With all of the different craft breweries popping up all over the country, you might wonder how many types of beer can possibly exist.
Are there just too many to count? Well, if you classify beer into different categories, you’ll find that there are at least 100 different styles.
If you’re an avid beer drinker, you probably have a favorite style. It’s also likely you don’t need any more reasons to drink beer but… would you be happy to learn that there are some surprising beer benefits?
Drinking beer in moderation could actually be good for you! Keep reading to learn the common health benefits of beer.
1. It Lowers Bad Cholesterol
When you increase soluble fiber in your diet, you experience many health benefits like healthy blood-sugar levels and blood cholesterol levels. The soluble fiber in the barley used in making beer can help reduce your LDL cholesterol, otherwise known as your bad cholesterol.
Be careful, though. Remember that alcohol interferes with your body’s ability to absorb vitamins and minerals which in turn blocks your body’s ability to burn stored fat.
2. May Help Improve Memory
If you know how beer is made, you know about hops. There is a secret ingredient in hops called Xanthohumol. This flavonoid helps improve cognitive function. It aids in slowing down the degradation process of a person’s memory. Studies suggest that it could help protect brain cells from the oxidative damage that’s seen in dementia patients.
3. Minimizes Risk of Cancer
Xanthohumol is an antioxidant that also has powerful anti-cancer properties. It can help protect you from cancer-causing enzymes. Drinking beer in moderation helps stop a certain chemical reaction that may lead to prostate cancer in men and it reduces the chances of breast cancer in women.
4. Lowers Risk of Diabetes
A 2011 Harvard study looked at 38,000 middle-aged men who drank two beers a day. They found that these men experienced a 25% reduction in the risk of developing type 2 diabetes because the alcohol content in beer increases insulin sensitivity.
5. Strengthens Bones
Beer has a high silicon content which may help strengthen your bones. Orthosilicic acid is a soluble form of dietary silicon which may be helpful in the growth and development of your bones and the connective tissue. It also helps reduce your risk of osteoporosis.
Looking for a new beer to try and reap these benefits? Learn more about East Brother Beer here. You’ll see passionate people who are focused on tradition and brewing classic-style beers.
Surprising Health Benefits of Beer
Now that you know the health benefits of beer, do you feel better about imbibing? Your guilty pleasure doesn’t have to make you feel guilty any longer. Remember though that the key is to drink it in moderation; one beer a day for women and two for men. As always, check with your physician about your personal health history.
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