This script is from the second season of Beer Notes, which you can listen to at beernotes.org.
An Ohio Army Veteran lost 44 lbs in 46 days — by drinking craft beer. He modeled his liquid diet on the diet of monks in the 17th century. Hall said the weight loss was simply a side effect, and that he wouldn’t promote an “all-beer” diet– but what is the nutritional value of craft beer? This week on Beer Notes, we’re talking about the health benefits of drinking craft beer.
It’s no secret that the over-consumption of any alcohol can have serious and even fatal effects. There are legitimate studies that show that there are real health benefits of the moderate consumption of beer.
What is moderation? As defined by the USDA, moderation is up to one drink per day for women and up to two drinks per day for men.
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Beer could lower your risk of diabetes: people who drink 3 – 4 times/week were less likely to develop diabetes than non-drinkers, and men who enjoyed 1 – 6 beers per week had a 21% lower risk of diabetes compared to those who didn’t drink beer.
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Beer may make your heart healthier; in a study by the American Heart Association in 2016, moderate drinkers had the slowest decline in good cholesterol and, as a result, in cardiovascular diseases. Moderate beer drinkers were also less likely to die of heart disease.
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Beer is a rich source of dietary silicon, which may help prevent osteoporosis and aid in the development of bone and connective tissue growth. “Beers containing high levels of malted barley and hops are richest in silicon” according to Dr. Bamforth, lead author of a new study in the Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture.
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Silicon also helps protect your brain from compounds thought to cause Alzheimer’s and dementia. Beer drinkers are 23% less likely to develop these diseases.
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Beer cleans your teeth. Beer keeps a bacteria that causes tooth decay and gum disease from forming and growing on your teeth.
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Beer may reduce inflammation. Consumption of hops in beer form interfered with inflammation causing compounds.
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Finally, beer actually has as many antioxidants as wine does, and more protein and vitamin B.
While an all-beer diet is most definitely NOT recommended, drinking craft beer in moderation does have its benefits. Drink to your health and to improve it! For Beer Notes, this is Ann McGinnis Hillyer.
Author: Kristin Helf
Kristin is a writer and picture-taker in Ocean City, Maryland. She likes puppies, pumpkin ales and watching movies for the Ocean City Film Festival in her spare time.
It sure was nice to know that drinking craft beer can help you to prevent cardiovascular diseases since it won’t affect your level of cholesterol that much. My dad and brother are asking me to drink with them to celebrate my work promotion. Since there are times that I am experiencing chest pains, I want to be careful about choosing what I will drink. Thanks for sharing this.
It’s interesting to know that people who drink beer around 3-4 times a week are less likely to develop diabetes. I’ve always told my husband to stop drinking even if he only does it moderately until your article convinced me that there might be benefits from his habit. I just hope that we can find shops that offer liquor delivery services so he doesn’t have to go out all the time.
It’s surprising to know that people who drink there to four beers have fewer chances of developing diabetes than no drinkers. Both of my parents’ sides have a history of diabetes. Perhaps I should consider starting drinking craft beer from a reputable local brewery weekly. Thanks.
You got my attention when you said that people who drink beers 3-4 times a week are less likely to develop diabetes compared to non-drinkers. With this in mind, I will consider visiting a home brewery supply shop. My family has a history of diabetes which I would like to avoid. I want to keep myself healthy for the sake of my children, so I will consider consuming beers as recommended. Thanks!
It sure was nice when you said that beers can make your heart healthier based on the study by American Heart Association in 2016. With this in mind, I will consider shopping for tusker and craft beers. My family has a history of heart problems in the past, and I am looking for ways to keep mine in a good shape.