A Beer a Day Could Help You Live Longer? More Happy Hours Ahead!

A nice cold one, according to researchers at Amsterdam Academy discovered that some beers actually have incredible health benefits. In a study at the Academy experts found strong Belgian beers, such as Hoegaarden, Westmalle Tripel and Echt Kriekenbier, are particularly rich in probiotic yeast.

Unlike most beers, they are fermented twice, once in the brewery and again in the bottle. The process increases the strength of the beer. Importantly for health, in-bottle fermentation uses a different strain of yeast to that found in traditional brews.

It not only converts sugar into alcohol, but it produces acids that kill off harmful bacteria. Professor Eric Claassen, a gut bacteria expert at Amsterdam University, said: “In high concentrations, alcohol is bad for the gut, but if you drink just one of these beers every day it would be very good for you.”

Other research, from the University of Nebraska, found some bottled beers contain up to 50 million probiotic or “good” bacteria.

Prof Claassen told an event held by a probiotic drink maker: “In the Middle Ages, people made beer because the water was not drinkable. “The yeast killed off bad bacteria in the water.” Yeast keeps your digestive system healthy and in balance. The right amount in your body helps your immune system do its job. Yeast is part of a healthy mix of bacteria in your gut. It can help you absorb vitamins and minerals from your food, and even fight disease.

Now researchers say that just one beer is a health benefit, two is a Sunday evening relaxing with friends. Three plus is where the party is at. I’ll skip the chips and dip and take a chance on living life on the edge. I’ll get the door I think the pizza is here.

Salut!