Drinking Beer May Halt the Effects of Alzheimers

While the health benefits of previously wine have often been espoused in previous studys, new research from Jianguo Fang, of Lanzhou University's School of Chemistry, is the first time major health benefits have been attributed to beer. With the explosion in popularity of IPAs and craft beers in recent years this bodes well for beer enthusiasts everywhere.

Drinking liquor is not a much appreciated practice in the past but partying has become a part of life these days. While the goodness of the wine is well known, it’s time to know something more about beer, says Fang.

When consumed in moderation, beer in contrast to hard liquor, is usually considered the lesser of the two evils, but this new development is sure to make the choice to drink beer the wiser choice . While conventional wisdom often depicts beer as the alcoholic beverage of choice of American and European consumers, a recent study shows that China has outpaced the United States in beer consumption. The health benefits of beer and in particular its positive effects on neurological disorders like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, are due to according to Fang, "A compound called xanthohumol contained in the beer has been observed to have anti-carcinogenic, anti-oxidation and cardiovascular-protection properties."

Fang says, “During brewing, an ingredient called hops is added to the beer that gives a bitter and tangy taste to it. Hops are the female flower of the hops plant known to have quite some medicinal values. Hops are the source of the compound xanthohumol present in the beer that renders goodness to the beer. These xanthohumol are observed to protect neuronal cells present in the brain and thereby slows down the development of brain disorders.”

We’ll drink to that.