It may come as a surprise to know there are health benefits from drinking beer. Consumed in moderation, which means one drink per day for women and up to two for men, there are many scientifically researched and proven benefits of drinking a beer that might make you add beer to your shopping list. Here are just some of the benefits:
Research has shown that beer is able to lower bad cholesterol levels whilst increasing the amount of good cholesterol in the body. Italy’s Fondazion di Ricerca e Cura reported in a study involving 200,000 subjects that people who drank a pint of beer daily had a 31% reduced risk of heart disease. The heart is protected by the beer’s natural antioxidants called phenols. However, the study also showed risk of heart disease increased in people who consumed larger quantities of beer.
Minimize cancer risks
Beer contains an antioxidant known as xanthohumol which is known to have powerful anti-cancer properties that help against cancer-causing enzymes in the body. For men, moderate beer consumption helps prevent a certain chemical reaction that may lead to prostate cancer. For women, beer has been shown to reduce the risk of breast cancer.
A study at Tufts University in 2009 established that older people who drink beer in moderation had higher bone density. Beer strengthens bones and reduces the risk of fractures due to its high silicon content. The silicon compounds come from the hops used in brewing which help slow the release of calcium from bones. It must be noted however, that the study also found that consuming more than two drinks increased the risk of bone fractures.
A 2011 Harvard study of 38,000 middle-aged men showed that those who drank one to two beers daily had a 25% reduction in the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. The alcohol content in beer increases insulin sensitivity, which helps prevent diabetes.
Reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s Disease
Researchers at Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine analyzed several studies and came to the conclusion that moderate beer drinkers were 23% less likely to develop different forms of dementia and cognitive impairment, including Alzheimer’s Disease. It is thought that the silicon content in beer protects the brain from the harmful effects of high amounts of aluminium in the body, considered one of the possible causes of Alzheimer’s Disease.
Cut your cholesterol levels
The barley used in brewing of beer contains a type of soluble fiber known as beta-glucans that has been shown to help in lowering cholesterol levels.
A vitamin cocktail
Beer contains zinc, potassium, riboflavin, and many other nutrients. Dark ales contain considerable amounts of iron. Iron makes oxygen-carrying cells throughout your body function efficiently.
Moderate daily consumption of beer can reduce the risk of developing kidney stones by 40%. This health benefit, established by a research project in Finland was attributed to beer’s high water content (about 93%) that helps flush harmful toxins out of the body and keep the kidneys working properly. In addition, the silicon compounds, created by the hops used in brewing, slows the release of calcium from the bones and so prevents build up of any lost calcium in the kidney in the form of kidney stones.