| If you read the newspapers, you probably see a | | | | Are all beers created equally? Not really, because |
| lot of stories about the health problems that the | | | | although you can get health benefits from all |
| country is facing. You see headlines of people | | | | beers, dark beers are actually better for your |
| suffering from heart attacks, cancer, and other | | | | health than lighter colored beers. Dark beer |
| illnesses, but you may not have heard an easy | | | | contains more flavonoids than light beer. |
| (and delicious) solution to some of these headlines | | | | Flavonoids come from plants, and are also found |
| - beer. | | | | in chocolate and red wine. What are the benefits |
| Remember, that you should definitely consume all | | | | of flavonoids? Flavonoids have been proven to |
| alcoholic beverages in moderation, and if you have | | | | prevent cancer and promote a healthy heart. |
| any questions about whether this will benefit your | | | | Sure, you can find flavonoids in other foods, such |
| health, you should talk to your doctor. Ok, we've | | | | as fruits and vegetables, but they are also |
| told you the legal disclaimer, let's get down to the | | | | present in high numbers in dark beer. |
| facts and the research that show that beer, | | | | If heart disease runs in your family, you may |
| consumed in moderation, can actually help your | | | | want to listen to the University of Texas |
| health. | | | | Southwestern Medical Center, which found in their |
| So how can beer help you to keep you healthy? | | | | research that drinking a moderate amount of |
| Well, studies have found that it can actually be | | | | beer daily can decrease your risk of coronary |
| good for your heart, just like wine. If you are | | | | disease by about 30-40%. This is a great study |
| worried about your heart health, you should | | | | to show your wife when she complains about you |
| obviously exercise and eat right, but drinking two | | | | drinking a beer or two every evening. You can |
| beers a day for men (and one for women), may | | | | just reply with "Sorry honey. I'm doing it for us, |
| give some people an extra boost. Remember, the | | | | not for me." |
| advice is one to two beers a day, so drinking | | | | No longer do beer drinkers have to switch to |
| three or four beers a day won't triple or | | | | wine if they want to get the health benefits of |
| quadruple these effects of the beer. | | | | alcohol, because now they can get them from |
| What exactly can beer do to help your heart? | | | | their favorite beverage. Of course, if you want |
| Well, according to a study done by Tufts | | | | more information about the effects of beer on |
| University, the consumption of beer in moderate | | | | your health, you should definitely consult your |
| amounts can decrease your cholesterol level, | | | | physician. Beer drinking can be dangerous for |
| reduce the amount of fibrinogen in your blood | | | | people who have certain health conditions or who |
| (which is a protein that is responsible for blood | | | | take some medications. If you are already a |
| clotting), and increase the level of antioxidants in | | | | casual beer drinker, you don't have to give it up |
| your body. | | | | to enjoy a healthy lifestyle. |