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| Photo by Paloma A. on Unsplash |
Back in the early days, whenever I hear the word, beer, or any alcoholic beverages, it was always marked in my mind that "beer" is always associated with something negative like gambling, smoking, and the like. But as I grew older (like at the age of 23) and started working in the office, workmates would invite me to after-office gatherings where beer was present. Then I realized beer wasn't as bad as I thought. It's only bad when you had too much of it. As long as you drink it in moderation, the party can be fun and the conversation can be more interesting.
According to Wikipedia, beer is one of the oldest drinks humans have produced, dating back to at least the 5th millennium BC in Iraq, and was recorded in the written history of ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia and spread throughout the world. Throughout the years, it has evolved into different types and different flavors, which is probably why it's still existent today.
Benefits of Beer
Not only did I realize that drinking moderately can do no harm to you, but beer can also be good for you according to recent studies. According to an article from Everydayhealth.com, here some benefits of beer:
- Beer helps fight inflammation. Inflammation in the body is the underlying cause behind many diseases, and hops (an essential ingredient in beer) has anti-inflammatory properties. The researchers (Molecular Nutrition and Food Research.) compared the anti-inflammatory effect of different hops and found that the consumption of hops in beer form interfered with inflammation causing compounds. I personally am not sure if this is true because I get skin flushing whenever I drink beer, but my husband apparently is totally fine so I guess it just depends on people's alcohol tolerance.
- Beer Aids Digestion. Bitter acids in beer may also improve digestion. The more bitter acids a brew contained, the greater the response. Gastric acid is key for both digesting food in the stomach and controlling the growth of dangerous gut bacteria. To my personal experience, my stomach does feel a little lighter whenever I drink beer after eating a heavy meal, usually during gatherings or parties. It also comes with frequent visits to the restroom to pee.
- Beer is Good for the Heart. Many studies have found a 25 percent lower risk of heart disease in people who drink from one-half to two drinks daily, compared to abstainers. And alcoholic beverages that are rich in polyphenols (like beer) may be especially good for the heart. I did try drinking a bottle of beer before sleeping and it does help me relax and gives me a good night's sleep. When I wake up, I literally feel like I slept like a baby.
Due to the benefits of beer and how it makes its consumers happy, the beer industry continues to boom over time. Thanks to social awareness, beer giants like Asia Brewery and Melvin Brewing, just to name a few, also gives back to society by offering scholarships to students who need financial assistance. So I guess another benefit of drinking beer if you purchase from the mentioned companies is that you also help students with their financing. It's a win-win for all of us!
Just remember, beer does have its benefits, but it also has its cons, so the best way to solve it is to drink moderately, and don't drink and drive!
