Brain Post: 10 Powerful Reasons BEER is Good For You

Many studies have come out about beer over the years and the overwhelming conclusion is: “beer is good for you.”  Granted, you can’t drink ten of ‘em and expect it to be beneficial.  But one or two or three a day is actually gonna help.  So now you can feel good about the aprés ski beer or three at the hill.

#10 – STRONGER BONES:

It is believed that beer generally has a good amount of silicon which is directly related to the health of bones. In a study conducted by Tufts University and other research centers, it was found that older men and women, who had beer or wine, daily, had better bone density. But increasing the drinks to above two daily, made them prone to bone fractures. A study on 100 different types of beers in 2010 identified that the pale ale, had the best bone buildings benefits, as this brew was the richest in silicon. The light lagers and the beers that did not contain alcohol were found to contain the least amount of silicon.  So drink up, but not too much.

#9 – LOWERS BLOOD PRESSURE:

Until recently, only various types of wine were believed to be good for the health of your heart. But now studies reveal that beer might be good too, if not better. One Harvard study of many women revealed that those who drank moderate quantities of beer had a reduced risk of developing high blood pressure, as compared to women who consumed wine or whisky. This is a significant benefit as an increase in blood pressure might lead to heart attacks and/or stroke.

#8 – REDUCES RISK OF DIABETES:

A Harvard research study found that moderate intake of beer reduced the risk of type 2 diabetes, by 25%. When around 38,000 men who rarely drank, increased their intake of either beer or any other alcoholic drink, to one or two drinks daily, this fact came to light. But if they drank more than 2 drinks daily, this benefit was not seen. The studies found that moderate beer drinkers were protected against diabetes because alcohol increased their insulin sensitivity.

#7 – GUARDS AGAINST STROKE:

The Harvard Schools of Public Health conducted research that revealed that moderate quantities of alcohol especially beer, can prevent strokes. Alcohol allows fewer blood clots, which clog the arteries, to form. So there are no blockages preventing the flow of blood. The blood flow is thus smooth not only to the heart but also to the brain and the neck. Thus common strokes like ischemic strokes are prevented. Beer also reduces the risk of stroke by thinning the blood.

#6 – BOOSTS VITAMIN LEVELS:

It has been found by a study conducted by Dutch researchers at TNO Nutrition and Food Research Institute, that beer increases Vitamin levels in the blood. Beer drinking participants were found to have higher levels of B6 vitamin in their blood, as compared to non-drinking participants. The levels were nearly twice as much as compared to wine drinkers. Beer also is said to contain Vitamin B12, folic acid, pantothenic acid, and riboflavin. Beer is also rich in silicon, a nutrient that is said to help strengthen bones.

#5 – REDUCES CANCER RISK:

When meat is pan-fried it produces carcinogens more specifically heterocyclic amines, which are cancer-causing. A study conducted in Portugal revealed that marinating such a steak in beer for some time eliminates almost 70 percent of these cancer-causing agents. Scientists also discovered that wine and beer have the same level of antioxidants. But these antioxidants vary as the flavonoids found in grapes and hops are very different. So moderate drinking reduces cancer risks to some extent.

#4 – BOOSTS BRAIN HEALTH:

Various studies have shown that a mug of beer daily may help prevent Alzheimer’s and other brain-related diseases. A study conducted in 2005 which tracked the health condition of nearly 10,000 women, revealed that those who consumed one drink a day reduced the risk of showing weak mental ability by nearly 20 percent, in comparison to those who did not drink at all. It was also found that these older women, scored much better on an average, on tests of mental skills, almost behaving 18 months ‘younger’ as compared to the non-drinkers.

#3 – HEALTHIER KIDNEYS:

One study conducted in Finland on beer and other hard drinks, revealed that the consumption of a big mug beer daily, considerably lowered the occurrence of having kidney stones by a significant percentage. It could be that beer’s high level of water content forced the kidneys to work to capacity and clear them out regularly. Dehydration, which causes the kidneys to become sluggish and increase the chances of getting kidney stones, is prevented by the intake of beer regularly. It could also be that the hops in the beer reduced the leaching of calcium present in the bones. Since the calcium, if leeched in this way could possibly end up as kidneys stones.

#2 – STRONGER HEART:

In 2011 a review of earlier studies conducted by Italy’s Foundazion di Ricercar e Cura showed that having a pint of beer daily reduced the risk of heart diseases by nearly 31%. This study involved around 200,000 people. But it was also found that the risk of heart problems increased in those who consumed a large quantity of alcohol, irrespective of whether it is wine, beer, or any other drink. Moderate drinking has been shown to reduce the occurrence of heart attacks. It has also decreased the number of people dying due to heart-related disease by a good percentage, according to more than 100 case studies.

#1 – LONGER LIFE:

The U.S. Department of Agriculture, in a 2005 review of 50 case studies, has revealed that generally, the moderate beer drinker lives longer. Since one or two drinks a day, lowers the rate of heart diseases, strokes, and diabetes, the study estimates that this prevents thousands of deaths per year. These benefits are applicable throughout the world, as an earlier study in Europe believed that if the Europeans stopped drinking, the life expectancy might come down by at least two years.