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STEROID
11-25-2011, 12:11 AM
Beer May Boost Bone Health

Ok guys,the next time your wife or girlfriend bitches you out about drinking so much beer,just tell her its for medicinal purposes!

Soluble OSA may be important for the growth and development of bone and connective tissue.

Silicon is present in beer in the soluble form of orthosilicic acid, which yields 50 percent bioavailability, making beer a major contributor to silicon intake in the Western diet. As dietary silicon in the form of soluble OSA may be important for the growth and development of bone and connective tissue, beer may be a significant source of dietary silicon.

Charles Bamforth, from the University of California, Davis, and colleagues studied commercial beer production to determine the relationship between beer production methods and the impact of silicon on the body. They examined a variety of raw-material samples and found little change in the silicon content of barley during the malting process. The majority of the silicon in barley is in the husk, which is not affected greatly during malting. The malts with greater silicon content are pale colored and take less heat stress during the malting process. The darker products, such as the chocolate, roasted barley and black malts, all get substantial roasting and have much lower silicon content than other malts, for reasons that are not yet known.

The hops samples analyzed showed surprisingly high silicon content with as much as four times more than is found in malt. Some studies have suggested that moderate beer drinking may help fight osteoporosis. The finding by these researchers that “beer is a very rich source of silicon” takes on a potential importance for preventative health pending further studies into the underlying mechanisms of the bone-boosting properties of beer.

Casey, T.R., et al. (2010). Silicon in beer and brewing. J Sci Food and Agric. In press.

STEROID
11-25-2011, 12:13 AM
Here's a report from the mayo clinic boasting the benefits of moderate alcohol use disputing some of what is said about how bad it is for you...


Alcohol use: If you drink, keep it moderate

Alcohol use is a slippery slope. Moderate drinking can offer some health benefits. But it's easy to drink too heavily, leading to serious health consequences.

By Mayo Clinic staff (http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/AboutThisSite/AM00057) It sounds like a mixed message: Drinking alcohol may offer some health benefits, especially for your heart. On the other hand, alcohol may increase your risk of health problems and damage your heart.
So which is it? When it comes to drinking alcohol, the key is doing so only in moderation. Certainly, you don't have to drink any alcohol, and if you currently don't drink, don't start drinking for the possible health benefits. In some cases, it's safest to avoid alcohol entirely — the possible benefits don't outweigh the risks.
Here's a closer look at the connection between alcohol and your health.
Health benefits of moderate alcohol use

Moderate alcohol consumption may provide some health benefits. It may:


Reduce your risk of developing heart disease
Reduce your risk of dying of a heart attack
Possibly reduce your risk of strokes, particularly ischemic strokes
Lower your risk of gallstones
Possibly reduce your risk of diabetes

Even so, the evidence about the possible health benefits of alcohol isn't certain, and alcohol may not benefit everyone who drinks.
Moderate alcohol use may be of most benefit only if you're an older adult or if you have existing risk factors for heart disease, such as high cholesterol. If you're a middle-aged or younger adult, some evidence shows that even moderate alcohol use may cause more harm than good. In fact, if you're a woman and drink alcohol, talk to your doctor about taking supplemental folate to help reduce the risk of breast cancer associated with alcohol use. You can take other steps to benefit your cardiovascular health besides drinking — eating a healthy diet and exercising, for example.
Guidelines for moderate alcohol use

The 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend that if you choose to drink alcohol you do so only in moderation — up to one drink a day for women or two drinks a day for men.
Examples of one drink include:


Beer: 12 fluid ounces (355 milliliters)
Wine: 5 fluid ounces (148 milliliters)
Distilled spirits (80 proof): 1.5 fluid ounces (44 milliliters)


When to avoid alcohol use

Keep in mind that moderate use of alcohol doesn't mean that using alcohol is risk-free. For example, if you binge drink — such as having four or five drinks in the space of a few hours — you face serious health problems. Likewise if you drink and drive.
Here are other situations in which the risks of alcohol use may outweigh possible health benefits:


You're pregnant or trying to become pregnant
You take medications that can interact with alcohol
You've had a previous hemorrhagic stroke
You've been diagnosed with alcoholism or alcohol abuse
You have liver or pancreatic disease
You have heart failure or you've been told you have a weak heart or dilated cardiomyopathy
You're planning to drive a vehicle or operate machinery

Some situations are less clear-cut. Use alcohol only with great care and after consulting your doctor if:


You have a family history of alcoholism
You take prescription medications for a health problem
You use over-the-counter pain relievers or fever reducers
You have a family history of breast cancer
You have precancerous changes in your esophagus, larynx, pharynx or mouth

Consequences of heavy alcohol use

Although moderate alcohol use may offer some health benefits, heavy drinking — including binge drinking — has no health benefits. Excessive drinking can cause potentially serious health problems, including:


Certain cancers, including breast cancer and cancers of the mouth, pharynx, larynx, esophagus and liver
Pancreatitis
Sudden death if you already have cardiovascular disease
Heart muscle damage (alcoholic cardiomyopathy) leading to heart failure
Stroke
High blood pressure
Cirrhosis of the liver
Suicide
Accidental serious injury or death
Fetal alcohol syndrome and other health problems in an unborn child

Drink alcohol only in moderation — or not at all

The latest dietary guidelines make it clear that no one should begin drinking or drink more frequently on the basis of potential health benefits. So don't feel pressured to drink alcohol. But if you do drink alcohol and you're healthy, there's probably no need to stop as long as you drink responsibly and in moderation.