5 Surprising Health Benefits of Beer

 Beer is created from just four basic ingredients: water, barley, hops and yeast. The result of these ingredients dancing together is alcohol and CO2. That’s a combo that goes down easy, and there are so many ways to blend the brew that you’re sure to find an ale, stout, lager or amber that is just right good for you
                                                             Reduce Your Risk of Heart Disease 
According to several studies, including one done at the Institute of Epidemiology at the University of Muenster, moderate beer drinking reduces the risk of coronary heart disease. The reasons are simple: Alcohol can increase HDL-or "good" cholesterol-levels and reduces the chances of hardening of the arteries and thickening of the blood-two main contributors to heart attacks. 
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Drink Your Vitamins 
Years ago, Guinness used the slogan "Guinness is Good for You." It looks like they might have been right. According to a Dutch study conducted at the TNO Nutrition and Food Research Institute, beer drinkers had 30% higher levels of vitamin B6 in their blood than non-beer-drinkers-twice the amount of red-wine drinkers. 
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Avoid Kidney Stones 
According to a study published in the American Journal of Epidemiology, risk of kidney stones was decreased 40% in middle-aged beer-drinking men, as compared to non-beer-drinkers. While the researchers couldn't determine which component of the beverage was responsible for the drop, the evidence of benefit was impressive. 
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Help Women Age Better 
A Harvard study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, showed moderate alcohol consumption assisted in preserving the mental faculties of older women, while a Tufts University study concluded alcohol can help preserve bone density, a frequent health issue for aging females. Additionally, some bioflavonoids found in hops (a major ingredient in beer) have similar properties as oestrogens, which may serve as a natural form of hormone replacement therapy in post-menopausal women. 
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Prevent Cancer 
While research is just beginning to explore the potential cancer-fighting agents in beer, early studies show xanthohumol, a compound found in hops, may help inhibit certain enzymes that can trigger cancer and aid the body in breaking down carcinogens. The compound is current being tested in hopes of creating a preventative treatment for prostate and colon cancers. 
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