London: Not only men, even women now have
another excuse to go down the pub, thanks to a new study which
has revealed that downing a glass of beer daily could prevent
prostate and breast cancers.
Researchers at the German Cancer Research Centre
in Heidelberg have discovered that beer contains a powerful
molecule which actually helps protect against the breast and
prostate cancers.
Found in hops, the substance called xanthohumol
blocks the excessive action of testosterone and oestrogen; it
also helps to prevent the release of a protein called PSA
which encourages the spread of prostate cancer, they say.
Scientists have long known that substances in hops
help to block oestrogen. This is the first time, however, that
they have been found to also inhibit testosterone.
"The research is still early but in trials we
hope to further demonstrate that xanthohumol actively prevents
prostate cancer development," the `Daily Mail` quoted Clarissa
Gerhauser of the Heidelberg centre as saying.
Xanthohumol is a powerful antioxidant derived from
hops. It belongs to a family of chemicals called flavonoids
found in fruits and vegetables that are known to have anti-
cancer properties.
So which brews are likely to be rich in xanthohumol?
"Hops give beer its bitter flavour so traditional bitters and
ales will contain far more of this substance than light
lagers," sad Ben McFarland, author of `World`s Best Beers`.
"Beers highest in hops, are India pale ales such as
those made by the Meantime Brewery in Greenwich, South-East
London. First brewed in the 1800s, these ales were made with
high levels of hops to act as a natural preservative for
export," he added.
PTI