The Natural Choice by HUGHES DESIGN

THE NATURAL CHOICE ISSUE 7

AUTUMN/WINTER 2016

Beer for the way we live today

t’s more than 5 years since the first issue of The Natural Choice newsletter was published – which followed the launch of the landmark report, ‘Beer, the Natural Choice’. To celebrate this, and to explore present day attitudes and understanding of beer in the UK, a new national opinion poll has been commissioned. The results are fascinating and give a fresh insight into consumer habits and perceptions of beer.

In addition, a new report from media health expert,

chosen a low or non-alcoholic beer instead of a regular

Isla Whitcroft, has been published giving an overview of the

beer in the past six months.

latest body of scientific evidence from across the world surrounding the nutritional content of beer. The report

Despite the fact that the majority of us view beer as

also delivers a round-up of the medical research into the

our national alcoholic drink (57%) – with wine running

nutritional and health benefits of beer around the body

a distant second at only 6% and whisky picking up just

including the positive impact of moderate drinking on

3% of the votes – members of the public continue to

the heart, bone health, the brain, stomach, skin, hair, nails

misunderstand the nutritional content of beer. 68%

and hormones.

of British adults mistakenly think that beer is high in sugar, 84% think it’s high in calories and 85% think

SO, HOW DO WE VIEW BEER TODAY?

it’s fattening.

Beer trends are certainly evolving, with the poll showing that Britons are engaging with beer in a variety of different ways, with one third (35%) of British adults saying they have drunk beer instead of wine with a meal, more than one in ten (14%) reporting they have used beer as an ingredient in cooking, over one in ten (11%) matching beer with food and one in ten (10%) saying they have

29 NOV

DIARY DATE:

In an ever-expanding calendar of scientific meetings on moderate alcohol consumption, there is now a new date to add to your editorial diary. The Spanish Brewer’s Association will be hosting its first ever International Beer and Health Symposium at the Ministry of Agriculture in Madrid on 29th November 2016, bringing together European researchers to present the latest scientific findings into potential health benefits of beer. http://beerandhealth.eu/symposium-cics-2016

Beer benefits around the body

THE BR

Study after study has shown, when consumed in moderation, beer and its broad nutritional constituents – ethanol, folic acid, polyphenols (antioxidants), dietary fibres, proteins and amino acids and essential trace elements – somehow combine to provide a wealth of health benefits around the body and protection against a wide range of ailments. Take a tour of our Beer Benefits Around the Body to discover more… THE BRAIN

hormones such as oestrogen5. The study suggests

Several studies have shown that moderate alcohol

that drinking beer can have a protective effect against

consumption in those aged 55 and over may provide

menopausal symptoms such as hot flushes.

protection against dementia or memory loss and one study showed this benefit to be particularly relevant to

THE STOMACH

women .

The Helicobacter pylori bacteria is thought to be

one of main causes of gastric disorders including

THE HEART

stomach ulcers. A German study6 carried out into

Numerous studies continue to show that drinking beer

417 otherwise healthy people found that 17% were

can have a protective effect on the heart and that those

infected with the H. pylori bacteria and it reported

who drink moderately have a much lower chance of dying

that there was a direct and inverse relationship between

from cardiovascular disease than those who don’t drink

the amount of alcohol (beer or wine) drunk and the rate

at all. One study measured the response of the aorta in

of infection. Those who drank more than 75g of alcohol

healthy non-smokers after they had drunk 400 mls of beer

per week had a 66% less risk of being infected than those

and found that beer acutely improved both function and

who abstained. Even those who drank 75g or less per

structure of the aorta and the blood flow and pressure in

week had a 37% less risk.

the lining of blood vessels . 2

BOWELS

BONES

The ethanol and acidity of beer is thought to be the

Beer contains high levels of silicon, a mineral which plays

reason why drinking it has been found to stimulate

a vital role in the growth and maintenance of bones and

bowel movements and prevent constipation.7

joint tissue and protects against osteoporosis. Silicon is not naturally produced by the body but is found in large

DIABETES

quantities in the husk of barley which is used in the

One study found that moderate intake of beer

beer-making process. Beer hops also contain humulone,

resulted in an increase in a protein hormone called

a compound which has been found to reduce the

Adiponectin which is responsible for a number of

reabsorption (breaking down) of bone in the body .

metabolic processes including glucose regulation9

Poor glucose regulation is associated with a higher Researchers in Spain found that women who drink beer regularly and moderately are less likely to suffer from osteoporosis than those who don’t drink at all4.

HORMONES Studies have shown that particular phenols extracted from hops contain properties which can mimic female

risk of Type 2 Diabetes.

BONE

REFERENCES:

RAIN

Alcohol consumption and risk of dementia. Ruitenberg, A.; Van Swieten, J.C.; Witteman, J.C Lancet 2002, 359, 281–286.

Acute effects of beer on endothelial function and hemodynamics: A single-blind, crossover study in healthy volunteers h Kalliopi Karatzi Victoria G. Rontoyanni Athanase D. Protogerou Aggeliki Georgoulia Konstantinos Xenos John Chrysou Petros P. Sfikakis ,Labros S. Sidossis www.nutritionjrnl.com/article/S08999007(13)00108-1/abstract

Bone resorption inhibitors from hop extract. Tobe, H.; Muraki, Y.; Kitamura, K.; Komiyama, O.; Sato, Y.; Nutrition. 2009 Oct;25(10):057-63. doi: 10.1016/j.nut.2009.02.007. Epub 2009 Jun 13.

Effect of beer drinking on ultrasound bone mass in women.Pedrera-Zamorano JD, LavadoGarcia JM, Roncero-Martin R, CalderonGarcia JF, Rodriguez-Dominguez T, Canal-Macias ML. Nutrition. 2009 Oct;25(10):057-63. doi: 10.1016/j.nut.2009.02.007. Epub 2009 Jun 13

Xanthohumol and related prenylflavonoids from hops and beer: To your good health. Stevens, J.F.; Page, J.E. Phytochemistry 2004, 65, 1317–1330.

Inverse graded relation between alcohol consumption and active infection with Helicobacter plyori. Brenner, H.; Rothenbache, D.; Bode, G.; Adler, G. American Journal of Epidemiology 1999, 149, 571–576.

Alcohol and the elderly. Dufour, M.C.; Archer, L.; Gordis, E Clinical in Geriatric Medicine 1992, 8, 127–141.

The silicon content of beer and its bioavailability in healthy volunteers. Sripanyakorn S, Jugdaohsingh R, Elliot H, et al. Br J Nutr 2004;91:403-9

Effect of Drinking on Adiponectin in Healthy Men and Women Armin Imhof, MD, Ines Plamper, MS, Steffen Maier, MS, Gerlinde Trischler and Wolfgang Koenig, MD Journal of the American Diabetes Association.

SKIN, HAIR AND NAILS Beer contains high levels of silicon, a mineral thought to play a vital part in the synthesis of collagen, a protein vital for the healthy growth and structure of skin, nails and hair cells. The silicon in beer is easily absorbed (highly bioavailable8) into the body making beer a very effective source of this essential mineral.

Silicon

HEART

28.0855 2

[Ne]3s 3p 8.1517

BOWEL & STOMACH

Latest research round-up Moderation not appreciably associated with cancer risks – new findings advise nursing practice A study published in the journal, Seminars On Oncology Nursing, in July 2016 reviewed the epidemiologic evidence of alcohol as a risk factor for many types of cancers and concluded that light to moderate drinking (up to one drink per day for women and up to two drinks per day for men) is not significantly associated with cancer risk and may be beneficial for cardiovascular disease. The researchers concluded that for the healthy population and cancer survivors, those already drinking in moderation may continue to do so. Seminars in Oncology Moderation not appreciably associated with cancer risks – new findings advise nursing practice: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j. soncn.2016.05.012

••• Xanthohumol from beer hops might protect your DNA – first human results Scientists, led by researchers at the Medical University of Vienna, have now cautiously confirmed for the first time that xanthohumol is one of the components in beer hops believed to fight cell-damaging free radicals and may have protective effects on the body. The researchers examined whether blood or urine values that identify oxidative stress and inflammation changed when

participants did and didn’t consume xanthohumol (in a beverage or a capsule). In addition, researchers extracted cells (lymphocytes) from the blood to see if DNA was damaged by oxidative stress. While the scientists have concluded xanthohumol can protect DNA from oxidative stress, more research is needed. Xanthohumol from beer hops might protect your DNA – first human results: http://dx.doi.org/10.1002 mnfr.201500355

maintain electrolyte before exercise.

homeostasis

Is non-alcoholic beer an effective pre-exercise hydration fluid – study test theory on footballers: http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/nu8060345

••• Link between alcohol consumption with the onset of the menopause Published in the Human Reproduction Update (June 2016), researchers

•••

set out to examine the available

Is non-alcoholic beer an effective pre-exercise hydration fluid – study tests theory on footballers

evidence around the hypothesis

Fluid and electrolyte status have a significant impact on physical performance and health. Pre-exercise recommendations cite the possibility of consuming beverages with high amounts of sodium. In this sense, non-alcoholic beer can be considered an effective pre-exercise hydration fluid. In an article published in the journal, Nutrients, scientists carried out a double blind randomised study aimed at comparing the effect of beer, non-alcoholic beer and water before exercise on fluid and electrolyte homeostasis. Seven male football players performed 45 minutes of treadmill running at 65% of the maximal heart rate, 45 minutes after ingesting 0.7 L of water, beer or non-alcoholic beer. Collectively, the results suggest that non-alcoholic beer before exercise could help

a total of 1,193 references reviewed

that alcohol intake affects the age at which natural menopause occurs. This systematic review (considering for eligibility, with 22 articles based on 20 unique studies included in the final analysis) aimed to quantify the association between all levels of alcohol consumption and menopause onset. Analysis of the levels of alcohol consumed showed that low and moderate alcohol intake (more than one drink per week and three or fewer drinks) were associated with later menopause onset compared to non-drinkers.

Further studies

are needed to corroborate these findings, clarify the level of alcohol intake at which menopause is delayed and identify the possible mechanisms behind this link. Link between alcohol consumption with the onset of the menopause: http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/humupd/ dmw013

SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH HUB ON BEER AND HEALTH SCIENTIFIC REVIEW

BEER AND HEALTH MODERATE CONSUMPTION AS PART OF A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE 5TH EDITION

Beer and Health Moderate consumption as part of a healthy lifestyle

Beer and Health (www.beerandhealth.eu) is a revamped, online resource that has been developed by an independent committee of scientific experts to explore the links between moderate beer consumption and health. The website presents a wealth of information and infographics that explore these links based on digests of scientific literature, prepared and validated by independent alcohol research experts. Accompanying the website is a new booklet Beer and Health: Moderate consumption as part of a healthy lifestyle. This independently compiled and edited document consists of a digest of what the latest science says about moderate beer consumption and its effects on health. The revamped website will be also updated regularly with new research findings.