Insights & Discussion
Moderate daily consumption of beer, both with and without alcohol, can significantly alleviate menopause-related symptoms and improve cardiovascular health in postmenopausal women.
In the research, 37 postmenopausal women were voluntarily put through a parallel controlled intervention trial, involving three study groups. The trial involved 16 women consuming beer with alcohol (330 mL/day), 7 women consuming non-alcoholic beer (660 mL/day), and 14 women as control.
In assessing the results, it was found that both interventions, beer with and without alcohol, substantially reduced the severity of menopause-associated symptoms. Specifically, beer with alcohol positively contributed to reducing psychological discomforts linked to menopause when compared to the control group. It was additionally noted that these beneficial effects could be traced to the non-alcoholic section of the beer, as the sex hormone profile remained largely unchanged across the different study groups. In addition, the group that consumed non-alcoholic beer conveyed improvements in their lipid profiles and exhibited lower blood pressure levels, indicating better cardiovascular health.
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Pumpkin seed oil, with its phytochemical content, shows beneficial properties against cardiovascular problems in menopausal women and hormone imbalances.
2022 Comprehensive Reviews in Food Science and Food Safety The potential of pumpkin seed oil as a functional food—A comprehensive review of chemical composition, health benefits, and safety Šamec D, Loizzo MR, Gortzi O, Çankaya T, Tundis R, Suntar , et al.
Review Article Cardiovascular Disease Menopause Pumpkin Seed
The study focused on gathering scientific information that highlights the potential of pumpkin seed oil as a health-benefiting food ingredient. Its focus is on the oil’s chemical composition, phytochemical content, biological activity, safety measures alongside the various production processes. The researchers examined major phytochemicals found in the oil, including polyphenols, phytoestrogens, and fatty acids, while also noting the potential health benefits of carotenoids, squalene, tocopherols, and minerals present in it.
In terms of methodology, most studies within this review were conducted in vitro to validate the oil's antioxidant and antimicrobial activities. Furthermore, there were clinical studies undertaken specifically to observe the effect of the oil in addressing cardiovascular challenges in menopausal women and conditions related to sex hormone imbalances. The comprehensive overview covers a wide array of data on the composition and potential uses of pumpkin seed oil.
Moderate beer consumption could potentially alleviate menopausal symptoms by influencing the internal estrogen receptors through the phenolic compounds present in beer.
2017 Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity Beer Polyphenols and Menopause: Effects and Mechanisms—A Review of Current Knowledge Sandoval-Ramírez BA, Lamuela-Raventós RM, Estruch R, Sasot G, Doménech M, Tresserra-Rimbau A
Review Article Beer Menopause
The study used the developments in food analysis techniques over the past two decades to explore the correlation between the intake of polyphenols from moderate beer consumption and the relief of vasomotor symptoms often experienced during menopause. The focus was on phenolic compounds present in beer like 8-prenylnaringenin, 6-prenylnaringenin, and isoxanthohumol and how they interact directly with intracellular estrogen receptors to influence gene expression and sex hormone plasma concentrations.
The observed results pointed to the potential positive effects of moderate beer consumption on menopausal symptoms. It was inferred that phenolic compounds in beer could interact directly with intracellular estrogen receptors, leading to a modulation of gene expression, thereby balancing physiological hormone imbalance in menopausal women. This alternative could serve as a safer option for alleviating menopausal symptoms as traditional hormone replacement therapies have known health risks. However, these findings need to be viewed keeping in mind the implications of beer consumption on overall health.