By now I think most of you know that I love beer. I’m one of those women who orders beer over wine any day!
Let’s take a quick look at some of my experiences with this yeast, hops and barley-filled brew…..
When I went to Colorado to present my research at the ADA Food and Nutrition Expo, I met up with my good friend Sarah, and we did some beer tasting.
They were all delicious, but I tend to favor the wheat-beers (ironic considering I don’t eat wheat….). I’m convinced that the fermentation process helps break down some of those sugars that my body malabsorbs.
When I was training for my job (in Pittsburgh) I took one evening to explore this great beer cave. This place had every beer imaginable!
Nick and I always ask for beer at weddings (especially when it’s one we can’t get in Columbus!)
And we always keep some of our favorites in our fridge at all times….
And when all the girls ordered Bud Light, Miller Light, or mixed drinks at this Bachelorette party, I enjoyed a giant Hefeweizen (Franziskaner is my all time favorite beer!).
And lets not forget Great Lakes Christmas Ale! It comes to stores in Columbus in November, but is sold out by the end of December. Nick and I bought two cases this year, and allowed it to last until Christmas. I’ll be honest, we rarely let anyone know we had any when they came over! Muahaha
Not to say there aren’t other great Christmas/holiday brews…..
But nothing compares to the Great Lakes Christmas ale, not even our own locally made Winter Warmer.
So why am I so excited about this post?? In January of this year I received my ADA Times magazine (American Dietetic Association) and on the front cover I saw this:
Health Benefits of Beer
(Source: ADA Times)
– Any alcoholic beverage (consumed in moderation) may actually increase good HDL cholesterol, lower bad LDL cholesterol, and reduce the risk of blood clots.
– Beer may help lower the risk of kidney stones. How? It has a high water content and a diuretic effect, both combining to help reduce kidney stone prevalence. The hops in beer may also help reduce the release of calcium from bones, another risk factor for kidney stones.
– The high silicon content of beer is associated with greater bone mineral density.
– Beer contains more fluid than wine (more than 2.5 times as much water) and therefore contributes to your daily fluid needs more so than other alcoholic beverages
– Dark beers can provide up to 1.3 grams of soluble fiber, per 12-ounce drink. Not bad!
– Beer is a plant source of B12, which is important for vegetarians and vegans
– Beer has more calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, B-vitamins and more selenium (per serving) than wine.
– Do you drink wine for its antioxidants? There are very few studies that have observed or tested the bioavailability of antioxidants in wine, or beer for that matter. However, one study did show that ferulic acid (an antixodant in beer) entered the body more efficiently than the ferulic acid from a tomato. Impressive!
– What about the resveratrol in wine? Beer may be lacking this “anti-aging” and “heart-protective” antioxidant, but in reality, the amount of wine you would have to drink in order to get any benefit from resveratrol would be enough to cause serious health problems.
BEER TIPS
– Darker beers have more fiber
– Beers with more hops (such as pale ales) have more phytochemicals (plant nutrients, which many times act as antioxidants)
– The more malt in the brew, the more B-vitamins it will contain (such as B-12, Niacin, folate, riboflavin and thiamin)
