Health Benefits To Drinking Beer

Studies have shown that moderate consumption of beer can:

• Aid in bone formation. Beer contains silicon, a mineral that helps build bone mass. Dietary silicon has been shown in one study to improve bone density in the hips of men and premenopausal women.

• Prevent cell damage that can lead to cancer and heart disease. Hops and malt used to make beer are rich sources of disease-fighting antioxidants. Beer also contains polyphenols, the same antioxidants found in wine, fruits, vegetables, and green and black tea. Ales and lagers generally contain more antioxidants than light and nonalcoholic beers.

Beer has vitamins

• Beer is a source of B- complex vitamins.

• Lower rates of diabetes. In one 12-year study, regular light to moderate alcohol intake was associated with a 36-percent lower risk of diabetes. Moderate consumption has been associated with reduced insulin resistance and reduced diabetes (conversely, heavy drinking and alcohol dependence is associated with increased insulin resistance and increased diabetes).

• Protect against ischemic stroke (responsible for 80 percent of all strokes), Alzheimer's disease and dementia. Moderate consumption has been linked to improved cognition and memory.

Beer is good for your heart

• Lower rates of heart disease. Consuming alcohol in moderation (defined by the U.S. government as no more than two drinks per day for men or one drink per day for women) may lower coronary heart disease risk for some people by 30 to 60 percent, even those at high risk because of diabetes, hypertension or a previous heart attack.

• To drink moderately is to drink within the limits set by your health, the society in which you live and your obligations towards your family and friends.

• Moderate consumption of alcoholic drinks can be good for your heart. Numerous studies throughout the world have shown that there is strong evidence that people who are moderate drinkers of beers, wines and spirits have a substantially reduced risk of coronary heart disease, heart attack, when compared to teetotalers and heavy drinkers.

Beer is better for you than wine (white wine that is)

• Per drink (of equivalent alcohol content), beer contains more than twice as many antioxidants as white wine, although only half the amount of red wine.  However, many of the antioxidants in red wine are large molecules and may be less readily absorbed by the body than smaller molecules found in beer.

• Beer does not contain fat or cholesterol and is low in free sugars.  The calories in beer come largely from the alcohol content.

Beer is good for you

If you have a Health Benefit we are unaware of, please send it to us- beer@howsaboutabeer.com

Disclaimer: We pillaged and plundered the web for this content and make no guarantees to the accuracy or truthfulness of any of it but it does make for interesting reading and a few laughs.