There are many rumors about a foamy hop drink that underestimate the rating of beer among other alcoholic drinks. Most afraid of the strong half of the society are female hormones in beer. But you need to distinguish truth from myths.
The main raw material in beer production is hops. It belongs to the genus of flowering plants and belongs to the hemp family.
Phytoestrogens in beer
The chemical composition of beer includes 8-prenylnaringenin. This substance is found in hop cones and belongs to the class of phytoestrogens. Estrogens belong to female sex hormones, it is from here that all these horror stories went.
In hops, a rather large percentage of phytoestrogens is present, and in beer their content reaches thirty-six milligrams per liter. Some experts believe that this is quite enough for changes in the hormonal background of the human body. Hops are thought to secrete hormones like progesterone, the female sex hormone.
Changes in mice
Experiments were even performed on castrated mice and rats with a tendency to infantilism.
Thanks to these experiments, it was proved that seventy percent hop extract (dose of 10-30 mg) can cause estrus. Simply put - estrus. Moreover, if you inject hop extract for about 12 days, you can increase the mass of the uterine horn four times.
How does it affect men and women?
Naturally, this alcoholic drink affects men and women in different ways. It's all about the difference in hormones - testosterone and estrogen. It is these substances that have a direct effect on the formation of external genital organs and not only. In men, thanks to this hormone, great muscle strength develops, a corresponding figure and a low voice, facial hair grows.
In a woman, on the contrary, her voice is softer, her figure is more elegant, there is no vegetation on her face, and her character is more docile. To maintain femininity, 0.3-0.7 mg of estradiol is enough, it is this amount that the female body produces. But beer contains a large dose of estrogen-active compounds.
Does beer harm men?
There are undoubtedly female hormones in beer, and this cannot but affect the male body. The so-called symptoms of feminization become visible. These include an enlargement of the glands of the chest, an enlarged pelvis, and weakening of the muscles (meaning the abdominal press, which causes a beer belly). Many men lose their sexual desire, their potency decreases.
In addition, many experts believe that beer affects the level of testosterone in the blood. From a strong-willed, active, strong leader, a man with a low amount of testosterone turns into a weak-willed, apathetic representative of the stronger sex, who can only track the sides on the couch in front of the TV. Then irritability and moodiness often appear.
Does beer harm women?
Female hormones in beer and on the weaker sex have a negative effect. The uterus can begin to grow, the uterine and vaginal epithelium grow. Problems begin with the menstrual cycle, and then the ability to give birth to a child is lost. Estrogen is already produced in the body of a woman in the right amount.
And the hormone that enters the body along with beer is completely superfluous there. So female hormones in beer are of no benefit to anyone. True or fiction is still incomprehensible. Specialists in this field are still discussing this.
A bit of history
Beer is a fairly popular drink in many countries of the world. The grain from which beer is brewed is much more unpretentious than the grapes from which noble wine is made. Foam drink is loved by people who inhabit countries with a temperate climate. Although Germany and France produce both beer and wine.
A classic beer recipe appeared in Europe, somewhere in the Middle Ages. Although before that there are references to a drink with that name. But these were completely different grain-based drinks. There is even a banana beer.
Important ingredients
Somewhere in the 12th century, hops were added to the beer recipe. It contains many essential oils and resins. It is these substances that give the beer a bright deep taste. Hops also belong to natural preservatives. Any organic molecules begin to break down when combined with oxygen, and hops significantly slow down this process.
There are also useful properties of beer. The second most important element that forms the basis of beer is malt. It is a product of grain processing (barley is most often used for beer). It contains a lot of starch, and, as you know, it is one of the main sources of energy. In the process of grain germination, starch breaks down into lighter sugars, in particular maltose.
To begin with, the grains are soaked and create a greenhouse effect, after the grains have sprouted, they are dried, and only now the malt is ready for use in brewing. This is the main ingredient of the wort that will roam.
Living myth
Now quite often you can hear that beer producers instead of natural raw materials add some kind of powder to the drink. The fact is that many European brewers buy malt, powdered. Not all breweries install grinding equipment, it is much easier for them to buy raw materials ready for production.
Alcohol in beer
Degrees in a foamy drink appear in connection with the vital activity of yeast. These microscopic fungi can exist in both oxygen and oxygen-free environments. If yeast does not have access to oxygen, then they produce ethanol, and if they receive oxygen, they actively multiply. How strong the drink will be depends on the density of the wort and the quality of the yeast. Classic standard beer has a strength ranging from four to five percent. Nobody adds alcohol to stronger beers . For the production of such a drink, special strains of yeast are used.
No female hormones in beer stop his lovers. It is still one of the most popular drinks in the world. It is produced in almost all countries of the world, and the beneficial properties of beer only increase its popularity.
Where to go for a delicious beer?
Fans of the drink believe that the most delicious foam is produced by the Belgians. All magazines publishing beer ratings recommend going to Belgium. In this country there is a cult of beer. Here they produce more than six hundred brands of this alcoholic drink. Each region has its own exclusive variety.
Czech beer is also world famous. Going to the Czech Republic and not tasting a single variety is natural blasphemy. For Czechs, beer is an integral part of life, and they take it very seriously. So in this state there are no tasteless varieties. You can try everything in a row.
England is also far from the last in the ranking of beer producers. It was here that at one time, world-famous porter and Indian pale ale began to cook. In any city of this state, you can easily find a cozy pub where you can enjoy a huge variety and high quality foam. You should start with the famous British ale, which is the pearl among the whole assortment of English beer.
These three countries are leaders in beer production, but this does not mean that in other countries this drink is of the worst quality. The main thing during the tasting is not to overdo it and remember the dangers of alcoholic beverages.