Study shows beer is actually good for your gut health

This is news that will undoubtedly delight beer-lovers! A study conducted by researchers at a prestigious university in China has demonstrated the benefits of beer on the intestinal microbiota. But be warned, before pouncing on your 10th pint, one of the keys is moderation, as with everything involving alcohol.

Beer, a tool for perfect gut health?

It's the kind of information that has all the makings of fake news! And yet the study carried out by researchers at Dalian Medical University proves the following: beer and the well-being of the intestinal flora are not incompatible. The researchers back up their claims by highlighting the effects of the polyphenols contained in beer on the intestinal microbiota. These organic molecules act like probiotics, stimulating the activity of good bacteria, which are beneficial to intestinal comfort and health.

The author of the study explained:

When beer is consumed in moderation, it helps to maintain the mucous membrane of the intestines.

Nevertheless, as they have pointed out several times (and rightly so), moderation is the key. In the case of an alcoholic beverage, consumed in excess, the effects could, on the contrary, prove counter-beneficial. Non-alcoholic or very low-alcohol beers would therefore play a part in this healthy lifestyle.

Read more:Here's why mixing alcohol with Diet Coke gets you drunk faster than regular Coke

Your gut is as important as your brain

The intestine is often nicknamed as our second brain. This is because the complex community of bacteria, and microbes it harbours also have an impact on the functioning of the brain and our mental state. There is a two-way communication between the two. It's the famous intestine-brain axis.

So to combine benefits and pleasure, the best thing you can do is to intelligently moderate your consumption. For the record, beer is one of the oldest drinks in the world. In China, the first traces of beer consumption date back more than 9000 years. And today, after water and tea, it is also the most widely consumed beverage, even ahead of coffee. Cheers!

Read more:How long does it take for alcohol to leave your system?

This article has been translated from Gentside FR.

Sources used:

Dalian Medical University

National Library of Medicine: Beer-gut microbiome alliance: a discussion of beer-mediated immunomodulation via the gut microbiome