CibbuanoDrink beer, it's good for you
June 13th 2006 13:14
Forget what Health Ed. taught you – a study at the Innsbruck Medical University in Austria in March has found that beer may have health benefits by suppressing arterial inflammation. According to the New Scientist report, “beer may be as good for your health as red wine and green tea”, as its anti-inflammatory effect on white blood cells may stave off heart disease.
Another study at the Oregon State University in October last year found that a compound found in hops, which is a main ingredient of beer, could have uses in fighting cancer. The compound, named xanthohumol, works by inhibiting a family of enzymes called cytochromes P450 that can activate the cancer process. It inhibits tumour growth in early stages, as well as helping the body detoxify carcinogens. However, according to Fred Stevens, who is a researcher with OSU's Linus Pauling Institute and an assistant professor of medicinal chemistry in the College of Pharmacy, “we can't say that drinking beer will help prevent cancer”.
"Most beer has low levels of this compound, and its absorption in the body is also limited,” he said. “But if ways can be developed to significantly increase the levels of xanthohumol or use it as a nutritional supplement - that might be different. It clearly has some interesting cancer chemopreventive properties, and the only way people are getting any of it right now is through beer consumption."
Emily Ho, a fellow researcher at the Oregon State University, more recently told ABC Science: "From my studies, you would have to drink an awful lot of beer, so the counter effects of the alcohol may outweigh any health benefits from drinking beer."
A “health beer” with enhanced levels of xanthohumol has been developed and is currently being marketed in Germany, but any effects on cancer rates have yet to be proven.
(image from flickr.com)
Beer - health food?
"Most beer has low levels of this compound, and its absorption in the body is also limited,” he said. “But if ways can be developed to significantly increase the levels of xanthohumol or use it as a nutritional supplement - that might be different. It clearly has some interesting cancer chemopreventive properties, and the only way people are getting any of it right now is through beer consumption."
Emily Ho, a fellow researcher at the Oregon State University, more recently told ABC Science: "From my studies, you would have to drink an awful lot of beer, so the counter effects of the alcohol may outweigh any health benefits from drinking beer."
A “health beer” with enhanced levels of xanthohumol has been developed and is currently being marketed in Germany, but any effects on cancer rates have yet to be proven.
(image from flickr.com)
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