The latest “news” that beer is good for you has been revealed once again, just in case you’d forgotten. In an article earlier this week, University of Wisconsin researchers have proved that dark beer, not lagers, have a proven effect on reduction of blood clots. In dogs. For some reason this is being treated as news. Every six months or so, someone discovers this and puts out the semi-serious news that beer is “good for my heart”, justifying our drinking habits. Let’s take a closer look, shall we?
Beer, as well as tea, and a billion other fruit and vegetables, contain flavonoids. The beer flavonoids, known as Xanthohumol (a prenylated chalcone), help reduce LDL, the bad cholesterol, and free radicals. Okay, that’s a good thing. But it’s old news. Here’s the current article from the Ireland Independent, stating that dark beer, such as Guinness, is good for you! And here is another article from Science News that says the same thing. The difference between the two? The Science News article is eleven years old.
And what’s the deal with the same players being mentioned every time? The beer that always does the most good? Guinness. And the researchers? University of Wisconsin. Coincidence? I don’t think so. Personally I believe it’s an elaborate hoax concocted by scientists at U of W to get free Guinness for the last eleven years. Which I find extremely cool and applaud them for the scam. Go Badgers!
And here’s another thing that bothers me. The researchers always compare Guiness to domestic lagers and conclude that “dark” beers are better. This is totally erroneous. American mass-produced lagers are run through sterile filters to decrease alcohol content and calories, and consequently dilute flavor and content. The flavonoids that occur in beer come from hops, not malt. The color of the beer is somewhat irrelevant. I would challenge the good doctors at U of W, or the ones getting rats drunk at U of Oregon, to do a comparison of flavonoid levels in a Dogfish Head 90 Minute IPA with Guiness. I believe a good old-fashioned American ass kicking would occur. If hops contain the flavonoids, American beer will rule.
And what’s the deal with getting rats and dogs snockered? When there are probably a lot of volunteers who’d be willing to take a pint or two for the team? It’s not like you’re jacking them up with chemicals. I’ll sign up for my town. We could get thousands of people to volunteer.
Here’s the reality: beer, wine, tea or whatever you choose to consume may or may not help your heart, but it will do very, very little if you sit on your butt and swill liquids. Diet, exercise and genetics determine your health. Beer just makes your life better
