Surprising Health Benefits of Drinking Beer

Surprising Health Benefits of Drinking Beer

Reduce risk of heart disease
One eye-opening study involving 200,000 subjects conducted at Italy’s Fondazion di Ricerca e Cura found that people who drank a pint of beer daily had a 31% reduced chance of heart disease. This heart-protecting power of beer stems largely from beer’s natural antioxidants called phenols. However, the study also showed risk of heart disease increased in people who consumed higher amounts of beer.

Protect against Alzheimer’s disease
Perhaps one of the most remarkable health benefits of beer is its ability to protect against Alzheimer’s. Researchers at Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine analyzed several studies and came to the conclusion that moderate beer drinkers were 23% less likely to develop different forms of dementia and cognitive impairment, including Alzheimer’s. The silicon content in beer is thought to protect the brain from the harmful effects of high amounts of aluminum in the body, which are one of the possible causes of Alzheimer’s.

It can help lower risk of diabetes
This is another remarkable benefit of moderate beer consumption. According to a 2011 Harvard study of about 38,000 middle-aged men, those who drank one to two beers daily had a 25% reduction in the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. The alcohol content in beer increases insulin sensitivity, which helps prevent diabetes. Moreover, beer is a good source of soluble fiber that plays an important role in the healthy diet of people suffering from diabetes.

Beer drinkers live longer
Moderate drinking is good for you, and beer is good for moderate drinking. Everyone knows that if you drink too much, it's not good for you. Let's not pull punches: If you're a drunk, you run into things, you drive into things, you get esophageal cancer, you get cirrhosis and other nasty conditions. But more and more medical research indicates that if you don't drink at all, that's not good for you either. According to numerous independent studies, moderate drinkers live longer and better than drunks or teetotalers. Beer is perfect for moderate drinking because of its lower alcohol content and larger volume compared with wine or spirits. And as that old radical Thomas Jefferson said, "Beer, if drank with moderation, softens the temper, cheers the spirit, and promotes health." And he didn't need a scientific study to tell him that.

Beer is all-natural
Some know-it-alls will tell you that beer is loaded with additives and preservatives. The truth is that beer is as all-natural as orange juice or milk (maybe even more so - some of those milk & OJ labels will surprise you). Beer doesn't need preservatives because it has alcohol and hops, both of which are natural preservatives. Beer is only "processed" in the sense that bread is: It is cooked and fermented, then filtered and packaged. The same can be said for Heineken.

Reduces Kidney Stones
Beer is also known to decrease the risk of kidney stones. A study in Finland found that beer taken in moderation daily can reduce the risk of developing kidney stones by 40%. The high water content (about 93%) in beer helps keep the kidneys working properly and flush harmful toxins out of the system.

Also, the diuretic effect of beer will not cause dehydration, which is one of the leading causes of kidney stones. According to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, compounds in hops help slow the release of calcium from bones, preventing buildup of the lost calcium in the kidneys in the form of stones.

Boosts Brain Health
Researchers at Rush University Medical Center have shown that beer reduces the risk of developing memory problems later in life by 23%.

Moderate intake decreases the incidence of Alzheimer’s and dementia because beer triggers the growth of new brain cells. Also, beer allows the brain to enter a more flexible state of attention, thereby improving memory, concentration and reasoning power.

Makes Bones Stronger
Beer contains high levels of silicon, a healthy compound that is linked to better bone health. Silicon has been found to increase bone mineral density and improve bone strength.

According to a 2009 study done at Tufts University, older people who have the habit of drinking beer in moderate amounts daily had higher bone density. However, beer in large quantities will weaken the bones and increase the risk of bone fractures.

Lowering Cancer Risk
Being high in antioxidants and flavanoids (particularly dark beers), beer is great in lowering the risk of cancer, especially prostate cancer for men. Further, beer contains xanthohumol which is a powerful antioxidant known to have anti-cancer properties.

Guarding Against Stroke
Blood clots that tend to form can cause ischemic stroke and many other life threatening diseases or conditions. This occurs when an artery to the brain is blocked. Nevertheless, the arteries become flexible and blood flow improves significantly when you (regularly, in moderation) drink some beer.

Clears skin and helps hair growth
All the vitamins in beer are really good for acne reduction and increasing natural skin shine. Further, beer acts as a great hair growth stimulator. The contents of hops and malt in beer make hair more healthy and act as an exceptional ingredient for hair growth. When you rinse your hair with beer and wash it off after few minutes, it gives a shine to the hair. Some hairstylists claim it too helps with damaged hair. The only problem is that strong smell beer has.

Reduced Blood Pressure
People who moderately drink beer are less likely to have high blood pressure, which can lead to heart attack. In fact, that study by Harvard that found this compared the results to those who drank wine or other spirits. Beer was the winner, so if it’s your favorite drink, don’t feel bad about it!