10 Surprising Ways Drinking Beer Can Actually Improve Your Health

Beer has never been routinely labelled as a healthy beverage. In fact, given that people associate it with obesity and the 'beer gut,' it is often labelled as an unhealthy drink. However, evidence from scientific studies shows that drinking moderate amounts of beer (one per night for women and two per night for men) can have a variety of health benefits for humans. Check out the 10 surprising ways drinking beer can improve health and prevent disease.

Reduces The Risk Of Heart Disease

Evidence from over twenty large-scale, international studies shows that drinking beer reduces the risk of heart disease. One of these studies, which was conducted by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, determined that there was a 20 to 40 percent reduction in risk. Similarly, a study conducted at the Harvard School of Public Health found that “moderate drinkers [were] 30 to 35 percent less likely to have had a heart attack than non-drinkers.” The reduced risk of heart disease can be attributed to the presence of antioxidants in beer, which are known as phenols. High alcohol consumption increases the risk of cardiovascular disease, so moderate beer consumption is essential for optimizing its heart health benefits.

Protects The Brain From Alzheimer's Disease

A number of researchers have examined the effects of beer consumption on cognitive diseases later in life. In a study conducted at the Stritch School of Medicine at Loyola University in Chicago, scientists reviewed the results from several of these studies. Their analysis revealed that moderate beer drinkers were 23 percent less likely to develop a degenerative cognitive disorder, such as dementia or Alzheimer's. Similarly, a study published in TheNew England Journal of Medicine found that elderly women who were moderate drinkers had better mental clarity and memory than their non-drinking peers. These findings are consistent with studies that have shown that moderate alcohol consumption can improve memory, concentration, and even reasoning. Beer contains dietary silicone, which is believed to protect the brain from exposure to high levels of aluminum, a substance that has been linked to cognitive disorders.