Iced drinks taste great on a hot summer day. Wonder if a cold beer could be good for you, too?
Drinking beer in moderation may offer healthful side effects, perhaps as much as wine. Beer may provide some protection against diabetes, high blood pressure, heart attack, and stroke—more likely from its ethanol than from its modest amounts of B vitamins. Moderation is key to any health benefits: no more than one drink daily for women, two for men. (A drink is 12 ounces beer, 5 ounces wine, or 1/2 ounces distilled spirits.)
Downing a six-pack negates any benefits. Binge drinking increases the chances of obesity, liver failure, stroke, and some cancers. For the record, a 12-ounce regular beer has 150 calories; a six-pack (12 ounces each), 900!
If you enjoy beer in moderation, consider this during July, American Beer Month:
- Pair beer with food. Choose the beer that pairs well for flavor: full-bodied ale with hearty dishes and meat, hoppier beer with spicy foods, and light beer with salads, seafood, and light sandwiches.
- Go beyond beer tradition. Choose from
- “Low-carb” beer—fewer calories, less carbohydrates, and perhaps slightly less alcohol
- Low-alcohol or reduced-alcohol beer
- Alcohol-free malt beverage
- Flavored malt beverage—with juice, fruit, or fruit concentrate added. Still, go easy.
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