For years, we have been hearing about the potential health benefits of wine. When it comes to beer, however, we have heard less about its better-for-you aspects and more about such things as the notorious “beer belly.”

This has left many customers wondering: if enjoyed responsibly, can beer really be healthy choice? It turns out the answer is “yes.” Studies show there may actually be some health benefits to this beloved beverage.

Beer belly: Separating fact from fiction

The popular belief that beer is fattening may be the cause of some of the confusion. The so-called “beer belly” is most often a sign of over-consumption over a long period of time. As there is no actual fat in beer, excess fat storage around the waistline is likely the result of excess consumption of the carbohydrates contained in beer, along with accompanying food. On average, a 12 ounce / 341 mL beer contains only 150 calories, a number significantly less than the calories found in a similarly sized glass of two-per-cent milk or apple juice.

One of the reasons we gain weight or body mass when consuming beer is that we generally eat when we drink it. If you add up the calories provided by tasty treats such as wings, pizza and nachos, and consider that they are most often consumed later in the day, you can easily see how simple it is to gain weight. Our bodies naturally slow down the process of metabolizing calories in the evening.

Another reason for weight gain comes from Dr. David Williams at the University of Wales. He believes that beer acts as an appetite stimulant but the alcohol in beer confuses the stomach, making it very difficult for the stomach to realize when it is full.

Cheers to health

In 2004, the University of Western Ontario published a study showing the benefits of beer. Dr. John Trevithick found that beer has antioxidant properties due to the presence of polyphenols  (polyphenols come from darker malts and hops). Antioxidants can help protect against the onset of many age- and lifestyle-related diseases such as cancer, diabetes, heart disease and cataracts.

A glass of beer can also aid in lubricating the blood and increasing circulation, decreasing the risk of blood clotting, according to Dr. W. Gifford-Jones. Beer is also thought to increase the levels of high-density lipoproteins (good cholesterol), which clear arteries of bad cholesterol. In addition, the alcohol content of beer lowers the level of fibrinogen (a small particle in blood involved in clotting). The lower level of fibrinogen, the lower the chance of blood clots.