7 Reasons Why Beer Is Good For You
Because “tasting good” just isn’t enough.
It Prevents Kidney Stones
Admittedly, just writing the words “kidney stone” makes us shudder. But at least you can rest assured knowing that downing a few of your favorite brews can ward off any giant pebbles from accompanying your urine. Two thumbs up! Studies have found that people who reportedly drank beer regularly had a 33% lower risk of developing those gross little stones than those who drank none. So pass a brewski, stat!
It Keeps You Hydrated
Not only is beer “safer” than water – in the sense that it’s boiled during the brewing process and doesn’t hit air again until the bottle is cracked open – but it keeps you more hydrated than regular H2O. A recent study found that housing a pint of beer after a workout is better than drinking water because it rehydrates you “slightly faster” than water. Researchers even went as far as to say that men should drink 300mL a day – 250mL for women – to lead a healthy, athletic lifestyle. Look, we’re not looking for perfection here; you had us as “slightly better.”
It Contains Antioxidants
We all know that drinking a glass of wine a day has positive health benefits, but what you may not know is that beer also contains a ton of antioxidants. Now that we’re aware, we’re tossing those gross fruit shakes that somehow managed to get into our fridge and heading to a bar…where we belong.
It Gives You Better Skin
What sounds better than soaking in a tub full of beer? Not much, unless the relaxing soak also came equipped with a hot girl (we can dream, can’t we?). Over the last decade beer spas have been popping up all over the world, advertising positive health and wellness benefits. Owner of Austria’s LandhotelMoorhof – which offers the soaks in four couple-sized wooden tubs – claim that beer is good for your skin because of the vitamins and yeast it contains. We’re also assuming you can drink the entire tub once you’re done, so this looks like a win-win, folks.
It Decreases the Risk of Heart Disease
Researchers from the University of Scranton recently found that dark ales and stouts have the ability to reduce the possibility of atherosclerosis, better known as that thing when your arteries become clogged because you’re demolishing too many fatty foods. According to their findings, drinking two beers a day has the ability to cut the risk of developing the condition in half. So to sum that up, cut back on the beef and pick up a brewski. The more you know.
It Lowers the Risk of Dementia
Knocking back a few drinks may lead to a night of total darkness, but researchers recently found that drinking one to two bottles of beer a day leads to a 37% lower risk of having dementia. At least you have at least one thing to look forward to when you get older.
It Elongates Your Life
Alright, bear with us on this one – Israeli researchers recently discovered that drinking beer can alter your DNA and cause lengthening of your telomeres (those little caps at the end of your DNA chromosomes). Longer telomeres essentially means a longer life; when the telomeres are short it takes less time to deconstruct and kill the cell. Yada, yada, yada…listen, all you need to know is having a beverage won’t kill you – and it may even give you more time. There is a God.
Photos by Joshua Hodge Photography/ Getty Images
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