Surprising Health Benefits of Drinking Beer

Now you’re probably thinking to yourself, how the heck can beer be good for you? Little do many know that there are many health benefits to enjoying a beer every once in a while. From heart health to wits, here are 10 reasons to have a beer right now.

1. Heart Health
Now wine usually gets all the credit when it comes to boozy ways of cutting back your cardiovascular disease risk, but beer can be just as beneficial. Italian researchers have found that moderate beer drinkers have 42% lower risk of heart disease compared to non-beer drinkers. For maximum benefits, cut yourself off after one pint that contains 5% ABV.

2. Brain power
OKAY, so we all know after like 7 beers there is no such thing as brain power. But drink a couple brews and try to solve a puzzle? You got this. A study of 40 men watched a movie while completing verbal puzzles, and the beer buzzed fam solved the problems a few seconds faster than their sober counterparts. So drink up and let the creativity flow.

3. Prevent Diabetes
So if you can somehow manage to stick to just one or two beers during happy hour, you now have lowered your risk for type two diabetes. Need proof? Dutch researchers analyzed 38,000 male health professionals. They found that the men they studied drank in moderation over the course of four years and were significantly less likely to be diagnosed with type 2 diabetes than their nondrinking friends.

4. Kidney Health
So if you drink a beer daily, you are at a lower risk of passing a kidney stone anytime soon.  Researchers can’t really explain the link between drinking and fewer kidney stones but speculate it has something to do with the frequent bathroom trips that come with having more than a few beers. They also suspect that the hops in beer may be responsible as they help slow the release of calcium from your bones.

5. Workout Recovery
Now this seems a little out of the ordinary. In a study of what’s more hydrating after a workout puts your body temp at about 104 degrees, it was found that students who drank beer instead of water were more hydrated. May I suggest a post workout pint?

6. Confidence Boost
British researchers found that the more drinks people consumed, the more attractive they found themselves. Seems obvious right? In a second study, the same researchers asked participants who had consumed either beer or non-alcoholic beer to give a short speech. When asked to evaluate how good-looking, smart, and funny they felt they were during their speech, it was found that both study groups were self-assured. Meaning that regardless of if you’re actually buzzed or not, the act of drinking real or fake beer gives you an instant confidence boost.

7. Better Vision
Now we all know blurred vision is a side effect of a few too many brews, but what about if you just have a couple? Canadian researchers found that one beer a daily, preferably a lager or a stout, will increase antioxidant activity. This can stop cataracts from forming in the eyes.

8. Lower Blood Pressure
We all know what type of health problems can arise if you suffer from high blood pressure. In a study conducted by Harvard researchers it was found that moderate beer drinkers are less likely to develop high blood pressure.  This was in comparison to those who prefer wine or cocktails. So grab a beer and let it work its magic.

9. Fight Off Infection
According to a study conducted at Oregon Health & Science University having one or two drinks a day could boost your immune system and help fight off infections. They discovered this by vaccinating monkeys against against smallpox and giving some access to booze and others access to sugar water. It was found that those who drank moderately had better responses to the vaccine than those who drank the sugar water.

But the animals that drank heavily—you may now imagine a totally tanked chimp—had less of a response to the vaccine than those who kept their habit under control.

10. Bone Health
Aside from the fact you may fall and brake something while inebriated, a couple of beers a day could strengthen your bones. According to a study at Tufts University guys who drank one to two beers a day had up to 4.5 percent greater bone density than non-drinkers. But be careful, because more than two beers a day was associated with up to 5.2 percent lower density. Another reason to drink in moderation and enjoy the effects of a happy medium.