Beer's Health Benefits, Consumed In Moderation, May Be Similar To Those Of Wine
Oenophiles have been looking down their noses at beer drinkers since time began. But the past few years have given grape-lovers a particularly powerful weapon against the unwashed masses of grain-supporters: health claims. A series of studies showed that red wine had life-extending health benefits, possibly because of a chemical called resveratrol, unmatched by any other alcoholic beverage.
Two recent studies, though, may turn the tables on smug wine drinkers.
The first brought the news that drinking red wine may increase women's risk of breast cancer. Women who drank more than four glasses a day -- admittedly more than previous studies had shown to be helpful -- face a 15% higher risk of the disease, according to the researchers.
The second, though, is even more surprising. A massive meta-analysis of epidemiological data on alcohol and health, conducted by Italy's Fondazione di Ricerca e Cura, showed that moderate consumption of beer decreases drinkers' risk of heart disease by 31%, just as much as moderate consumption of wine. The Italian findings were based on data from over 200,000 people's drinking habits. The study found no benefit to consumption of spirits, which may indicate that something other than ethanol consumption per se is responsible for the health boost.
Other studies have demonstrated a link between good health and beer consumption, but this one is striking in the degree of the benefit.
Before you rush out to the grocery story to buy a six-pack though, a word of caution: both studies are epidemiological in nature. As such, they rely on real-world consumption of alcohol, so they introduce biases that would not crop up in a carefully-controlled double-blind study of alcohol use, which would obviously be impossible to conduct. This is a problem because drinking often goes hand-in-hand with other behaviors that might be beneficial to health. Studies have consistently linked drinking to higher levels of education and income, for example.
Joined: 15 Jun 2004 Posts: 46182 Location: Los Skandolous, California Country:
Posted: Thu Nov 17, 2011 8:23 am Post subject:
bmwracer wrote:
Beer's Health Benefits, Consumed In Moderation, May Be Similar To Those Of Wine
Oenophiles have been looking down their noses at beer drinkers since time began. But the past few years have given grape-lovers a particularly powerful weapon against the unwashed masses of grain-supporters: health claims. A series of studies showed that red wine had life-extending health benefits, possibly because of a chemical called resveratrol, unmatched by any other alcoholic beverage.
Two recent studies, though, may turn the tables on smug wine drinkers.
The first brought the news that drinking red wine may increase women's risk of breast cancer. Women who drank more than four glasses a day -- admittedly more than previous studies had shown to be helpful -- face a 15% higher risk of the disease, according to the researchers.
The second, though, is even more surprising. A massive meta-analysis of epidemiological data on alcohol and health, conducted by Italy's Fondazione di Ricerca e Cura, showed that moderate consumption of beer decreases drinkers' risk of heart disease by 31%, just as much as moderate consumption of wine. The Italian findings were based on data from over 200,000 people's drinking habits. The study found no benefit to consumption of spirits, which may indicate that something other than ethanol consumption per se is responsible for the health boost.
Other studies have demonstrated a link between good health and beer consumption, but this one is striking in the degree of the benefit.
Before you rush out to the grocery story to buy a six-pack though, a word of caution: both studies are epidemiological in nature. As such, they rely on real-world consumption of alcohol, so they introduce biases that would not crop up in a carefully-controlled double-blind study of alcohol use, which would obviously be impossible to conduct. This is a problem because drinking often goes hand-in-hand with other behaviors that might be beneficial to health. Studies have consistently linked drinking to higher levels of education and income, for example.
Funny I read that last night before I knocked out for bed. I almost rolled out of bed to drink a six pack of Asahi as a nightcap.
Joined: 20 Jul 2004 Posts: 12782 Location: USA Country:
Posted: Thu Nov 17, 2011 11:24 am Post subject:
bmwracer wrote:
Hehe.
A six pack hardly falls under the "Moderation" guideline.
My husband might disagree with you on that.
OT
Just want to say that the new generic levaquin antibiotics do not all work as well as the original. 12 different manufacturers are making them but only two come up to snuff. I shelled out the big bucks, almost two hundred dollars for the real ones this time. _________________
Just want to say that the new generic levaquin antibiotics do not all work as well as the original. 12 different manufacturers are making them but only two come up to snuff. I shelled out the big bucks, almost two hundred dollars for the real ones this time.
Never buy antibiotics from the trunk of someone's car, Evie.
Joined: 18 Jan 2004 Posts: 851 Location: USA Country:
Posted: Fri Nov 18, 2011 3:51 am Post subject:
Eve.
sorry I can't help you with bronchitis.Used to have it every year as a child but Dr. said I would grow out of it and I did. Vaguely remember having my chest rubbed with 'Vicks' Vaporub'. One bad winter my Grandfather brought some Goosegrease to use as a rub. Very slippery and I smelled like Christmas dinner. I think the idea is to keep the body warmer than usual in order to vitalize the circulation to move the phlegm from the lungs. I do know that my mother and her sister did the goosegrease thing when grandpa had pneumonia when he was seventy. It got him better. Dr. did not believe it was the goose but what do doctors know.
Regarding the beer question. I do believe that a pint of properly made beer is good for you. It must be draught and really have hops and be properly fermented. I don't think a lager type or 'sixpack' would do any good at all.
But then I am not a beer drinker now and I don't brew beer but love the brewing smell....
Joined: 20 Jul 2004 Posts: 12782 Location: USA Country:
Posted: Fri Nov 18, 2011 12:33 pm Post subject:
@brad2
Goosegresse isn't available at our pharmacy.
But Vicks won't solve it. My childhood bronchitis was different, from different causes. Warm is not the issue. Its still summer here.
Sadly when I looked further into the silver product I found out that the FDA recommended against using it in 2009. Thank heavens for consumer reports. The risks were dangerous.
I'll just be glad when my husband is no longer sick. The farm is so much work with both of us feeling down it's wearing us out. _________________
Joined: 18 Jan 2004 Posts: 851 Location: USA Country:
Posted: Sat Nov 19, 2011 10:07 am Post subject:
Eve
Well my mother's family always cooked a large goose every Christmas along with a ham and several ribs of beef. Lots of fat in a goose and there were always pots of goosegrease in the pantry. Lots of mince pies (proper ones) and fruit pudding and Christmas cake.
My mother was the thirteenth child and when the ones remaining were married and brought their children for Christmas it needed a good dinner to satisfy the appetites. I still don't know where we all slept. I was the youngest grandchild and I can remember five of us children sleeping in a single bed. The grownups would almost stay up all night talking and enjoying being together.
Family times at holidays were always the best.
Eve. Do take care of that bronchitis. If it won't get better you really need to see a Dr. and get an X-ray. Too much pollution all over the planet these days.
Joined: 20 Jul 2004 Posts: 12782 Location: USA Country:
Posted: Sat Nov 19, 2011 10:59 am Post subject:
brad2 wrote:
Eve
Well my mother's family always cooked a large goose every Christmas along with a ham and several ribs of beef. Lots of fat in a goose and there were always pots of goosegrease in the pantry. Lots of mince pies (proper ones) and fruit pudding and Christmas cake.
My mother was the thirteenth child and when the ones remaining were married and brought their children for Christmas it needed a good dinner to satisfy the appetites. I still don't know where we all slept. I was the youngest grandchild and I can remember five of us children sleeping in a single bed. The grownups would almost stay up all night talking and enjoying being together.
Family times at holidays were always the best.
Eve. Do take care of that bronchitis. If it won't get better you really need to see a Dr. and get an X-ray. Too much pollution all over the planet these days.
Your childhood christmas' sound lovely. My mother also cooked goose for us at Christmas. She hated turkey and I must admit I'm not very partial to it either. I love nice moist goose.
As for my bronchitis I am taking care of it and on very expensive antibiotics. I've had pneumonia several times so I've already had an xray, clear, and am waiting on the culture results. Mine is bacterial based. Same thing every year. It's a drag. _________________
Joined: 15 Jun 2004 Posts: 46182 Location: Los Skandolous, California Country:
Posted: Sat Nov 19, 2011 11:02 am Post subject:
Eve wrote:
Your childhood christmas' sound lovely. My mother also cooked goose for us at Christmas. She hated turkey and I must admit I'm not very partial to it either. I love nice moist goose.
As for my bronchitis I am taking care of it and on very expensive antibiotics. I've had pneumonia several times so I've already had an xray, clear, and am waiting on the culture results. Mine is bacterial based. Same thing every year. It's a drag.
Joined: 20 Jul 2004 Posts: 12782 Location: USA Country:
Posted: Sat Nov 19, 2011 12:19 pm Post subject:
bmwracer wrote:
Like clockwork, huh Evie?
Rest up and let your immune system really work it's magic.
That's exactly what the doctor sad.
Anyway trying to rest up is hard round here. A day off still involves several hours of physical labor. Got a face mask though for working down at the barn. Thought cutting out dust and hay dust might be a help.
And I'm very serious when I'm on antibiotics about the regime, at $20 a pill I can't be otherwise.
Think I didn't really ck it first time around last month. So I'm going for the total an Olaf on method now. _________________
Green tea drinkers show less disability with age: study
(Reuters) - Elderly adults who regularly drink green tea may stay more agile and independent than their peers over time, according to a Japanese study that covered thousands of people.
Green tea contains antioxidant chemicals that may help ward off the cell damage that can lead to disease. Researchers have been studying green tea's effect on everything from cholesterol to the risk of certain cancers, with mixed results so far.
For the new study, published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, researchers decided to examine the question of whether green tea drinkers have a lower risk of frailty and disability as they grow older.
Yasutake Tomata of the Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine and his colleagues followed nearly 14,000 adults aged 65 or older for three years.
They found those who drank the most green tea were the least likely to develop "functional disability," or problems with daily activities or basic needs, such as dressing or bathing.
Specifically, almost 13 percent of adults who drank less than a cup of green tea per day became functionally disabled, compared with just over 7 percent of people who drank at least five cups a day.
"Green tea consumption is significantly associated with a lower risk of incident functional disability, even after adjustment for possible confounding factors," Tomata and his colleagues wrote.
The study did not prove that green tea alone kept people spry as they grew older.
Green-tea lovers generally had healthier diets, including more fish, vegetables and fruit, as well as more education, lower smoking rates, fewer heart attacks and strokes, and greater mental sharpness.
They also tended to be more socially active and have more friends and family to rely on.
But even with those factors accounted for, green tea itself was tied to a lower disability risk, the researchers said.
People who drank at least five cups a day were one-third less likely to develop disabilities than those who had less than a cup per day. Those people who averaged three or four cups a day had a 25 percent lower risk.
Although it's not clear how green tea might offer a buffer against disability, Tomata's team did note that one recent study found green tea extracts seem to boost leg muscle strength in older women.
While green tea and its extracts are considered safe in small amounts, they do contain caffeine and small amounts of vitamin K, which means it could interfere with drugs that prevent blood clotting.
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