As beer drinkers gather to toast St. Patrick's Day, they might be surprised to discover that the shamrock-shaded beverage not only helps to instill Irish pride, it also could yield some major health benefits.
In fact, studies show that drinking beer — a customary way to celebrate the holiday — can help lower blood pressure and strengthen bones. What's more, beer may be better for your health than wine.
If you're surprised, you're not alone. In a random survey of 1,000 adults that was conducted by the University of Maryland's Center for Food, Nutrition and Agriculture Policy, 56% responded that wine was healthy, while only 16% thought the same thing about beer. "Frankly, I was surprised that so few people considered beer as healthful as wine," says center director Maureen Storey, Ph.D.
Indeed, the medical journals have documented the brew's disease-fighting dynamics. So in the spirit of St. Patty's Day — and other hoist-worthy holidays — here are some other reasons (as if you need them) to cheer your beer:
• Stronger bones. Beer is a rich source of dietary silicon, a mineral that improves bone density. "Wine, unfortunately, is not," notes biochemist Charles W. Bamforth, Ph.D., chairman of the Department of Food Science and Technology at the University of California, Davis, and author of Beer: Health and Nutrition (Blackwell Publishing Limited, 2004), an academic book on the healthful properties of brew. "Thus far, the studies indicate a very real reduction in osteoporosis risk if you consume beer … more so than from drinking wine or spirits."
• Less hypertension. In one Harvard University study involving 70,000 female nurses, regular beer drinkers had lower rates of high blood pressure than those who drank similar amounts of either wine or spirits.
• A bounty of nutrients. Although wine is glorified for its reported antioxidant properties — and yes, grape skins have their share — the hops in beer have their own major-league nutrients. One is xanthohumol, a tongue-twisting phytochemical believed to provide more estrogenic punch than soy. (Take note, postmenopausal women.) In test tube experiments, xanthohumol has inhibited the growth of cancer cells. Meanwhile, one European drug company is reportedly testing a hops-powered hormone-replacement-therapy drug.
• Fiber, folic acid and more. "Beer also contains a significant amount of folic acid and other B vitamins, as well as soluble fiber — all associated with better heart health," Bamforth adds. "The myth that beer is [just] empty calories is simply not true."
But what about the calories?
The main source of calories in beer is the alcohol — but ounce per ounce, most beer is lower in calories than wine or hard liquor. While beer contains carbohydrates, they are slow-release carbs — "the good kind," Bramforth says.
One 12-ounce serving of beer averages 150 calories. One 5-ounce serving of wine averages between 90 calories and 120 calories, depending on the type of wine. Bottom line: Blame the beer belly on the nachos, not the suds, experts say.
St. Pauli Girl vs. Budweiser
Is one beer better than another? There is no evidence to suggest that one brand of beer offers more health benefits than another. The same holds true for dark beers vs. light-colored ones.
The truth is that all beer is made from the same ingredients: barley, hops and water. Most of the health benefits come from the alcohol. What's more, microbrews don't deserve a higher-quality or better-for-you reputation than mass-produced beers. Taste aside, the mass-produced ones are equally healthful and use equally high-quality ingredients, Bamforth says.
Heart-smart drinking
The cardiovascular benefits of beer come from the alcohol, which "raises 'good' HDL cholesterol, at least as much as regular aerobic exercise," says Arthur Klatsky, M.D. His landmark 1974 study in the Annals of Internal Medicine provided the first epidemiological evidence that moderate alcohol consumption was associated with lower rates of heart disease.
"You get the same reduction in heart attack risk from a comparable amount of beer as you do from wine," adds Klatsky, senior cardiology consultant at Kaiser Permanente in Oakland, Calif.
"Alcohol also enhances the body's natural clot-dissolving mechanism to break down clots before they can trigger a heart attack or stroke," he says. "And recent research shows that moderate drinking seems to reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes."
Of course, Klatsky and other experts don't encourage anyone to start drinking for better health. But if you already imbibe, it's worth noting that it's the pattern that provides the protection. "Since these cardio-protective effects are short-lived, it's best to have 1 to 2 drinks per day — ideally, every day," Klatsky says.
More specifically, that means having 1 to 2 12-ounce servings of beer, 5-ounce glasses of wine or 1 to 1.5-ounce shots of liquor per day — as opposed to 5 or 6 drinks in one sitting on a Friday night. Excessive intake increases your risk for many health problems. At the other extreme, drinking small amounts of alcohol every so often is not advantageous either and will actually negate some of the health benefits previously mentioned.
"In our data, we're finding that while moderate alcohol consumption of any type is better than not drinking" at all, the consumption of liquor is less beneficial than wine or beer, Klatsky says. "For women, protection seems to be best with wine. But for men, it's from beer."
