13-04-2012, 06:24 PM
Hi Karen,
The story about hops digestion is here:
http://jn.nutrition.org/content/136/7/1862.full
In short: xanthohumol and isoxanthohumol are anti-androgens, 5α-reductase inhibitors. I'm sure they inhibit 5α-reductase type I, not so sure about type II. A bacteria in the large intestine makes 8-prenylnaringenin from isoxanthohumol. 8-prenylnaringenin is a phyto-estrogen. Since there is 10-20 times more isoxanthohumol than 8-prenylnaringenin in hops, digestion really turns it from an anti-androgen into a phyto-estrogen. If you don't have the right bacteria, they sell a supplement "Menohop", which is a hops extract plus a probiotic for those bacteria. It's more expensive than just hops, but taking one box to colonize your intestine should be enough.
Even then, drinking hops tea on an empty stomach should leave the anti-androgens intact. Used like that, hops prevents acne.
I'm not sure if I'm blocking all the ways to make DHT myself. I neglected that area, because i thought: blocked is blocked. Now I'm planning to do an experiment with barley grass as a 5α-reductase type II inhibitor. Rye bread should work as well. The difference with hops, if any, should be in hair loss. Not sure how I'm going to measure that.
My progress over the last month was in weight. I attribute it to black seed (nigella sativa). That's a waist slimmer that makes me lose weight too. Fenugreek slims the waist, but it puts on weight. Goat's rue slims the waist, but it did nothing for my weight.
Adding phyto-estrogens at will is the Boobie Grail of this board. Nearly all of them have their disadvantages:
- depression from hops
- SHBG increase from flax
- PM suppresses prolactin
- soy slows the thyroid, and is easily over dosed
- RC and licorice contain phyto-progestins as well
People on the board are experimenting with lotus seed, dandelion, milk thistle, and shatavari. sfem did well on blessed thistle. Yellow dock and sheep sorrel require more experiments.
The story about hops digestion is here:
http://jn.nutrition.org/content/136/7/1862.full
In short: xanthohumol and isoxanthohumol are anti-androgens, 5α-reductase inhibitors. I'm sure they inhibit 5α-reductase type I, not so sure about type II. A bacteria in the large intestine makes 8-prenylnaringenin from isoxanthohumol. 8-prenylnaringenin is a phyto-estrogen. Since there is 10-20 times more isoxanthohumol than 8-prenylnaringenin in hops, digestion really turns it from an anti-androgen into a phyto-estrogen. If you don't have the right bacteria, they sell a supplement "Menohop", which is a hops extract plus a probiotic for those bacteria. It's more expensive than just hops, but taking one box to colonize your intestine should be enough.
Even then, drinking hops tea on an empty stomach should leave the anti-androgens intact. Used like that, hops prevents acne.
I'm not sure if I'm blocking all the ways to make DHT myself. I neglected that area, because i thought: blocked is blocked. Now I'm planning to do an experiment with barley grass as a 5α-reductase type II inhibitor. Rye bread should work as well. The difference with hops, if any, should be in hair loss. Not sure how I'm going to measure that.
My progress over the last month was in weight. I attribute it to black seed (nigella sativa). That's a waist slimmer that makes me lose weight too. Fenugreek slims the waist, but it puts on weight. Goat's rue slims the waist, but it did nothing for my weight.
Adding phyto-estrogens at will is the Boobie Grail of this board. Nearly all of them have their disadvantages:
- depression from hops
- SHBG increase from flax
- PM suppresses prolactin
- soy slows the thyroid, and is easily over dosed
- RC and licorice contain phyto-progestins as well
People on the board are experimenting with lotus seed, dandelion, milk thistle, and shatavari. sfem did well on blessed thistle. Yellow dock and sheep sorrel require more experiments.