By Charlotte Cowan, The Shout New Zealand
Good news for those who enjoy an occasional beer, as a new study has shown that people who drink a moderate amount of beer every day are in better health, both mentally and physically, than former drinkers or teetotallers.
“The team from Spain’s University of Murcia studied 33,185 adults and found that beer consumption shows better indicators of physical, mental and emotional health than in abstainers and ex-drinkers,” says Brewers Association Executive Director, Dylan Firth
“This research aligns with a range of meta studies that show low doses of alcohol can improve heart health and the immune system.
“We know from years of research that there is a J-shaped curve when it comes to alcohol, and that there are positive health outcomes for moderate drinkers vs those who abstain.”
Firth says this, as well as other studies, show that regular beer consumption boosts gut bacteria and reduces diabetes and heart disease risks.
“It also helps fight dementia through reducing brain toxic substances,” he says.
“According to the study, moderate alcohol consumption is defined as drinking one pint (5% ABV) of beer per person per day. “
“The study concluded alcoholic beer consumption showed a J-shaped relationship with self-perceived, physical, mental, and social-emotional health, with better values at moderate levels.
“It also highlighted that beer, the most popular alcoholic beverage in the world, usually has a relatively low alcohol content compared to other alcoholic beverages. So, cheers to that.”
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