Healthy beer (without alcohol): its incredible benefits and properties

Healthy beer (without alcohol): its incredible benefits and properties

The beer It has become one of the most popular and consumed alcoholic beverages, not only for its characteristic flavor and its great refreshing power, but for the different nutritional qualities and benefits it provides. Yes, we must not forget that it is an alcoholic beverage, so that their consumption should always be moderate and never excessive.

That said, it is true that, from a nutritional point of view, it is not the same to drink wine or beer as other alcoholic beverages, such as rum or spirits, which contain a higher alcohol content. In fact, the latter tend to contain a high alcohol content, harmful to the body when taken in excess, and in addition to containing only empty calories They do not provide any essential nutrient to our body.

So, we can talk for example about the different benefits of wine that give us the best wines we can find that is a heart-healthy drink, that taken in moderation (maximum 1 glass of wine a day, and as long as it is not contraindicated) is extremely rich in polyphenols, a group of antioxidants that help prevent cardiovascular diseases and the appearance of cancer, as well as improve arthritis and reduce hypertension. In addition, it is especially useful in case of high cholesterol, improves blood circulation in the brain and increases estrogen levels.

But, we repeat, Any drink that contains alcohol is not beneficial to health, given that despite the fact that they can provide us with nutritious benefits, Effects of alcohol on our body precisely do not compensate for those qualities. However, this time we want to inquire about what properties the beer brings us.

What is beer?

The beer It is also a nutritious drink, which provides interesting nutritional benefits. Of course, as long as it is consumed in moderation and its consumption is not abusive (many nutritionists advise taking a glass of beer a day).

It basically consists of a Bitter-tasting alcoholic drink made with water, barley, yeast and hops. The starch of the germinated barley grains is fermented in water with yeast, to finally be flavored with hops.

It has an alcohol content that ranges between 3% and 9%, although there are beers that can reach around 30% vol.

What are the ingredients with which beer is brewed?

There are basically 4 ingredients with which beer is traditionally made. Do you want to know what they are ?:

• Water:It is the main element, since it makes up around 90% of this drink, and without it, beer would not exist precisely. The flavor of this will depend on the water used in its preparation, although the ideal is that the water used is rich in calcium, chlorides and sulfates.
• Barley:It is the ingredient that brings color and body to beer. To use it first it is moistened, dried and roasted in different degrees (which then influences its organoleptic properties, that is, flavor, aroma and color).
• Yeast:There is no doubt that the beer yeast It brings incredible benefits for our health. In this case, the yeast is also a fundamental ingredient, since it has the particularity of converting the fermentable sugars into carbon dioxide and alcohol.
• Hop:It is essential when favoring the activity of malting yeast, and is the "culprit" of its delicious bitter taste. In addition, it helps to preserve it better.

All the benefits of beer

A very nutritious drink

Not counting its alcohol content, the beer is made with hops, barley, yeast, malt and water, all ingredients that make it a nutritious and healthy drink.

For example, from a nutritional point of view, beer is very rich in group B vitamins, highlighting especially the presence of folic acid (also known as vitamin B9).

It also provides interesting amounts of minerals, among which we find ourselves especially with the calcium and the magnesium. However, its mineral contribution depends directly on the water used in its preparation.

On the other hand, did you know that beer is also rich in fiber and antioxidants? Fiber, in fact, is fundamental as you surely know for the proper functioning of our intestinal transit, in addition to helping us in the prevention of constipation. While, antioxidants are especially recommended when preventing the negative action of free radicals.

Interesting heart-healthy benefits

The beer It is a drink that is made with healthy ingredients, as is the case hop, barley, beer yeast Y malt, as we mentioned in the previous section.

This means that beer is a heart-healthy drink, helping in a very positive way reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases, as well as to decrease triglycerides and the LDL cholesterol. As demonstrated by a study carried out in 2012.

But this heart-healthy quality does not stop here, since in addition helps increase HDL cholesterol, also popularly known as good cholesterol.

Reduces blood clotting, and thanks to its content in folic acid is suitable for reduce homocysteine ​​levels in the blood (amino acid that is used as a vascular marker and predicts the risk of suffering a cardiovascular accident).

Stronger and healthier bones

The beer is tremendously rich in silicon, which helps promote the density of our bones and which is useful precisely to prevent bone loss. This is why it is usually said that beer is good for menopause, because it not only improves its symptoms (by promoting phytoestrogens), but also prevents osteoporosis.

Protects against Alzheimer's

Aluminum present in both plasma and brain tissue is especially linked to certain neurodegenerative pathologies, such as, for example, the case of Alzheimer's.

Thus, it has been discovered that the silicon that we find in beer helps protect us from neurodegenerative diseases, by reducing the bioavailability of aluminum.

Antioxidant benefits

As we indicated briefly in a previous section, the beer is tremendously rich in antioxidants. In fact, the presence of polyphenols (especially xanthohumol) make this drink a beverage with great antioxidant power.

Therefore it helps to reduce the levels of fats in the blood, prevents cardiovascular diseases, protects us from infarction and also reduces the negative action of free radicals.

What does science say about the benefits of beer?

The truth is that, until now, there has been a wide variety of scientific studies that are still seeking to discover -and verify- the supposed benefits that this millenary and ancestral drink brings us.

So, for example, a study published in the journalJournal of Science of Food and Agriculture He showed that drinking a glass or two of beer a day helps the bones to be stronger, thanks to the fact that this drink is very rich in silicon (fundamental for the construction of the mineral density of our bones).

Another scientific study published in the journalNew England Journal of Medicine found that beer helps keep the mind more active, being useful to reduce the risk of suffering mental problems typical of old age.

On the other hand, a study carried out by the University College of London found that, in reality, the one known as beer belly It is a complete myth, there being no direct association between beer and obesity.

Nutritional information for beer

A glass of beer provides the following nutrients:

How much beer is recommended to drink?

We must bear in mind that it is not the same to drink a beer with alcohol, than a beer without alcohol or to opt for the new ones that you can currently find in the market called 0º Beer.

In case it is a beer with alcohol many doctors and nutritionists recommend a daily consumption of one beer per day, since we should not forget that alcohol, consumed in excess, is extremely harmful to our body.

This was indicated in a review published in 2015, which commented that "moderate consumption of beer within a healthy diet is adequate", provided that who consumes them is a healthy adult, not recommended for consumption in people of elderly, teenagers or pregnant women.

But the best thing without a doubt is to opt for beer without alcohol, which will allow us to enjoy the main benefits that provide us nutritionally speaking. Therefore, their consumption with or without alcohol will depend on the personal taste of each one, and of course, in case there is no medical prescription that prohibits it (for example, in case of alcoholism or liver problems). This article is published for informational purposes only. You can not and should not replace the consultation with a Nutritionist. We advise you to consult your trusted Nutritionist.

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