The beneficial effects of drinking beer in moderation
IT is good to see some local pubs and bars announcing when they plan to reopen as lockdown eases, and I expect that anti-alcohol campaigners are gearing up to caution us all against the dangers of drinking, writes Neville Grundy.
While it is true that excessive drinking can lead to health problems, moderate consumption of beer is not bad for you and can actually have many beneficial effects.
Beer is a rich source of vitamins (especially B vitamins), fibre, mineral, and antioxidants which all contribute to a healthy diet. Additionally, as beer is the only significant dietary source of hops, drinking it is the only way you can gain their beneficial effects.
In comparison to most alcoholic drinks, beer tends to have a relatively low alcoholic strength and it can play a vital role in a consumer’s quality of life.
Heart health compared with those who don’t drink, moderate drinkers have a substantially reduced risk of cardiovascular disease which is the leading cause of death in Europe.
People who are moderate consumers of beer have a 30-40% reduced risk of coronary heart disease compared to teetotal people. The World Health Organisation has described this as the “most important health benefit of alcohol”.
This is probably because the amount of ‘good cholesterol’ (HDL) in the blood increases when alcohol is consumed: one glass of beer a day can significantly increase HDL cholesterol levels.
Well-being drinking alcohol in moderate amounts is effective in reducing stress and tension and this leads to increased feelings of well-being. Moderate
alcohol consumers have been found to experience a greater variety of psychological benefits from consuming alcohol compared to abstainers or heavy drinkers.
Many studies have shown increases in sociability and friendliness following moderate alcohol consumption, and this positive benefit is enhanced when beer drinking happens in a social environment such as the pub.
For me, drinking a few tins at home just isn’t the same with no friends there and inferior beer. You can find a decent pub anywhere in the UK by going to CAMRA’s What Pub website – whatpub.com – which lists 55,462 venues, including 37,290 serving real ale.
Visit your local CAMRA website southport.camra.org.uk. covering Southport, Merseyside and Ormskirk, West Lancashire.