Don’t let anyone guilt trip you into wanting to indulge in a glass of beer or two, contrary to popular believe, moderate beer consumption is actually good for you( two drinks for men) not an all-night drinking spree with your buddies.
Here are some surprising beer benefits that could have you liking a ‘cold one’ even more.
Heart Disease
A study done at Italy’s Fondazion di Ricera e Cura, looked at 200 000 participants, and found that those who drank a pint of beer daily had a 31% reduced chance of heart disease. “This heart-protecting power of beer stems largely from beer’s natural antioxidants called phenols.”
The study did show that those who consumed higher levels of beer were most likely to have an increase in heart disease risks.
Alzheimer’s disease
Researchers at the Loyala University of Chicago Stritch School of Medicine found that moderate beer drinkers were 23% less likely to develop different forms of dementia and cognitive impairment, including Alzheimer’s.
“The silicon content in beer is thought to protect the brain from the harmful effects of high amounts of aluminium in the body, which are one of the possible causes of Alzheimer’s.”
Diabetes
According to a 2011 Harvard study, 38 000 middle-aged men, who drank one to two beers daily had experienced a 25% decrease in the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Wondering how is that possible?
“The alcohol content in beer increases insulin sensitivity, which helps prevent diabetes.”
As beer is a good source of soluble fibre which plays an essential role in a healthy diet for those who are living with diabetes.
Kidney Stones
A Finnish study established that moderate daily consumption of beer can decrease the risk of developing kidney stones by 40%.
This is due to beer’s high water content (93%) which assists to flush out harmful toxins out of your body and makes sure your kidneys continue to work properly.
“Compounds in hops used in brewing help slow the release of calcium from bones, which in turn prevents build-up of lost calcium in the kidney in the form of stones.”
Cancer
Who would have thought that beer, could reduce the risk of cancer, as it contains an important antioxidant known as xanthohumol; a powerful anti-cancer properties which contains properties that help fend off cancer.
The most common in men is prostate cancer- “moderate beer consumption helps prevent a certain chemical reaction that can lead to prostate cancer in men.”
Cholesterol
If you looking for an unconventional way of cutting your cholesterol levels in half, then moderate (take heed of that word) beer consumption is definitely the way to go.
“The barley used in brewing of beer contains a type of soluble fibre that has been shown to help in lowering cholesterol levels.”
Strong Bones
One study conducted at Tufts in 2009, found that ‘seasoned’ individuals who drank one or two glasses of beer daily had a larger bone density and as a result were less prone to fractures than those who do not enjoy a glass of beer or wine.
“The study also found that consuming more than two drinks increased risk of bone fractures.”
Cut Down On Strokes
You will be extremely happy to hear that studies done by the American Stroke Association have shown that people who drink beer MODERATELY can cut their risk of strokes by 50%, compared to non-drinkers.
The Harvard School of Public Health also looked into this and found that: “moderate amounts of beer daily helps prevent blood clots that block blood flow to the heart, neck and brain, which is a leading cause of ischemic stroke.”
But the key is to remember that in order to reap all these wonderful beer benefits, you need to consume beer moderately, yes say it with me ‘moderately’, as overindulgence in beer and other alcoholic drinks can affect your health negatively.
Alice Paulse
