Dear Reader,
If you’ve ever felt guilty about reaching for a cold one, I have great news…
That cool, refreshing beer just might save you from heart disease.
Don’t let the puritans make you afraid of casual beer drinking. Consuming a reasonable amount of alcohol is nothing to feel guilty about. In fact, it can be good for your health.
Beer also contains antioxidants like vitamin C, as well as hundreds of flavonoids such as Epicatechin.
Flavonoids are anti-oxidant compounds that provide the dark color in many fruits and vegetables. They stem from the seeds, skin and certain other parts of fermenting plants, and they help prevent hardening of the arteries. Flavonoids also improve blood flow and blood pressure. Dark beer has more of these nutrients than a lighter beer.
People who don’t indulge may be denting their bodies of essential nutrients, minerals and vitamins, such as magnesium, calcium and iron. Beer has always added protein, fiber, calcium, iron and potassium to diets around the world.
Almost everybody has heard of the benefits of drinking red wine. But in a recent study I came across beer drinkers had the lowest risk of heart disease. 2
Like wine, beer has been shown to:
- reduce strokes
- reduce heart disease
- reduce blood pressure
- increase coronary blood flow
- fight Alzheimer’s
- fight diabetes
- fight ulcers
- fight hepatitis A
- fight pancreatic cancer
- fight Parkinson’s disease
- raise good cholesterol
- lower bad cholesterol
Many of us associate drinking beer at social events, like a football game, with friends and family. These events cut back stress and in combination with conservative drinking, the risk of coronary disease is lowered by 32%.
Drinking a beer a day decreases cholesterol levels, increases antioxidants and reduces levels of fibrinogen, a clot-producing protein.
Keep in mind that the carbs in beer can add inches to your waistline. But there are new brews that are lower in carbs. They have the fuller flavor of “real” beer and put their low-calorie cousins to shame.
Since Busch released the first low-carb beer on the market, Michelob Ultra has experienced the best sales of any beer they’ve ever introduced. The good news here is that brewers are looking for their slice of the new market. And each new brew seems to outperform the last, in terms of flavor and fullness. The reigning three kings of low-carb brews are:
- Michelob Ultra by Anheuser Busch with 2.6 g of carbs.
- Aspen Edge by Coors with 2.6 g of carbs.
- Rock Green Light by Rolling Rock with 2.6g of carbs.
Compared to the average count of 11 grams of carbs for domestic beer – and as much as 20-30 g. for European imports, you can dramatically cut your carbs by making the switch to a low-carb variety. These low-carb beers compare well to mixed drinks.
Myself, I enjoy a nice Michelob Ultra with friends and family.
To Your Good Health,
Al Sears, MD
1 Beer’s Essential Ingredients, Helium, August, 2001, www.sindicerv.com.br/site_ingl/cerveja/txt_cerveja_saude.htm.