BACKGROUND: Doctors and researchers are always in search of the key to killing cancer. Now, they may have found it in an unexpected place -- beer! A compound found only in hops (the flavor component of beer) called xanthohumol shows toxicity to human breast, colon, ovarian and prostate cancers. The compound inhibits a family of enzymes commonly known as cytochromes P450 that can activate the cancer process. Xanthohumol also induces activity in a "quinine reductase" process that helps the body detoxify carcinogens and inhibits tumor growth at an early stage. Researchers hope hops might be produced or genetically altered to have higher levels of xanthohumol specifically for its anti-cancer properties. Because some beers contain more hops than others, they may have higher levels of xanthohumol. Lager and pilsner beers commonly sold in domestic beers have fairly low levels of the compound, but some porter, stout and ale brews have much higher levels. "Health" beer is being developed in Germany with higher levels of xanthohumol, although supplements of the compound contain the highest levels.

BEYOND CANCER: Xanthohumol may help stop cancer, but its health benefits don't stop there. The compound appears to have a role as a powerful antioxidant -- even more than vitamin E. It has also been shown to reduce the oxidation of LDL, or bad cholesterol, reducing one's risk of heart disease.

There are other chemical compounds in hops that have been shown to provide benefits to humans. Prenylflavonoids are potent phytoestrogens that may prevent or treat post-menopausal hot flashes and osteoporosis. However, clinical trials of these effects have not yet been carried out. Some companies aren't even waiting for trials to put their products out on the market. Hop-containing herbal supplements are being marketed for breast enlargement in women without waiting for tests to verify their safety or effectiveness.

THE FRENCH PARADOX: Researchers are looking to the health benefits of different alcoholic products to explain what they call the "French Paradox." Although the French have a high-fat diet, smoke more than Americans and exercise even less, the rate of heart disease is approximately one-third the United States' heart attack rate. They say the French's tendency to drink red wine with meals could help explain this phenomenon. The grapes in red wine also have high concentrations of flavonoids, which have been proven to reduce artery-narrowing blood platelet activity and introduce powerful free radical-fighting anti-oxidant protection into the bloodstream.

Researchers say the darker the beer or wine, the better it is for you. "Red wine is better than white wine, and dark beer is better than light beer," Lowell Peterson, M.D., a cardiologist at the Appleton Heart Institute in Wisconsin was quoted as saying. "There are more flavonoids present."