Benefits of drinking Beer!

Feel guilty about drinking a beer or two? Don’t feel guilty. Contrary to what you might expect, moderate beer consumption is actually good for you. Science has shown that beer can bring many surprising health benefits even though it’s usually perceived as unhealthy. Just remember, we’re talking moderate consumption (one drink per day for women, and up to two for men), not all-night drinking sprees. Here are some remarkable and surprising beer benefits that might change your perception of the drink.

1. It can help reduce risk of heart disease

One eye-opening study involving 200,000 subjects conducted at Italy’s Fondazion di Ricerca e Cura found that people who drank a pint of beer daily had a 31% reduced chance of heart disease. This heart-protecting power of beer stems largely from beer’s natural antioxidants called phenols. However, the study also showed risk of heart disease increased in people who consumed higher amounts of beer.

2. It can help protect against Alzheimer’s disease

Perhaps one of the most remarkable health benefits of beer is its ability to protect against Alzheimer’s. Researchers at Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine analyzed several studies and came to the conclusion that moderate beer drinkers were 23% less likely to develop different forms of dementia and cognitive impairment, including Alzheimer’s. The silicon content in beer is thought to protect the brain from the harmful effects of high amounts of aluminum in the body, which are one of the possible causes of Alzheimer’s.

3. It can help lower risk of diabetes

This is another remarkable benefit of moderate beer consumption. According to a 2011 Harvard study of about 38,000 middle-aged men, those who drank one to two beers daily had a 25% reduction in the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. The alcohol content in beer increases insulin sensitivity, which helps prevent diabetes. Moreover, beer is a good source of soluble fiber that plays an important role in the healthy diet of people suffering from diabetes.

4. It can help prevent kidney stones

A study conducted in Finland established that moderate daily consumption of beer can reduce the risk of developing kidney stones by 40%. This health benefit is attributed to beer’s high water content (about 93%) that helps flush harmful toxins out of the body and keep the kidneys working properly. Also, compounds in hops used in brewing help slow the release of calcium from bones, which in turn prevents build up of lost calcium in the kidney in the form of stones.

5. It can help minimize risk of cancer

Beer contains an important antioxidant known as xanthohumol. Xanthohumol is known to have powerful anti-cancer properties that help fend off cancer-causing enzymes in the body. Specifically, moderate beer consumption helps prevent a certain chemical reaction that can lead to prostate cancer in men. Beer has also been shown to reduce the chances of getting breast cancer in women.

6. It can help reduce cholesterol levels

If you’d like an unorthodox method for cutting your cholesterol levels, indulging in moderate beer consumption may be the way to go. The barley used in brewing of beer contains a type of soluble fiber known as beta-glucans that has been shown to help in lowering cholesterol levels.

7. It can help manage blood pressure

You may also be interested to know that beer can help manage blood pressure. That’s according to a Harvard study that found that women aged 25 to 40 who drank beer moderately were significantly less likely to develop high blood pressure compared to women who drank wine or other alcoholic beverages.

8. It can help strengthen bones

Beer contains decent levels of silicon, an element that is linked with bone health. One study conducted at Tufts in 2009 established that older individuals who drank one or two glasses of beer daily had higher bone density, and thus were less prone to fractures than those who did not enjoy a glass of beer or wine. However, the study also found that consuming more than two drinks increased risk of bone fractures.

9. It can help treat dandruff

Another interesting fact about beer is that it is considered one of the best natural treatments for dandruff. This particular health benefit of beer is attributed to its high yeast and vitamin B content levels. Just rinse your hair with a bottle of beer two to three times a week to get rid of dandruff and make your hair extra soft and shiny.

10. It can help cut down risk of strokes

Studies by the American Stroke Association have shown that people who drink moderate amounts of beer can cut their risk of strokes by – get this – a whopping 50% compared to non-drinkers. Researchers at Harvard School of Public Health explain that moderate amounts of beer daily helps prevent blood clots that block blood flow to the heart, neck and brain, which is a leading cause of ischemic stroke. However, when you drink beer moderately, your arteries become flexible and blood flow improves significantly.

Remember the key to reaping these amazing health benefits of beer is moderate consumption. Overindulgence in beer and other alcoholic drinks can be disastrous to your health.

Do you want to know the calorie counts of your drinks, before you go partying?

Going for a party, worried about what to wear? Nah! I guess more people are now a days worried about how much calories they would be taking along with their drinks. Always worried how your strict diet plans are going to go in vain because of this one hell of a party. Well lets see how much calories do your favourite drinks carry. From a range of alcoholic drinks, cocktails and mocktails at your service, choose wisely and at your own rick.

As rightly said, in wine there is wisdom and in beer there is freedom. Wine is a favourite among the older crowd with a glass of red packing the most calories, followed by white wine whereas, a shot of whiskey has only 97 calories. Beer is highly popular among the younger generation as it is less alcoholic and also light on one’s pocket. A light beer is more helpful while watching your calories as a can of it only packs around 102.7 calories whereas, a regular beer has 153.1 calories.

Check them out:

Drink	Calories
Whiskey (1 jigger/shot/44 ml approx)	97 cal
Beer – Regular (1 can)	153.1 cal
Beer – Light (1 can)	102.7 cal
Rum (1 jigger/shot/44 ml approx)	97 cal
Tequila (1 peg)	69 cal
Bacardi Rum (1 shot)	65 cal
Red Wine (1 serving, 147 ml)	125 cal
White Wine (1 serving, 147 ml)	120.5 cal
Whiskey Sour Mix – Bottled (1 ml)	0.9 cal
Brandy  (1 peg)	65 cal
Bacardi Breezer, Orange (100 ml)	55 cal
Bacardi Breezer, Lemon (100 ml)	58 cal
Bacardi Breezer, Watermelon (100 ml)	36 cal
Bacardi Breezer, Pineapple (100 ml)	36 cal
Bacardi Breezer, Mango (100 ml)	36 cal

Take life with a grain of salt, a wedge of lime and a shot of Tequila, which has 69 calories. No wonder, it is called a polite drink as it tells you when you can’t have more. Another favourite is the breezer, variety of flavours, light on alcohol and great in taste and an average of 44 calories.

Cocktails

These blends of different alcohols are a hit at any New Year party. Blended with some liqueur and sugar syrup, poured over some crushed ice, a glass of Margarita has a whopping  562.3 calories. Followed by a crowd favourite, the Pina Colada, made with pineapple juice and coconut milk, all contributing to its calorie content of 526.1 calories. A Martini or the humble Bloody Mary made from tomato juice are the best options with only 62.4 and 23.2 calories, respectively. Choose these drinks wisely and limit their consumption because they might give you a bad hangover. If you don’t want to wake up with the worst hangover the next day, avoid these  alcohols, whiskey, wine, rum, etc.

Drink	Calories
Long Island Iced Tea (1 glass)	226.1 cal
Bloody Mary (1 peg)	23.2 cal
Pina Colada (1 can, 200 ml)	526.1 cal
Mojito (1  glass)	102.8 cal
Martini  (1 peg)	62.4 cal
Margarita (1 glass)	562.3 cal
Sangria (1 glass)	288.1 cal
Shirley Temple (1 glass)	58.9 cal
Daiquiri (1 can, 200 ml)	258.8 cal
Tequila Sunrise (1 can,  200 ml)	232.1 cal

Mocktails:

For all those teetotallers or those who don’t want to get drunk but still want have fun on New Year’s eve, there are a variety of not-so-high-on-calories drinks. Giving your taste buds a surprise is the ginger fizz, which only adds 40.7 calories to your waistline. Another drink, favourite among the crowd, is fruit beer. It not only gives you that fizzy, beer-y taste but also adds 130 calories to your calorie intake. If you are planning a house party, here are some easy mocktail recipes that will surely make your party a hit.

Drink	Calories
Ginger Fizz (1 glass)	40.7 cal
Lemonade (1 glass)	106.5 cal
Peach Satin (1 glass)	113.2 cal
Bael Fruit Punch (1 glass)	97.7 cal
Fruit Beer (1 bottle )	130 cal
Virgin Mary (1 glass)	51.7 cal
Virgin Mojito (1 glass)	120 cal

Now you can party hard without being doubtful about the calories in your spirits. Choose wisely so you don’t end up with a with a hangover or a lot more calories in your kitty.

Why is alcohol bad for you?

I always wonder how much I am harming my body, with every sip I take. There are certain studies that say moderate alcohol drinking is good for health. But what are the negative effects of drinking alcohol? Does it cause long-term diseases or problems in sexual life? Lets have a look.

Time and again, there have been numerous studies stating the ill-effects of alcohol on health, but people still tend to consume it. Apart from this, drinking alcohol also affects your social life and behaviour. A glass of alcohol causes significant changes in the body, which most of us are unaware of. Here are some clinical and social complications due to alcohol consumption.

Health risks due to alcohol consumption

There is no doubt that drinking alcohol causes major health problems and increases the risk of various diseases.

Problems with liver: When you drink alcohol, the liver gets diverted from its other functions and focuses mainly on converting alcohol to a less toxic form. Absorption of alcohol by the liver causes fatty liver disease, inflammation of the liver and cirrhosis.

Disturbance in sleep pattern: Most people drink alcohol to fall asleep. However, research studies suggest that drinking before sleep interferes with the body’s ability to regulate sleep naturally (sleep homeostasis). If you continue doing so, over time the quality of sleep is diminished and it might lead to insomnia.

Affects sexual life: Long-term consumption of alcohol might affect your sexual health. Alcohol not only inhibits parts of the nervous system that play a key role in sexual arousal but also inhibits the flow of blood to the genitals. 

Interference with calcium absorption: As liver function is impaired inalcoholics, the synthesis of vitamin D in the body is also affected. Apart from this, the absorption of calcium by the body is affected. In the long run, this might result in osteoporosis as oestrogen and testosterone levels also affected due to excessive alcohol consumption.

Increased risk of lung ailments: Excess consumption of alcohol is known to cause Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS), a life-threatening lung disease. It causes buildup of fluid inside the air sacs, thereby preventing oxygen from passing into the bloodstream. The condition worsens as you drink, which may lead to long-term lung complications.

Impaired kidney function: The electrolyte balance of the body and hormones that influence the kidney function are disturbed due to excess consumption of alcohol. The long term effects of alcohol on kidney include increased risk of suffering from kidney failure and kidney stones.

Increases risk of cancer: Excessive drinking of alcohol increases the risk of various types of cancers, mouth, liver, oesophagus and breast. This is because, the body converts alcohol into a potent carcinogen, acetaldehyde, thereby increasing the risk of cancer in alcoholics.

Causes mental health issues: It is a known fact that heavy drinking leads to various mental health issues such as depression and dementia. Excess consumption of alcohol speeds up the shrinkage of the brain (which usually occurs as you age) and interferes with your brain’s ability to distinguish between judgments, solve problems and plan things.

High risk of birth defects (in pregnant women): Pregnant women who do binge drinking face a risk of birth defects known as Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) that leads to growth retardation, head and face abnormalities and neurological problems Apart from this, alcohol consumption during pregnancy increases the risk of premature birth, stillbirth and miscarriage.

Makes you fat: Have you ever thought the booze might cause you to gain weight, along with interfering in your weight loss goals. Alcohol has more calories than you think, it stimulates your appetite, triggers greater craving for calorie-rich foods the next day and stops using carbohydrates as an energy source.

Social ill-effects of drinking alcohol

A glass or two of alcohol is a sign of celebration and common at social gatherings and parties. However, alcohol consumption is found to interfere with your social and personal lives. This includes affecting your mental health, increasing your risk of injuries and being sexually abused.

Causes drastic mood swings: We all know that excessive consumption of alcohol affects the brain and parts of the nervous system that control your behaviour. This causes erratic mood swings such as happiness, sadness or anger, which might lead to severe consequences, such as trashing someone, arguing with people (even if you are wrong) and many more problems in day-to-day life.

Associated with domestic violence: In India, cases of drunk people beating their partners and children, abusing parents and creating ruckus in the society is quite common. This is because, as you get drunk, the ability to distinguish between good and bad is lost, you get into a state of unconsciousness.

Might lead to accidents: Although, we might find placards of ‘don’t drink and drive’ or ‘drive safely’ on roads, there has been an increase in the number of road accidents caused due to alcohol drinking. You might escape with a small injury or live with a disability for the rest of your life; chances of sudden death are not bleak!

Coming soon: Powdered Alcohol to give you a high

Frustrated with carrying wine or vodka bottles? Just sprinkle this powder over food, or mix it with plain water or juice and get a high! How kool is that.

The US Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau has approved the sale of powdered alcohol in tiny pouches. Named Palcohol, it could be available as early as this fall.

“Palcohol is a great convenience for the person on the go. One package weighs about an ounce and is small enough to fit into any pocket,” said its Phoenix-based developer Mark Phillips on his website. The firm proposes two formulas - V (made from vodka) and R (a rum-based powder).

Consumers would also be able to buy powdered versions of popular cocktails such as the mojito, the lemon drop and “powderita”, a powdered margarita.

According to the website, “Palcohol can be transported in your luggage without the fear of bottles breaking. In any situation where weight and breakage is an issue, Palcohol provides the answer.” But a section of the society has criticised the move as the product seems highly likely to raise a large number of legal issues and controversies.

I just wonder if they can make something like this for the beer drinkers. I know its a wild thought and next to impossible. No one likes their beers flat. But the thought of having a drink of beer anytime anywhere is enough for me to droll on!

Watch this space for more.