IPA For a Better Body

It is my pleasure today to reveal an old discovery of mine and share it with you. This is somewhat similar to my theory of Electromagnetic Destiny from several years ago in that my experiences in life are the main support for my argument. I have researched several clinical studies that provide scientific connections to support my clinical impressions. In absence of medical proof, I submit that drinking moderate amounts of India Pale Ale and some heavily hopped Stouts will decrease inflammation in the body, enhance the processing of lactic acid in the muscles, prevent atherosclerosis, and strengthen the liver.

Over the years I have seen multiple posts, questions and advice sought for a variety of ailments from joint pain, tendon strains, dizziness, delayed onset muscle syndrome, just to name a few. And most times the tongue-in-cheek one word response thrown out there by Joe, Bruce, or myself has been, "IPA" or "Stout." Well, I am about to reveal to you the proof behind why these gentlemen actually know what they are talking about.

From the following study by W. J. Simpson, titled Studies on the Sensitivity of Lactic Acid Bacteria to Hop Bitter Acids, compounds derived from hops have several effects. They impart a desirable bitter flavor to beer and protect the beer against spoilage by lactic acid bacteria. It has been shown that hop compounds and their derivatives interfere with the function of the cell plasma membrane in the aerobic organism. In other words, Hop Bitter Acids (HBAs) act as mobile-carrier ionophores. The major bitter acids in beer are called iso-alpha acids. Of these, Humulone is the primary alpha acid that occurs in most hops. It gives the desirable soft bittering finish to the beer; Cohumulone, adds the harsh unpleasant bitterness to beer. Recently, new high-alpha hop varieties also high in Cohumulone have come onto the market and are considered to impart a good bitterness. Isohumulones derived from hops are the major bitter compounds in beer.

While alpha acids contribute most of the bitterness to beer, most of the hop flavor and aroma is contributed by volatile essential oils. Of these, Myrcene lends American hops many of their distinctive flavors. When added late in, or after the boil of wort, Myrcene adds the intense, pungent aroma associated with American dry-hopped beers. When boiled for longer periods, like 60-90 minutes, it yields the characteristic citrus and pine aromas of American craft beer. Myrcene is also found in some citrus fruits. Several hop varieties; Ahtanum, Cascade, Centennial, and Simcoe, to name a few; have a grapefruit quality that lends to a pleasant citrus aroma. The relationship between hop bitter acids and the citrus characteristics found in Myrcene oil, combined with moderate amounts of alcohol are proven to reduce inflammation and in my experience, relieve lactic acidosis.

 
Lactic acidosis is a condition experienced in the muscles of the body after intense or prolonged bouts of exercise. It is my clinical impression that consuming an IPA or beer that is high on the international bitterness unit (IBU) scale can help relieve lactic acidosis. Another method of treating acidosis in the body is to start with small amounts of citrus fruits and gradually add larger amounts. Citrus fruits do not increase the acidic level of the blood; instead they are converted to carbon dioxide and water and have an alkaline effect on the body. It only stands to reason that consumption of HBAs that are of the citrus variety combined with a moderate amount of alcohol, all conveniently found in any good IPA, are going to lead to better health and recovery.

Hop bitter acids effectively block inflammation. They have also been studied in traditional folk medicine for sedative and antibacterial purposes. In this study published by the people at PubMed, they demonstrated and compared the anti-inflammatory effect of various classes of HBAs in fibroblasts, which are important players in the inflammatory response. The very compounds that make hops valuable to a brewmaster have captured the attention of researchers who are intrigued by the immune-modulating effects of plants. In particular, the alpha and beta acids from hops appear to block the release of inflammatory chemicals called cytokines from white blood cells.  The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine reports that hops contain phytosestrogens, which are compounds that mimic the effects of estrogen in your body. Scientists are just now learning about the anti-inflammatory properties of hops.

In a clinical study by the people at Science Direct, they stated, isohumulones derived from hops are the major bitter compounds in beer. It was reported that isohumulones activated peroxiosome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs). PPARs are ligand-activated transcriptional factors that regulate lipid and lipoprotein metabolism, glucose homeostasis, and inflammation. "They showed that ingestion of isohumulones ameliorated insulin resistance, reduced the size of hypertrophic adipocytes, and reduced plasma glucose and lipid levels in diabetic mice. Supplementation of isomerized hop extract (IHE) showed increased plasma HDL-cholesterol levels. These observations suggest that the intake of isohumulones may have some health benefits in patients with obesity, diabetes, and atherosclerosis and may also be beneficial in the prevention of these conditions." Interestingly, the recent findings that PPAR also plays a role in protecting against the development of a fatty liver that results from excessive ethanol intake suggests that isohumulones in beer might actually help to prevent alcoholic liver disease. Hops contain chalcones and other polyphenols that are similar to the catechins in green tea. Xanthomul, one of the primary chalcones in hops, inhibits the activity of human hepatic stellated cells - the primary instigators of inflammation and scarring in liver disease.

It is my contention that with the supporting evidence above, a person that drinks hoppy beers in moderation will improve their quality of life and find increased longevity. You see, you may just be able to have your beer and drink it too.

Chase Duarte
Copyright 2012