Buster Grant, the Managing Director and Head Brewer of Brecon Brewery, Chairman of the Society of Independent Brewers, you are more likely to get moobs from lack of exercise.
Also, he mentioned that “It is dependent on the hop variety”, some contain more as compared to others.”
He also explained that “We are talking about only a tiny amounts that are coming through in a pint of beer. It is not something one should particularly worry about as a beer drinker or a brewer.”
“It is an interesting concept, but the reality is you are more likely to develop moobs from lack of exercise, as compared to the estrogen present in the beer.”
While man boobs may seem to be a small price to pay for a couple of drinks, there are long-term effects that may have you choosing another type of drink. The high levels of estrogen in men can lead to impotence and a reduced sex drive. This is because the hormone starts to outweigh testosterone, which is the male sex hormone.
Testosterone is the one responsible for a man’s libido, sperm production, muscle mass and keeps the tissue in the penis in working order. Men that have low testosterone levels, often experience erectile dysfunction, which can also lead to a various illnesses such as anxiety and depression.
A healthy balance of testosterone and estrogen levels in your body is required for a man to get and maintain an erection. Low levels of testosterone can also lead to infertility, as this is the hormone that is responsible for maintaining healthy sperm.
But remember that you have to be drinking excessive amounts of beer, to boost your estrogen levels enough to cause problems in the bedroom. It was stated that “Realistically the amount of beer that one would need to drink would be astonishing. According to Buster, “My understanding of it is you would almost need to drown in it, before you would notice any effect. If one is talking about the amount of hop in an average beer, you are into thousandths of a part of a percent, probably less than. Hops are just a flavoring for beers”.
Read More:
1. Why Its Not a Good Idea to Mix Alcohol and Energy Drinks
2. The Effects of Eating Instant Noodles
3. Hard Alcohol for Weight Watchers
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