Diet, Exercise... Beer?

Is beer the new health food? From Aspirin to Cheerios, Americans have long sought foods and products that will help reduce their risk of heart disease, the number one killer in the United States. Maintaining a healthy, (if bland) diet and exercise are the most common strategies for heart conscious individuals. Increasingly, however, medical researchers are finding that stopping in at your favorite pub a couple days each week is healthier for you than driving on by.

In studies around the world, from Connecticut to Germany to Israel, researches are confirming the incredulous truth that one of the world’s most ancient and revered practices, brewing, is also one of the healthiest.

The secret? It’s in the yeast. This time-honored ingredient in the brewing of beer contains large amounts of the B-vitamins that help to prevent the build up of chemicals such as homocysteine which are linked with the increased risk of heart failure. Even better, for those of you who are engaged in battle with your cholesterol levels, beer fights for you on two fronts. Not only does it decrease the amount of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) in your blood, (also known as “bad cholesterol), but it also serves to increase the amount of high-density lipoprotein (HDL), (known as “good cholesterol”), which helps to prevent blood clots and whisks the bad cholesterol from your system.

If that isn’t enough to get you to crack open a bottle of your favorite brew, consider this. Research in recent years has shown that the blood-thinning characteristics of beer are good for your head as well. Now doctors are finding that drinking beer contributes to improved blood circulation in the brain and protects against “silent” strokes caused by mini blood clots.

Need more? How about beer as a study tool? Researchers have found a possible link between alcohol and the increased activity of the hippocampus, an area of the brain that facilitates learning and memory. Studies of older adults, (aged 60 years and older), showed that those who drank one to two beers per day scored higher on mental skills tests than those who drank less than one or more than two drinks per day.

That last study, which showed that drinking some alcohol was more beneficial than drinking too little or too much, raises the important question of how much beer or alcohol is good for you.

The key to all this research is moderation. All of the studies referenced here carried the warning of moderate consumption. Though definitions varied, researchers generally limited their test groups, (those who were drinking the alcohol), to not more than 2 drinks per day.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services define moderate drinking as not more than two drinks per day for men and no more than one drink per day for women. A standard drink is defined as 12 grams of alcohol, equivalent to one 12-oz. can or bottle of beer, one 5-oz. glass of wine or 1.5-oz. of 80-proof distilled spirits.

So raise a glass to your heart and drink deep knowing that you’re doing yourself a favor, (one that tastes a lot better than Cheerios).

-- Eric Pierce

Related Links:

Beer Bender...What's the Damage?

Babysteps to Health

Slow and steady wins the race. When you slowly take off the pounds and stick to an exercise program, you are more likely to keep those pounds from coming back. Look at every pound lost as a small victory in the road to health.
Don't set yourself up for failure; set goals that are attainable. Lofty goals are hard to meet and only leave you frustrated.
Make it easier on yourself--use half the cream and sugar in your coffee. Make small changes that add up to a big defecit but don't leave you feeling like your giving up everything you love.
Reward your success--the right way. We'd all like to celebrate that 5 pound milestone with a hunk of chocolate cake, but consider treating yourself in a different way. Why take five steps forward and then two back?
Keep it interesting. Variety is the spice of life; try new things and new foods. If you eat yourself into boredom, you won't be able to stick to a diet or workout routine.
Small changes for big results. Love eggs? Ditch the yolks. Chicken? Lose the skin and try baking or grilling instead of frying. It all adds up over time.
Keep track of activity. Keeping a log or journal of your workouts not only keeps you honest, it allows you to take a look back and see just how far you've come.
If you must eat sweets, eat dark chocolate because it has many health benefits
Stay away from the scale. When your clothes get looser and your measuments shrink should be proof enough that you are on the right track. Numbers on a scale are just overrated.

When is a Fad Diet a Bad Diet?

Time for a reality check: there is no magic bullet, instant cure, or easy way out. Losing weight is not easy, and many fad diets fall easily into the bad diet category. Be wary of any diet or weight-loss program that:

Promises rapid weight loss. Any weight loss of more than 2 pounds per week is too rapid, unsafe, and is unlikely to stay off.
Promises easy weight loss without exercise or that weight loss can be maintained without lifestyle changes.
Uses miracle or magical foods. No food can melt away fat or undo years of overeating and lack of exercise.
It's basis lies in consuming only one (or a limited number) of foods, encourages consuming certain foods in mass quantities, or calls for specific food combinations.
Relies on undocumented case histories. Testimonials and anecdotes mean nothing if there is no scientific data to back up claims.
Promotes unproven or inauthentic weightloss aids such as herbs, supplements, body wraps, pills, cellulite creams, etc.
Sound too good to be true. Most of the time it's because they are.

Splurge vs. Smart: Dining Out Without Breaking Your Diet

High-calorie, fat-laden, large portioned restaurant meals don't have to be a diet breaker. With some careful reading, you too can enjoy a night out without the guilt of a caloric splurge.

When dining American, be wary of words like buttery, fried, pan-fried, crispy, au gratin, creamed, sauteed, and hollandaise. Look for items that are described as steamed, broiled, grilled, roasted and poached to help cut back on calories and fat.

In the mood for a little Italiano? Sauces created from cream or cheese, such as Alfredo sauce, quickly pack in the fat. Go for sauces that are tomato based, and take half home with you--almost all pasta dishes weigh it at well over a serving or two.

Craving some late-night Chinese? Stay clear of batter-coated, breaded, or deep-fried foods and go for the stir-fry. Plain rice is better than fried, and go easy on the sauces; soy sauce and other Asian sauces tend to have high sodium content.