The benefits of beer

In the Middle Ages it was believed that beer helped improve appetite, increase growth, and physical development. The drink was actively used against almost all diseases: exhaustion, asthma, sleep problems, kidney disease, problematic skin. And during the terrible cholera epidemic, it was a preventive drink that killed cholera vibrios. So beer was given even to small children in small quantities.

What are the benefits of beer?

No matter how they think and say that alcohol Drinking is harmful, but beer still has its positive sides. Many are sure that “beer bellies” grow precisely because of the drink, but scientists have proven that even by consuming the drink daily in moderate quantities, you can, on the contrary, lose weight, because beer can replace carbohydrates. And the “bellies” are growing due to the abundance of beer snacks, in which there is no measure.

This drink contains a high content of vitamins B2, B1, PP, C, potassium, iron, copper, phosphorus, zinc, necessary for the normal functioning of the human body. Drinking alcohol in small quantities helps prevent kidney stones. Substances in hops soothe, dull pain and disinfect.

When consuming no more than half a liter of beer per day, the risk of cardiovascular diseases is reduced, and it also restores the gastric mucosa during gastritis and gastric ulcers. Austrian specialists have proven that in the summer heat, cool alcohol can prevent cerebral hemorrhages, as well as heart attack and stroke.

The foamy drink lowers cholesterol and blood clotting. Due to its rich composition, the drink is useful for hypertensive patients and people who limit salt intake. To saturate your body with folic and nicotinic acid, it is enough to drink only half a glass of beer.

Beer contains silicon, which is responsible for the elasticity of joints and bone density. The foamy drink is also used as an ingredient in face and hair masks. Many women use beer as a hair rinse.

The harm of beer

Everything that is written about the benefits of beer only works if one main rule is observed - consumption should be in moderation! If you abuse the drink, then nothing good or useful will happen, quite the contrary. With excessive consumption, you can get cancer, a bunch of ailments and a terrible appearance, for example, a swollen face, a hazy look and a blurry figure.

If you drink beer in moderation, you may experience:

• bowel cancer;
• irritation and poisoning of the mucous membrane;
• decreased appetite;
• feeling unwell;
• headaches;
• alcoholic gastritis;
• stomach ache;
• disruption of the liver and pancreas;
• kidney disorders, renal infarction, hemorrhage;
• decreased immune system;
• arrhythmia;
• high blood pressure;
• coronary heart disease;
• decreased potency;
• disruption of hormones, in men testosterone production decreases;
• addiction and, as a consequence, alcoholism;
• the possibility of breast cancer in women.

It was written above that the foamy drink calms and works as a sleeping pill, but if abused, it becomes addictive, and after a while a person will not be able to fall asleep peacefully or simply calm down without a bottle of beer. This will cause irritability, depression, and hysteria.

Types of beer

The foamy drink is divided into two main types: lager and ale. They differ in the method of fermentation. Ale is made at a temperature of 15-25 degrees, adding top-fermenting yeast; production time is from three weeks to four months. It usually tastes lightly fruity, but also contains a high amount of alcohol.

Lager is considered the most popular type in the world. Production is longer and more complex: the beer wort is boiled, cooled, yeast is added and left to ferment for 7 days at a constant temperature. After the yeast is removed, the drink is distilled for fermentation under pressure. At low temperatures, fermentation and ripening of the drink occurs, from about three weeks to 4-5 months. The drink is filtered and pasteurized for storage in bottles. Most often, the foamy drink is light, less often dark.

Ales include:

• bitter beer Bitter, a dry drink with bitterness of different shades from light to brownish;
• Porter, a strong, dark and dense drink with a strong hop flavor;
• Stout, dark varieties of the drink, containing plain and roasted malt;
• Barley Wine, translated wine made from barley, but despite the name it is still a high-density beer with a high alcohol content, similar in color to pomegranate, taste for wine.

Lager happens:

• Bock, a light- and dark-colored German beer, can be strong;
• Rauch, a drink with a smoky flavor that comes from roasted beechwood malt, an ideal drink for spicy cheese, kebab;
• Draft, unpasteurized draft beer;
• Ice Beer, a light drink that has a peculiarity in its preparation, after boiling it is sharply cooled, removing the ice particles.

Wheat drink can be identified as a separate category. It is known for the fact that the final fermentation occurs in the bottle and the beer is not filtered. Wheat beer is usually a summer drink and is served cool, while strong dark beer can be served warm.

Another type of drink is called Lambic. Produced in Belgium without the use of yeast. For fermentation, unsprouted wheat grains and barley malt are used. A variety of Lambic is Kriek beer, with the addition of cherries or raspberries.

How to choose beer

When choosing a beer, they usually just look at the name, price and grab what’s closest and prettier. But when choosing a foamy drink, you still need to follow some rules. First, inspect the label, reading the country of origin, composition, looking at the bottling date and expiration date. The drink should contain no more than 3-4 ingredients, most often water, hops, yeast and malt, but yeast may not be specified as it is only used at the very beginning. The shelf life should be minimal; this will mean that the beer is of good quality and does not contain additional preservatives or other harmful ingredients.

It is best to purchase a drink made in the near future; it will be much fresher. So the bottles on the shelf may be next to each other, but the date of manufacture is different, so it’s worth paying attention to this little detail. How is beer stored? Beer standing on warm shelves will not last long; it is best to take it from the refrigerator.

In which container to choose – today, in principle, it makes no difference. Previously, it was believed that a dark glass bottle was the best option, because it did not allow sunlight to pass through and the beer did not spoil. Now it is better to purchase green or dark bottles located in the back rows. An aluminum can does not transmit light at all, but reacts sharply to changes in temperature, which does not reflect well on the quality of beer.

When choosing beer in bars or stores with draft drinks, pay attention to how the beer kegs are stored. Ask how often and for how long ago the pipes in the taps were cleaned; in a good way, they must be cleaned daily. Watch how the bartender pours the drink and how he rinses the glasses.

Good beer leaves foam on the glass after drinking, and every sip should leave a foam strip on the walls of the glass. This indicates a high-quality and undiluted product.