A new research suggests that drinking beer is good for your health. The study also suggests that doctors should be aware of the growing evidence supporting the nutritional and health benefits of moderate consumption of alcohol as part of a healthy lifestyle.
Beer contains a huge amount of proteins and Vitamin B. It is also high in antioxidants, thus, reduce the risk of heart attacks. But there is also a limitation, as the study notes this only applies to “moderate drinking” – which means one drink per day for women and two maximum for men.
Scientists noted, “The antioxidant content of beer is equivalent to that of wine, but the specific antioxidants are different because the barley and hops used in the production of beer contain flavonoids different from those in the grapes used in the production of wine.”
Nutritionist Sisi Yip told the South China Morning Post: “Beer contains trace amounts of minerals such as calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, zinc, copper, manganese and selenium, fluoride, and silicon.”
“Beer also includes a range of polyphenols such as flavonoids and phenolic acids that contribute directly to flavor, haze, body, and fullness.’
The polyphenols in the beer are natural compounds obtained from plants. When consumed, they also help in reducing the risk of developing atherosclerosis, type 2 diabetes and heart disease due to their anti-inflammatory effects.
In terms of diabetes, xanthohumol, a key ingredient used to make beer, has been found in multiple studies to reduce the likelihood of insulin resistance in mice who were fed high-fat diets.
According to the UK’s Chief Medical Officer, drinkers should not consume more than fourteen units per week on a regular basis. This equates to six 175ml glasses of wine, six pints of larger, five pints of cider or fourteen 25ml glasses of spirits.
Exceeding this could result in liver damage, heart disease, and weight gain. The results of this study are published in The American Journal of the Medical Sciences.