Moderate consumption of beer good for you, say experts

Experts have said that moderate consumption of beer could add to the good health of the consumer.

The experts who spoke at the 1st Nigerian beer and health symposium in Lagos, recently, said that some contents of the product are of great benefit to health. According to them, it is good for bone midline density, rich in high fibre content antioxidants as well as minerals such as phosphorous, iodine and potassium.

Tola Atinmo, a professor of human nutrition, University of Ibadan and a WHO consultant, revealed that like wine, beer has antioxidant properties.

According to Atinmo, “research studies found that moderate drinkers (about one pint per day) have a 42 percent lower risk of heart disease than non-drinkers. The comparable protective benefits to wine could be because both contain polyphenols, shown to have antioxidant properties that may help the heart. No benefits were found for other alcoholic spirits.”

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For Olu Malomo, associate professor of food technology, Bells University, Ota, “there’s a myth between beer and the pot belly, so people automatically assume that beer is fattening or unhealthy, but that’s just not true. Beer is fat-free, cholesterol-free and low in carbohydrates. We are not saying you should trade your fruits and vegetables for beer but enjoying beer in moderation can actually be a healthier beverage.

“Picking beer over another beverage if you are counting your calories is a healthier choice. If you analyse beer, you would be amazed at how many super-nutrients there are in it,” he said.

Ijeoma Omeni