Health Benifits of Beer

Health benefits of Beer


Who ever thought there would be health benefits to drinking beer? Well, there are, and scores of them!

Beer and its magnificent research
Studies have revealed that beer can produce the same benefits as drinking wine. Whether you prefer ales, lagers, stout, bitter or wheat beers, studies show that one drink a day for women or up to two drinks a day for men will reduce your chances of strokes, heart and vascular disease. It’s no secret that the stroke is the 3rd leading cause of death in the U.S. and the leading cause of serious, long-term disabilities.

What’s interesting is that it was proven that those who drank one beer a week compared to those who drank one beer a day experienced no variance in reducing stroke risks. It is said that light to moderate drinkers will decrease their chances of suffering a stroke by 20%. A researcher at the Texas Southwestern Medical Center reported that those who consume moderate amounts of beer (one to two a day at the most) have a 30-40% lower rate of coronary heart disease compared to those who don’t drink. Beer contains a similar amount of ‘polyphenols’ (antioxidants) as red wine and 4-5 times as many polyphenols as white wine. At times pregnant women were also allowed to have beer during their pregnancy to facilitate the baby and help him slide out easily from the mother’s womb.

Alcohol has also been attributed of its ability to increase the amount of good cholesterol (HDL) into the bloodstream as well as help to decrease blood clots. As a conditioner too, beer has excellent results on adding up to the shine of your hair. As it contains vitamin B6, which prevents the build-up of amino acid called homocysteine that has been linked to heart disease, you're sure to have a healthy hear too.

Some interesting facts for you to ponder upon.

* Beer is nutritious if consumed in moderation
* That beer is fat-free and cholesterol free?
* Beer has a relaxing effect on the body thereby reducing stress.
* It can help you sleep better
* It helps prevent heart disease and improves the blood circulation
* It has proven to have positive effects on elderly people. It helps to promote blood vessel dilation, sleep, and urination.

On an average beer contains the following:
0mg of cholesterol
0g of fat
13g of carbohydrate
25mg of sodium protein, calcium, potassium, phosphorus and vitamins B, B2, and B6

The health risks of beer
Ever heard of the ‘beer belly’? In a German study, Gerard Klose said ‘dangers begin to emerge in men measuring more than 94 centimeters around the middle, and become "really risky" at a girth of 102 centimeters’. ‘Too much fat’, he said, ‘makes diabetes, certain forms of cancer and heart disease a distinct possibility’.’

It’s no secret that high levels of fat accumulated on the body is unhealthy and can cause serious illness over time. An article in the London Times reports that fat that collects around the internal organs to form the typically male beer belly will also find its way into the bloodstream and in turn, raise your cholesterol levels. This leads to heart and vascular disease and strokes. So its best to drink in moderation. Cheers to that! Hic!

Source: http://www.buzzle.com/editorials/12-23-2004-63330.asp