Trade in that Glass of Wine with Dinner for a Beer

Pausing for Relief

Ladies, it turns out you may want to trade in that glass of wine with dinner for a beer. A new study says that menopausal symptoms can be alleviated with hops, a grain used to make beer. The study says that women who took a standardized extract of hops had significantly fewer hot flashes and an improved quality of life.

Apparently the phytoestrogens in hops (Humulus lupulus) help to naturally relieve the symptoms of menopause by interacting with your body's estrogen receptors. (You can't say that about synthetic hormone replacement drugs.) Women who were given 120 mg per day of hops extract saw the most pronounced relief of their symptoms. (This amount provided 100 mcg of the phytoestrogen 8-prenylnaringenin.)

If you're not a beer drinker, take heart. A different study out of Germany found that a fixed combination of St. John's wort and black cohosh was also helpful in relieving both the physical and psychological symptoms associated with menopause.

I'll drink to that!
 
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What is...goldenseal?

Goldenseal is a member of the buttercup family and is distinguished by its thick, yellow knotted rootstock and its large, rounded leaves. Some of its medicinal uses are as a topical antibiotic and as a digestion aid. As with any natural remedy, you should consult with a physician skilled in herbal medicine before using it.

Yours in good health,
Amanda Ross
Editorial Director
Nutrition & Healing