Don’t feel guilty about chilling out with a nice cold brew as you may be getting more nutrients than you think! In fact, there are many health benefits of drinking beer every day!!!
What happens to our bodies when we drink a beer every day?
Drinking moderate amounts of beer can reduce your chances of developing cancer, reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases, increase bone density, and help to prevent dementia and other coronary diseases.
Beer has also been proven to aid the digestive system and can help in the treatment of diabetes, gallstones, kidney stones, osteoporosis, and hypertension.
Just remember that this article is based on moderate consumption. This means one drink per day for women, and up to two for men.
Benefits of drinking beer every day
Protects the heart from cardiovascular diseases
Yes, you read it correctly! A new study has shown that drinking moderate amounts of alcohol can help with a healthier heart!
The University of Cambridge study which was published in the British Medical Journal (BMJ), says that moderate drinking could give a protective effect on your heart when compared with not drinking alcohol.
The scientists behind the study discovered that folks that drink in moderation are less likely to visit their doctor suffering from 12 different heart and circulatory conditions. The list includes angina, heart failure, heart attack, and ischemic strokes.
Researchers also believe that small amounts of booze may boost levels of good cholesterol in our blood.
But before you go racing to the bar, you should be aware that if you drink more than 14 units per week, you will actually increase the risk of heart failure, heart attack, and stroke.
Heart Health Dietitian – Tracy Parker said “This study suggests that sticking within alcohol guidelines may actually lower your risk of some heart conditions but it’s important to remember that the risks of drinking alcohol far outweigh any possible benefits. These findings are certainly no reason to start drinking alcohol if you don’t already.” There are better ways to reduce your risk and they are by getting regular exercise, eating a good diet, and quitting smoking”.
Reduces bad cholesterol levels
Another fascinating study suggests that moderate consumption of beer may help to you maintain levels of “good” HDL cholesterol.
Researchers have been tracking 80,000 Chinese adults for over 6 years. They ranged from heavy drinkers to totally non-drinkers. It was observed that HDL levels dropped in all of the groups over time, but it was the moderate drinkers that experienced the slowest decline, which means a reduced risk of developing heart disease.
And when the clever researchers broke down the results even further, they discovered that moderate beer drinkers saw a slower HDL decline than those that drank liquor drinkers.
Researchers don’t exactly know why this link exists but do caution us that drinking moderately isn’t the same as sinking a crate of beer in one sitting.
Beer contains calcium and vitamins that lower the risk of type 2 diabetes
A study done in 2011 by Harvard University of 38,000 middle-aged adult men found that drinking one or two beers a day would reduce the chance of developing type 2 diabetes by 25%.
The alcohol contained in the beer increases a drinker’s sensitivity to insulin, which has resulted in helping to prevent the onset of diabetes.
A final point is that beer is a great source of the soluble fiber that otherwise healthy people with diabetes require as part of their complete diet.
The best alcoholic drinks for those with diabetes are:
- Light beer and dry wines – These alcoholic drinks have fewer calories and carbohydrates than most other alcoholic beverages.
- Neat liquor – By avoiding a mixer, you’re skipping any additional calories or carbohydrates and reducing any effect that your drink will have on your blood sugar levels.
Whatever is your tipple, remember the golden rule is to drink in moderation. Moderate alcohol intake is defined as just one drink a day for women and men over 65, and a maximum of two drinks per day for men aged 65 and younger.
Beer fights dandruff
You may have heard of some brands adding beer to shampoo. This is because of the high yeast and vitamin B levels that it contains. These things are two of the most effective treatments for dandruff.
It might sound weird but by washing your hair with beer 2 or 3 times, you should be able to get rid of problematic dandruff and keep your hair looking shiny and soft.
Increases bone density
There is a substance in beer called silicon. This has been shown to be a vital ingredient for healthy bones.
In 2009, researchers at Tufts University found that older people that consumed one or two beers every day kept a higher bone density (than those that didn’t drink at all). This made them less likely to suffer from bone problems, such as fractures.
The researchers at Tufts also concluded that drinking more than three beers per day would have the opposite effect and actually increase the risk of bone fractures.
Beer helps to prevent Alzheimer’s
One of the most incredible health benefits of drinking beer every day is that it can protect against Alzheimer’s disease. A few studies have found that moderate beer drinkers are 23% less likely to suffer from dementia and overall cognitive impairment, including Alzheimer’s disease.
It is suggested that it is the silicon contained in the beer that protects the brain from any harmful effects of large amounts of aluminum in our bodies. A build-up of aluminum is widely believed to be a likely cause of Alzheimer’s.
Beer is a good source of fiber that cleanses our digestive tract
Beer is also a great source of soluble fibers that are agreed as being good for your overall health. These fibers are beneficial for the heart, and they are also useful in cleaning up the digestive tract.
In addition, beer stimulates gastrin, gastric acid, cholecystokinin, and pancreatic enzymes. We won’t bore you with the explanation but all you need to know is that they are all factors in a good state of health.
Reduces stress and aids sleep
One more study carried out by researchers at the University of Montreal found that two glasses of beer a day actually reduced work-related stress! Moderate amounts of alcohol can also help to decrease anxiety and self-consciousness, which has a tendency to improve your mood.
Anyone who has a few drinks alcoholic drinks now and again knows that beer (or wine & spirits) can make you feel drowsy. The stats are that 20 percent of Americans use alcohol regularly to help them to nod off.
A big caveat is that alcohol is classified as a depressant and in small doses can aid in getting to sleep. In higher doses, it can actually lead to diminished sleep quality later in the night.
Reduces the risk of kidney stones
A study from the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology looked at the effects that different drinks had on a person’s chance of getting kidney stones. Researchers found that daily sugary drinks could increase the risk of kidney stones. Other drinks, such as coffee and beer can actually reduce the risk.
People that drank one or more regular colas each day had a 23 percent higher risk of kidney stones than those who only drank cola once a week. For sugary, clear non-cola sodas the figure is a massive 33 percent higher risk compared to weekly consumers.
Other drinks are as follows: 26% for caffeinated coffee, 16% for decaffeinated coffee, 12% for orange juice, 11% for tea, 31% for red wine, and 33% for white wine. Beer was found to reduce the risk of kidney stones by an incredible 41 percent!
From all of the info available, it appears that in minor cases of kidney stone problems, drinking moderate amounts of good-quality beer may help. But to be crystal clear, it is probably not beneficial in cases of chronic kidney stones.
If you liked this article, you may also enjoy reading about natural foods to help you last longer in bed from our wellness section.
