Let me start by saying that I do not believe that drinking beer will make you healthy.
The American Heart Association has found studies that prove moderate beer consumption helps to slow the decline of HDL (high-density lipoprotein), which is good cholesterol. The changes that occur due to regular beer consumption help to prevent coronary-heart disease and dementia. After following over 80,000 healthy adults for over 6 years, they found the below reports:
“
- HDL levels decreased over time in all participants, but moderate alcohol consumption was associated with a slower decline compared to non-drinkers or heavy drinkers.
- Moderate beer drinkers (men drinking one to two alcohol servings daily and women a half to one serving daily) had the slowest decline – 0.17 mmol/per year.
- Heavy drinking nearly eliminated this benefit with only .0008 mmol per year decline. “
Another statement following this study shocked me as the AHA is now backing moderate beer consumption:
“The American Heart Association recommends consuming alcohol in moderation if you already drink but cautions people to not start drinking and consult your doctor on your risks and benefits of consuming alcohol in moderation.”(1)
The Wall Street Journal joins in with producing studies from this, and other research, who go on to find that beer, as opposed to wine or liquor, has shown less hypertension when consumed on a regular basis. A study on over 70,000 nurses who moderately consumed beer showed less hypertension than nurses who consumed wine. Similar studies also found an increase in bone density which helps to prevent fractures. To continue the positive research findings, they also add that B-vitamins and folates were discovered in the body (found in green leaf vegetables) which reduce risks of heart disease (2).
Harvard’s nutrition group decided to weigh the advantages or disadvantages of beer consumption on heart disease. The easiest way to gain any understanding of their findings is shown in the chart below(3):
|
Name, Participants
|
Duration
|
Association with Moderate Alcohol Consumption*
|
|
Japan
Collaborative Cohort Study for Evaluation of Cancer Risk cohort: 97,432 men
and women aged 40–79
|
10
years
|
12%–20%
decreased risk of all-cause mortality in men and women who consumed less than
23 grams per day of alcohol; heavy drinking increased the risk of all-cause
mortality
|
|
Health
Professionals Follow-up Study: 38,077 male health professionals aged 40–75
|
12
years
|
35%
reduced risk of myocardial infarction
|
|
Eastern
France cohort: 34,014 men and women
|
10–15
years
|
25–30%
reduced risk of cardiovascular death
|
|
Cancer
Prevention Study II: 489,626 men and women aged 30–104
|
9
years
|
30–40%
reduced risk of cardiovascular death; mortality from all causes increased
with heavier drinking, particularly among adults under age 60
|
|
Physicians’
Health Study: 22,071 male physicians aged 40–84
|
11
years
|
30–35%
reduced risk of angina and myocardial infarction, 20–30% reduced risk of
cardiovascular death
|
|
Kaiser
Permanente cohort: 123,840 men and women aged 30+
|
10
years
|
40%
reduction in fatal myocardial infarction, 20% reduction in cardiovascular
mortality; 80% increase in fatal hemorrhagic stroke
|
|
Nurses’
Health Study: 85,709 female nurses aged 34–59
|
12
years
|
17%
lower risk of all-cause mortality; an earlier report showed a 40% reduction
in risk of CHD and 70% reduction in risk of ischemic stroke
|
* compared with non-drinkers
If you search any combination of "beer" and "health," you will find hundreds more studies, articles, and statistics that will discuss the benefits of beer. While they may be true findings, or made up fantasies, we may never know. The information above are sources found to be more reliable than some, and are to provide useful in friendly discussions and to help you feel less guilty about that Monday night brew (Pun intended!).
I will try to provide more fun new updates as I receive them!
Sources:
(3)You can find this full study on the Harvard Nutrition site here.
