Drinking Beer for Heart Health

My husband and I don’t drink a lot of alcohol but in general, I like most beverages that are bubbly. Japanese beer is one of my favorites because they’re light and very fizzy. Beer’s not a bad choice as alcohol goes because it contains antioxidants (the effects of which on heart disease are debatable, but never mind).

Dr. Thomas Stuttaford discusses the health benefits of beer in The Times UK:

In a controlled study in Germany, it was found that people who drank beer in moderation were less likely to develop coronary heart disease than those who drank other drinks.

Not only did the beer drinkers have better protection from heart attacks, but there was supporting evidence for beer’s cardio-protective effect and for its help in altering the ratio of beneficial high-density lipoprotein cholesterol to the pernicious low-density cholesterol.

There were also beneficial changes to the platelets — particles in the blood involved in clotting — and in the amount of fibrinogen, another factor in clotting, present in the blood.

Other studies have also found a lower risk of heart attack among drinkers of beer. But everything in moderation, yeah?

Technorati Tags: beer, alcohol, drinking, heart disease, heart attacks, heart, disease, health, cardiovascular disease, cvd, antioxidants