Cheers to Beers!

Today at the gym, I was privy to an interesting conversation between 2 middle-aged guys, where 1 guy, Mr. JG, was explaining the good effects of having beer to the other guy, Mr. X. Now, after a lot of heavy weight discussion on what is good for the body and what is not, JG explained to X that having beer is better for one's body than having any other type of hard/alcoholic drink. This is so because beer is fat free AND cholesterol free.JG went on to explain the process with which beer is made and all and the final conclusion was that having beer is good for one's health.

Now I am not going against this argument: I simply corrected JG later that while having beer in moderation is actually beneficial for one's health, too much of beer can cause serious damage to one's body. Beer, in moderation, has similar effects on our body as wine in small quantities. Beer actually has a relaxing and a de-stressing effect on the body. In fact, beer reduces one's chances of strokes, heart and vascular diseases. As published in the New England Journal of Medicine (Nov. '99), those who drank one beer a week compared to those who drank one beer a day experienced no variance in reducing stroke risks. It is said that light to moderate drinkers will decrease their chances of suffering a stroke by 20%. A researcher at the Texas Southwestern Medical Center (May 1999) reported that those who consume moderate amounts of beer (one to two a day at the most) have a 30-40% lower rate of coronary heart disease compared to those who don’t drink. Beer contains a similar amount of ‘polyphenols’ (antioxidants) as red wine and 4-5 times as many polyphenols as white wine. Having beer in moderation helps one sleep better and yes, JG was right - beer is indeed fat free AND cholesterol. So then, why do docs advise against having too much of this sin-less brew?

The reason is because, exces sconsumption of beer has been linked to the development of the beer bellies - excess consumption of beer can lead to deposition of fats around one's internal organs like the liver. Some fat from this fat deposit can then escape into the blood stream and subsequently raise one's cholestrol levels besides severely damaging one's internal organs.

So guys and gals, as per the medical recommendations, a beer a day (for women) and 2 beers a day (for men) are the limits that you should impose on yourself if you want to enjoy this lovely brew while still remaining healthy and fit. And oh, don't forget to hit the gyms or atleast go for regular jogs/walks in the park!

N.B.: JG recommended staying off beer for the 5 weekdays and then enjoying a 6-pack over the weekends - :-) I do not recommend or subscribe to any of his opinions!