Healthy heart and reduced risk of diabetes: scientists advise men to drink beer daily

Beer can join red wine among alcoholic beverages with health benefits. A new study has found that one beer a day can help keep a gastroenterologist away. At least for men, reports New York Post.

A study by the American Chemical Society Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry found that men who drank beer every day had a more diverse array of healthy gut microbes.

A more resilient gut microbiome leads to a lower risk of certain chronic diseases, such as heart disease and diabetes. The human gastrointestinal tract alone is home to trillions of microorganisms that perform many biological functions, including immune defense. “The results of this study show that drinking beer increases the diversity of bacteria in the gut without a significant change in body weight,” said Ana Faria, lead author of the study, a professor at the Nova University in Lisbon, Portugal.

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In the study, 19 men aged 23 to 58 drank a 330-mL bottle of Super XNUMX% lager or non-alcoholic Swap beer every day. All participants had no major health problems during the trial.

An alcoholic beverage that can harm the gut in large quantities has been shown to be beneficial in moderation.

The researchers suggest that the fermentation process in brewing beer, as well as the presence of micronutrients, may be a catalyst for improved gut health in males.

“Beer is the main and probably the only source of hop polyphenols in the human diet,” says Faria. “Hops contain xanthohumol, which has been shown to reduce the risk of chronic diseases, including obesity and diabetes.”

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that adult men consume less than two alcoholic drinks a day, and women should consume half as much.

However, there are safer ways to strengthen your microbiome. This includes eating foods rich in pre- and probiotics, including Greek yogurt, many fruits and vegetables, and avoiding sugar, artificial sweeteners, and excessive alcohol consumption.