Whether it’s a glass of wine with your meal or a pint of beer in your local pub, Britons like to enjoy a tipple from time to time.
While research has long indicated that alcohol can be bad news for your health, new research now suggests that occasional beer drinkers could be onto something.
The study, published in the journal Frontiers in Nutrition, found that the popular drink could boost your body's immune system by benefiting your gut.
From polyphenols to fibre, several ingredients in the golden beverage could induce the growth of beneficial gut bacteria.
Interestingly, the alcoholic drink was found to be even more effective than probiotics when drunk in moderation.
Probiotics are thought to help restore a healthy gut microbiome and fight off any remaining bad bacteria.
Hidden inside the likes of kombucha, kimchi, yoghurt and more, the microorganisms have seen a recent boom in popularity.
The researchers penned: “As a long-established fermented beverage, beer is rich in many essential amino acids, vitamins, trace elements, and bioactive substances that are involved in the regulation of many human physiological functions.
“The polyphenols in the malt and hops of beer are also important active compounds that interact in both directions with the gut microbiome.
“Due to the conversion of beer substrates, the formation of bioactive end products, and the presence of microorganisms, some of its components exert 'similar' or even greater effects than probiotics.”
The research team agreed that moderate beer consumption has a beneficial effect on the immune system compared to alcohol abuse or abstinence.
“When alcohol consumption is controlled within safe limits, the combined effects of alcohol and other component metabolism on the intestinal flora deserve a more comprehensive analysis,” they said.
However, the researchers also warned the benefits are only linked to moderate drinking.
www.express.co.uk
While research has long indicated that alcohol can be bad news for your health, new research now suggests that occasional beer drinkers could be onto something.
The study, published in the journal Frontiers in Nutrition, found that the popular drink could boost your body's immune system by benefiting your gut.
From polyphenols to fibre, several ingredients in the golden beverage could induce the growth of beneficial gut bacteria.
Interestingly, the alcoholic drink was found to be even more effective than probiotics when drunk in moderation.
Probiotics are thought to help restore a healthy gut microbiome and fight off any remaining bad bacteria.
Hidden inside the likes of kombucha, kimchi, yoghurt and more, the microorganisms have seen a recent boom in popularity.
The researchers penned: “As a long-established fermented beverage, beer is rich in many essential amino acids, vitamins, trace elements, and bioactive substances that are involved in the regulation of many human physiological functions.
“The polyphenols in the malt and hops of beer are also important active compounds that interact in both directions with the gut microbiome.
“Due to the conversion of beer substrates, the formation of bioactive end products, and the presence of microorganisms, some of its components exert 'similar' or even greater effects than probiotics.”
The research team agreed that moderate beer consumption has a beneficial effect on the immune system compared to alcohol abuse or abstinence.
“When alcohol consumption is controlled within safe limits, the combined effects of alcohol and other component metabolism on the intestinal flora deserve a more comprehensive analysis,” they said.
However, the researchers also warned the benefits are only linked to moderate drinking.
Drinking beer could boost your gut health, new study suggests
Drinking beer in moderation could boost your gut health and immune system, new research suggests.
