Whenever you have a beer, whether at home or out at the local watering hole, you get a big smile on your face, don’t you? You should, but not for the reason you might think. Although the alcohol content of beer will certainly make you smile, there are a myriad of reasons to tip your favorite brew. According to some researchers, there are five distinct health benefits of visiting your local brewery.

Heart Protection

Wine has long been touted as a heart-healthy beverage, but these days, beer is also getting some recognition. Researchers say that moderate beer drinking, one beer a day for women, two for men, decreases the risks of heart disease by nearly one-third. According to Andrea Giancoli, of the American Dietetic Association, drinking one or two beers a day can increase HDL which is the good cholesterol. Higher levels of HDL levels have been shown to give protection against heart disease.

Bone Protection

You’ve heard that milk helps to build strong bones, but you might not realize that beer can help your bones as well. The reason for this is that beer has silicon, which is known to improve bone matrix quality and aids in bone mineralization. When used in moderation, beer, as well as whole grains, cereals, and vegetables like green beans make bones stronger and less prone to breakage.

Antioxidant Properties

There has been a lot of talk over the past decade about the benefits of adding more antioxidants to your diet. Antioxidants give a boost to the immune system by attacking free radicals in the body. These destructive mechanisms help to break down the immune system, allowing diseases to infiltrate the body. Beer is a good source of antioxidants, including B vitamins like niacin, riboflavin, pantothenic acid and B12, and folate. Most notably, a twelve ounce bottle of beer has up to 12.5% of the RDA of vitamin B6. Therefore, drinking beer will boost your immune system and make you healthier.

Kidney Protection

Kidney stones are a painful problem that affect more than a million Americans every year. Adults can lower their risk of developing kidney stones by over 40% just by consuming a moderate one to two beers a day. This is because beer has a very high water content and it also has a diuretic effect. Instead of reaching for a soda, which increases the risk of kidney stones developing, it’s a good idea to grab a brew instead.

Boosts Creativity

Drinking on the job is generally frowned upon, however, research shows that having a beer or two can actually increase your creativity. Researchers tested 40 men by giving them enough beer to drink to bring their blood alcohol level up to .075. The men were asked to solve verbal puzzles while watching a movie. Surprisingly, with a bit of beer in them, these men were able to solve the puzzles a bit quicker than the men who didn’t get any beer. So, grab a beer and let your creativity free.

Having a beer or two from your local brewery is a great way to protect your heart, give your immune system a boost, strengthen your bones, increase your HDL, improve kidney function and it’ll even make you more creative. Not only that, but craft brewed beers are a great way to support small breweries that hire American workers. Contact us to learn more about the wonderful world of beer. We will be happy to answer your questions anytime.