Beer is the world’s oldest and most consumed alcoholic beverage around the globe. It is one of the most popular drinks aside from water and tea.
Beer is produced by brewing starches, mainly from cereal grains - commonly malted barley. It dates back to 9500 BC or early Neolithic, when cereal was first farmed. With alcohol as an active ingredient in beer, health effects apply to it.
People, when hearing the word beer, often think the worst.
The Health Benefits
A small portion of the population know that beer actually has health benefits?
Yes indeed! In fact, it is healthy in moderate consumption and it is associated with a decreased risk of cardiac disease, cognitive decline, diabetes, high blood pressure and stroke. Doctors believe that drinking beer up to 1 pint a day could even help you lose weight. Hmm… the jury is out on that one 🙂
It does however contain vitamins, folic acids, calcium and iron which are said to provide a protective effect on the cardiovascular system having similar heart healthy benefits to drinking red wine. Beer also contains vitamin B6, which is responsible for preventing a build-up of homocysteine, an amino acid linked to heart disease.
Researchers in Barcelona prescribed three glasses of beer for men while girls should only knock back two glasses.
10 Benefits of Beers:
1. Reduces stress - Alcohol generally reduces stress. Probably the main reason why beer is said to be good for your health.
2. Good for the heart - Observational studies link light to moderate drinking with a lower risk of heart disease, but doctors don’t advise starting to drink for this reason.
3. Improves blood circulation - Beer increases HDL Cholesterol or what is commonly known as good cholesterol. It is a kind of blood fat that reduces blood’s tendency to clot.
4. A little fiber - beer contains a small amount of soluble fiber from malted barley.
5. Some vitamins and minerals - small amounts of B vitamins, potassium and magnesium.
6. Strokes - light drinking has been linked to a slightly lower risk of the most common type of stroke, while heavy drinking raises stroke risk.
7. Your brain - some studies link light to moderate drinking with less mental decline, while heavy drinking harms the brain.
8. Go easy on your liver - your liver has to process all alcohol, so keep to one drink a day or less.
9. A note on sleep - a drink may make you drowsy, but alcohol tends to disrupt sleep later in the night, so it is not a sleep aid.
10. Known to fend off gallstones.
The Research
Experts in Spain said that drinking beer in moderation together with a Mediterranean diet can make you healthier than those who don’t. Dr Ramon Estruch, a researcher in Barcelona University, said that moderate consumption of beer is associated with many nutritional and health benefits. Dr Ramon Estruch and Rosa Lamuela tested 1250 men and women aged over 55 years. Those who combined Mediterranean diet (fish, olive oil, fruits and veggies) and up to 1 glass of beer a day did not put on weight, but actually lost weight.
As in most things, moderation is always the key. Health authorities are clear that if you don’t drink, you shouldn’t start for health reasons, and if you do, it’s best to keep it light and enjoy it with food - the way beer and wine are traditionally enjoyed around the Mediterranean. Most of the benefits on this list come just as easily from the diet itself: fiber from beans and whole grains, B vitamins and minerals from vegetables, and heart protection from olive oil, nuts and fish.
…enjoy a Mediterranean diet, see my eBook below and seriously consider learning more!
Ray Baker
