Amazing Health Benefits of Beer

The beer drinkers of the world will be happy to know that their favorite brew is surprisingly healthier than they think. Think about this: beer is fat free, cholesterol free and has a low count of carbohydrates. For years, beer had a bad reputation; think about "beer belly". Research recently shows that beer can also be good for you, like wine. It can help reduce the risk of broken bones, the risk of diabetes and mental decline as well. The research findings also suggest that it can aid in improving longevity. However, before you go enjoying your barrels of beer for the benefits, you need to take safety precautions first.

You see, there's a condition known as Asian or alcohol flush, something you're probably familiar with except you're not aware that it is a condition. Asian flush is the reddening of the face when you're drinking beer or alcoholic beverages. It's important to understand how to prevent alcohol flush reaction because it can lead to serious health concerns, cancer included.

It may look like a normal Asian glow, the kind you get when you stay in places with subzero temperatures. However, the effects of Asian flush can scar you for the rest of your life. That is why it's important to understand its implications.

Now let's go back to the health benefits of beer. Beer is basically made from hops, barley and wheat, and so beer contains many of the nutrients that these grains have, which include the B vitamin group, riboflavin, niacin and zinc. Since barley is a basic component of beer, it is also a source of soluble fiber. Two glasses of beer can give you about 10% of the daily-recommended fiber intake.

In addition, a bottle of beer contains 92 mg of potassium, 48mg of phosphorus and 14mg of calcium, which are minerals needed by the body. However, in order to maximize the full health benefits of beer, the key is moderation. A 12-ounce beer bottle a day for women is ideal while two bottles can be good for males. It's no wonder beer is becoming a staple in countries like Korea.

Beer's Other Health Benefits

• Reduces the risk of osteoporosis - drinking moderate amounts of beer may help ward off the risk of osteoporosis because medical researchers have found out that beer contains dietary silicon, which is needed for bone growth and development.

• Lessens cancer risk - recent studies also found out that an essential ingredient of hops helps prevent cancer and menopausal hot flashes as well. o Stronger heart - Italian medical researchers also discovered in a recent study that patients who guzzled a pint of beer daily had a 31% reduced risk of heart disease.

• It is a good source of antioxidants that helps in warding off disease and the essential mineral like iron that our bodies need.

• Improves the skin tone -Beer has been found to have good effects on the skin since it contains vitamins and yeast. o Reduces risk of kidney stones - Beer can actually help reduce the risk of kidney stones by 40% with just one bottle of beer a day, according to a Finnish scientific study because the hops in beer strengthened calcium in the bones thus preventing it from developing as kidney stones.

As the term suggests, people of Asian descent, like those from China, Japan, or Korea, are more susceptible to Asian flush because of genomic differences. Hence, it's wise to heed the advice of health care professionals and drink beer in moderation because excessive drinking can lead to serious health problems.