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If you read the newspapers, you probably see a lot of
stories about the health problems that the country is facing. You see
headlines of people suffering from heart attacks, cancer, and other
illnesses, but you may not have heard an easy (and delicious) solution to
some of these headlines - beer.
Remember, that you should definitely consume all alcoholic beverages in
moderation, and if you have any questions about whether this will benefit
your health, you should talk to your doctor. Ok, we've told you the legal
disclaimer, let's get down to the facts and the research that show that
beer, consumed in moderation, can actually help your health.
So how can beer help you to keep you healthy? Well, studies have found that
it can actually be good for your heart, just like wine. If you are worried
about your heart health, you should obviously exercise and eat right, but
drinking two beers a day for men (and one for women), may give some people
an extra boost. Remember, the advice is one to two beers a day, so drinking
three or four beers a day won't triple or quadruple these effects of the
beer .
What exactly can beer do to help your heart? Well, according to a study done
by Tufts University, the consumption of beer in moderate amounts can
decrease your cholesterol level, reduce the amount of fibrinogen in your
blood (which is a protein that is responsible for blood clotting), and
increase the level of antioxidants in your body.
Are all beers created equally? Not really, because although you can get
health benefits from all beers, dark beers are actually better for your
health than lighter colored beers. Dark beer contains more flavonoids than
light beer. Flavonoids come from plants, and are also found in chocolate and
red wine. What are the benefits of flavonoids? Flavonoids have been proven
to prevent cancer and promote a healthy heart. Sure, you can find flavonoids
in other foods, such as fruits and vegetables, but they are also present in
high numbers in dark beer.
If heart disease runs in your family, you may want to listen to the
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, which found in their
research that drinking a moderate amount of beer daily can decrease your
risk of coronary disease by about 30-40%. This is a great study to show your
wife when she complains about you drinking a beer or two every evening. You
can just reply with "Sorry honey. I'm doing it for us, not for me."
No longer do beer drinkers have to switch to wine if they want to get the
health benefits of alcohol, because now they can get them from their
favorite beverage. Of course, if you want more information about the effects
of beer on your health, you should definitely consult your physician. Beer
drinking can be dangerous for people who have certain health conditions or
who take some medications. If you are already a casual beer drinker, you
don't have to give it up to enjoy a healthy lifestyle.
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