Oh My, Drinking IPAs May Cause Men to Develop Man-Boobs

Well, this is concerning. After a year-long study on the long-term effects of drinking IPAs, researchers have concluded that too much beer may be responsible for man boobs. Not too much of just any beer: IPA specifically. This is potentially bad news for guys who love their hoppy beverages.

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Image: Giphy

The study, conducted by the University of Granada, showed that a plant-based estrogen in IPAs may be contributing to “Brewer’s Droop”, which is just a cute name for man boobs.

IPAs contain something called phytoestrogen, which can cause hormonal imbalances in men, leading to gynecomastia. In other words, the estrogen in IPAs can give men man boobs. It can also lead to erectile dysfunction. None of that sounds fun, tbh. Most experts think it’s pretty unlikely, but the researchers involved in this particular study disagree. In the study, they wrote, “It does not seem to be just a temporary problem, because erectile ability was still affected after a year.”

Hops have a lot of good properties, though. They contain a natural anti-inflammatory and antiviral agent. And in women, the estrogen boost in hops has shown to relieve postmenopausal symptoms, and help with lactation and endometriosis.

Which all sounds great! For women. For men, getting man boobs and suffering from erectile dysfunction isn’t exactly a party. Thankfully, most experts don’t believe there’s cause for alarm just yet. Says Richard van Breemen, a professor of medicinal chemistry at the University of Illinois, “It’s true that there is a minute quantity of [the estrogen-like compound] 8-prenylnaringenin, in hops, and there ought to be a trace of it in beer. But I would say the levels are too low to function as a [hormone] disruptor.” In fact, phytoestrogen can be found in plenty of other foods, like soybeans, carrots, and potatoes.

So if your partner is starting to sprout a pair of man boobs, it maybe could be too much IPA. Or, you know, too much beer in general.

(Image: iStock / YakobchukOlena)

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