10 Health Reasons To Drink Beer
Need a good reason to indulge your love for beer? We’ll give you 10!
Marquette, MI – Research shows it’s healthy to consume a moderate amount of beer daily so, keep some on hand for more than just the BBQ season. You can enjoy a beer and the many health benefits that go along with it every day!
10 health reasons to drink beer:
1. cancer protection: Ok, here’s a connection to the benefits of drinking beer and one of our nation’s biggest BBQ days of the year: There are ingrediants in beer that are sources of different components effecting our body systems. Malt for one, contains carbohydrates, minerals, a small amount of vitamins (mainly B’s) and antioxidants which help maintain blood vessels and protect against cancer. Especially in the oxidizing fats created in foods cooked on the grill like steaks and other meats.
2. popularity: Beer is the most commonly consumed alcoholic beverage in the world and the third most popular drink after water and tea! It’s the oldest fermented beverage in the world with references going back to around the year 3,000 BC from the ancient Mesopotamian area.
Old illustration of beer making in Unyamwezi region, Tanzania. Created by Bayard, published on Le Tour du Monde, Paris, 1864. (photo: canstock.com)
3. traditional: Beer has been served on religious occasions since ancient times as a gift to the gods and for celebrations at special events and festivals. It has served as a traditional medicine for treating constipation, fever, and inflammation. Egyptian women even used beer in cosmetic treatments for the skin to leave it young and fresh.
4. natural ingredients: made from the all natural ingredients water, grains (barley & wheat) hops, and yeast. The natural process of preparing liquor is germ-free so there is no need for preservatives or other additives.
5. protects against osteoporosis: Beer contains silica, a mineral participating in the construction of the hard part of the bones thereby helping to strengthen and reduce the risk of developing osteoporosis.
6. protects the heart: Beer has been studied extensively in large and different populations. Research has found that moderate consumption of beer reduces the chances of dying from heart disease by 20% compared to those who abstain from drinking.
Beer increases your levels of good cholesterol (HDL) protecting the blood vessels and heart and helping increase antioxidant activity in the blood which prevents the oxidation of bad choleterol (LDL) and reduces inflammation of the blood vessels.
The hops plant contains polyphenols that help to protect the vascular system, brain, and skin. It also contains phytoestrogens that positively affect the female hormonal system, skin, and bones. The yeast that ferments the malt creating alcohol positively affects different systems in the body such as: the brain, bones, blood vessels, kidneys and more.
7. prevents diabetes: Once again when consumed moderately, beer can help reduce the risk of diabetes by 30% compared to those who abstain.
8. beer belly myth: The prevelance of “beer bellies” in beer consumers has led many to believe that beer is a fattening product… but the facts on the label show that the caloric value in 10ml of beer is actually lower than wine and most soft drinks (excluding diet drinks).
Obese people drinking beer probably have many other contributing lifestyle factors or are consuming more than a moderate amount. Studies have shown that modest consumption of beer doesn’t increase the risk of obesity in healthy people. In fact men and women who drink a moderate amount did not have a larger waist circumference than those who don’t consume beer at all.
9. reduces Alzheimer’s: Moderate consumption of beer and alcoholic beverages can reduce the risk of degenerative diseases like Dementia and Alzheimer’s. A study published in 2005 studying elderly women between the ages of 70 – 81 showed that cognitive test scores were better in those of women who drank one alcoholic beverage a day than those who did not drink.
10. Beer and Sports: Take a cue from the tastes of professional runners who have reported that their preferred meals after races are meat, noodles, and beer! In fact, some physiological studies found that fluid recovery through drinking beer was as good as drinking water after exercise.
In addition, an observational study from the Netherlands among 12 thousand participants over a 20 year time period showed that a combination of regular exercise and moderate beer consumption decreased the risk of death from heart and blood vessels by 44% – 55% compared to those who abstain from drinking.
So when you lift your glasses to celebrate this summer remember that moderate consumption of beer (up to two servings) a day can be an enjoyable part of a healthy lifestyle!
Want to know more about some of the excellent local beers being brewed right here in Marquette? Check out this Marquette Magazine article: Blackrocks Brews Up A Passion For Beer
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