Monday 8 February 2010

D'em Bones!

Well, well, there's been another study that beer in moderation is good for you, and the top news is they have found that beer using quality ingredients, not adjuncts like corn or rice, are the ones that offer the most benefit.

This isn't a surprise to most of us who drink good beer (because when you have to spend an evening on rubbish beer you know all about it in the morning, that's got to be a good clue) but it's always nice to have it validated and it's yet another rallying cry for those who advocate drinking less but better in the face of all the horrendous anti-alcohol lobbying that's been going on recently.

But anyway, that aside, I reckon I could have saved them a whole world of bother as I must be an excellent example of how drinking beer is good for you.

I have to admit that exercise has sadly gone by the wayside in the last few months but the acquisition of a bike and look at a picture in the Publican this week has put new emphasis on my need to lose weight - however, I also went to the quacks the other day and, as they only see me once every other year, he decided I needed things like blood pressure etc checked and everything is spot on! My blood pressure is 120/79 and when I had a cholesterol test done a few months ago it was so low they checked it three times to make sure they weren't getting a faulty reading!

So, by this rationale, I reckon I've got a skeleton like Wolverine - or was it just a shabby excuse for putting a picture of Hugh Jackman on my blog? Personally, it's a win-win!

8 comments:

Cooking Lager said...

I drink gallons of cheap grog and look fitter than Hugh Jackman. It involves going to a gym. Pure cooking lager is a health tonic. I only feel rough on pongy ale.

Melissa Cole said...

ahh, Cooking, I've missed you!

Laurent Mousson said...

IMHO Ron Pattinson nailed it on the head today with a 1914 ad, although unrelated :
http://barclayperkins.blogspot.com/2010/02/let-us-make-you-fat.html

Cooking Lager said...

That's 'cos you've been letting the blogosphere down, treacle. You need to blofg more. Bloggers blog, even if there is nothing to blog about.

if this is the "research"

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/7168666/Beer-boosts-bones-and-fends-off-osteoporosis.html

I see a comparison between barley and wheat, but no mention of maize and rice.

I do notice the lighter roasted malt (lager malt) is the healthiest, though.

Melissa Cole said...

Apparently it's why I don't win awards! That'll also be because I have to work!!

Anyway, there is more to the research than reported in the Telegraph:
"Beers containing high levels of malted barley and hops are richest in silicon," concludes Dr. Bamforth. "Wheat contains less silicon than barley because it is the husk of the barley that is rich in this element. While most of the silicon remains in the husk during brewing, significant quantities of silicon nonetheless are extracted into wort and much of this survives into beer."

It was also found that some light lagers made from grains like corn have the lowest levels of silicon.

Cooking Lager said...

You made the last line up, come on. That's why it's not in quotes.

And even if true, that just means you have to neck more of light lagers to get your daily silcone

Melissa Cole said...

Oi cheeky chops! It's actually included in all the PA reports and comes from the study!

Laurent Mousson said...

Cookie, concentrate on the word HUSK if you can.
Corn has no husk at all. Simple.
As to rice, what breweries use is broken rice, grains that have been broken when polished i.e. no husks either.