Sunday, June 10, 2012

More Antioxidants… but not in Wine or Olive Oil!


Antioxidants? Wine, olive oil, fruits, chocolate… and BEER! That’s right beer has antioxidants as well. In fact, beer can be healthy. However, it is only healthy in moderation: one beer a day for women and two beers a day for men. Also, the beers you choose affect the health benefits. You would think the lighter beers may be healthier due to their low caloric content but heavier, darker beers contain the most antioxidants and minerals. Darker beers also have higher energy content. But overall, beer is at the top of the list for drinks and foods with high energy content. It also comes with a few other health benefits not related to antioxidants. But how does beer affect your health you ask? Here you are:

Bones
Beer is known to have a decent amount of silicon. This tough element has been linked to bone health. A study showed that elderly men and women who drank beer regularly had a higher bone density than those that did not drink beer. In addition, pale ales have the most silicon while lighter beers have the least.

Kidneys
Kidney stones can be awfully excruciating. So how could you avoid them? A beer or two a day will do the trick. Kidney stones often result from excessive dehydration. Beer has a very high water-content (about 90%) and keeps the kidneys busy and full of water. However, keep in mind that excessive alcohol consumption leads to dehydration.

Antioxidants
Of course, it all comes down to the antioxidants. Many researchers have found that beer and wine have comparable amounts of antioxidants. The difference is the types of antioxidants. Hops (beer) and grapes (wine) have different types of flavonoids. And as we all know, antioxidants prevent damage due to reactive oxygen species.

All alcoholic beverages are associated with a decreased risk of cardiac disease. But many say that wine is the healthier alcoholic beverage. However, beer may be healthier. Beer contains more protein and B vitamins than wine. It is also a good source for many essential minerals, such as potassium, and it contains fiber. Nonetheless, all of this adds a couple years to your life expectancy.

So remember:
“Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy”
-Benjamin Franklin

10 Surprising Health Benefits of Beer:

The Health Benefits of Beer:
http://www.besthealthmag.ca/eat-well/healthy-eating/the-health-benefits-of-beer

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