Beer Really Healthy?

Beer is the third most popular beverage in the world after water and tea. This drink is also known to be the oldest drinks and was made long before recorded history. Even though beer can be intoxicating but have touted the health benefits.

The nations of the Western countries is a true beer drinker. It was almost no activity that does not involve beer, ranging from watching football, playing cards, collector-collector at the bar, barbecue parties, and other special events.

In general, beer is made from a mixture of water, grain or wheat, fruit and yeast. The process of making beer is called brewing. The process begins by soaking wheat seeds to germinate (malted) and then heated to produce sugars and aroma. Some brewers sometimes use rice or corn and additional uses of fruits, herbs and spices to produce a unique flavor.

The next process is to mix the seed sprouts, grains are not heated in the water. The resulting sugars and starch solution is then poured and difermensikan to produce beer. Clarity of the color of beer depends on the level of roasting. The color of dark beer comes from wheat that are baked until slightly darker.

Alcohol content in beer is not so much compared to other alcoholic beverages such as vodka or whiskey. Alcohol in beer varies between less than 3 percent to 40 percent (by volume) depending on the type and manufacturing techniques.

Make healthy

Although classified as liquor, but various studies have shown a beer, like wine, if consumed in moderate doses can be healthy for the body. The basic ingredients of beer-making is a source of carbohydrates, B vitamins and potassium.

"The scientific evidence says alcohol, any kind can increase levels of good cholesterol and reduce heart attack risk by 30 percent," said Eric Rimm, ScD, a researcher from Harvard University.

He also said alcohol may improve insulin sensitivity and reduce diabetes risk. Because the beer also contain high enough fluids, beer consumption also reduces the risk of kidney stones. In small doses of alcohol can also make blood circulation more smoothly.

Still need to be considered a healthy dose of beer, ie no more than two doses of drinking. The recommended dose is 12 ounces (equivalent to 1.5 cups) of beer every day.

"Excessive consumption can eliminate the health benefits of beer and increase the risk of liver disease, cancer, cirrhosis, kecandungan alcohol and obesity," said Rimm, committee members Dieteray Guidelines 2010.

He also suggested that beer is not consumed by high-calorie foods, including snacks (snacks) are usually available when watching a sporting event or a casual chat.