Ready for some good news from your Beer of the Month Club? Continuing studies and further research show that including beer as a part of your balanced diet contributes more than just inner happiness . . . beer, in moderation, is good for your health!
Two studies concluded within the last three years further bolster the findings that beer offers health benefits. One, an analysis conducted by Spain’s Centre for Information on Beer and Health, found that fifty nuns enjoyed improved cholesterol and triglyceride levels when following the rules of the study. All former tea-drinkers, during the 3-month exercise, they were required to drink about 16 ounces of beer a day for 45 days, followed by another 45 days of eating hops (grain used to produce beer). Not only were they healthier, but happier, as well!
Meanwhile, as reported in a 2008 issue of the American Journal of Epidemiology, elderly patients suffering from leg artery disease found relief after moderate consumption of alcohol, including beer, wine and liquor. The hospitalized study subjects, who experienced pain while walking due to reduced blood flow resulting from blocked arteries, consumed 1 to 13 servings each week. The study showed both men and women had markedly improved blood flow. Statistics show that elderly people who regularly enjoy 1 to 13 alcoholic drinks weekly had a 44% lower risk of arterial leg disease compared to both non-drinkers, and those who consumed more than 14 drinks weekly. (Moderate drinking also reduces arterial pressure in the lower legs, lessening the risk for arterial disease.)
