A Surprisingly Healthy Brew
Edouard Kayayan presents some facts as to how one of our favourite beverages can benefit your health. Edouard is an Accredited Exercise Physiologist with ESSA and is part of the Health in Balance team located at Elsternwick, Victoria.
“Gee I could go a frothy! – It’s refreshing, satisfying, relaxing, and great for my body!” This statement is actually quite valid (if consumed in moderation!).
For many years red wine has been known to be the “healthy” option of alcoholic beverage, being rich in anti-oxidants, which are heart friendly. Notably, resveratrol as this helps keeps your arteries clear of plaque reducing likelihood of heart disease. These antioxidants are also quite beneficial for kidney, lung and brain health!
Now as researchers continue to look into the health benefits of certain alcoholic drinks, beer has come shining through to be the next best thing. Here are the benefits:
- According to a study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition in 2009. The high silicon content of beer helps to ‘stimulate the bone building cell otherwise known as “osteoblasts”, and the estrogenic effect of alcohol helps protect their quality’.
- In 1999 a study published in the American Journal of Epidemiology demonstrated that beer drinkers had a 40% reduction in the risk of developing kidney stones. This may be due to hops in most beers by slowing the release of calcium out of bones together with the fact that beer has a high water content compared to most other alcoholic beverages.
- A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine, looked at the drinking habits of over 11,000 women over 15 years and found that those who had up to 1 drink a day demonstrated a 20% lower risk of decline in brain function, compared to non-drinkers.
- Not only does the alcohol in beer increase levels of high-density lipoproteins (HDL), it decreases the level of fibrinogen, which promotes blood clotting. This clotting is the main cause of most strokes and heart attacks.
WAIT WAIT WAIT! Before you go rushing to the pub, remember these health benefits have only been demonstrated in those who drink in moderation. That’s no more than a single beer at a time. Over drinking will have serious health risks such as liver damage, cancers, and heart disease. Those who suffer gout, have cancer, or have metabolic syndrome and other associated health conditions, need to avoid beer as it could make matters worse.
For further information, and to find out how a tailored lifestyle plan will assist with your health, fitness, or rehabilitation goals, don’t hesitate to contact Health in Balance on 03 9523 5110.
