Lager is good for you because it can boost your gut microbiome, allegedly –

Beer at dinner is really good for you, but make sure you stick with it.

Researchers found that men who drank beer every night had healthier guts.

In theory, it could reduce the risk of diseases such as type 2 diabetes and heart disease.

But the Portuguese study will not rekindle the endless battle over the health benefits of alcohol.

This is because non-alcoholic lagers apparently have the same effect.

Experts from the NOVA University of Lisbon recommended a 0% supply “as there has never been the safest level of alcohol consumption”.

19 healthy men aged 23 to 58 years were asked to drink a 330ml bottle of Super Bock beer with each evening meal for one month.

About half of the beers contained 5.2% alcohol, the rest were non-alcoholic.

However, there was no control group.

The volunteers were told not to change the way they normally eat or drink or exercise during the study.

At the end of the experiment, there was no visible difference in the men’s weight, fat mass, or cholesterol levels.

Analysis of stool samples taken before and after the study showed more bacteria in their gut.

There was a similar increase of 7% in both groups.

The researchers said the study shows that consuming a bottle of beer, regardless of its alcohol content, can be beneficial for men’s gut health.

While the study only looked at beer, all types of beer are expected to have the same effect on the microbiome.

The authors noted that beers with higher amounts of yeast, such as unfiltered beers, may have an even greater effect.

Because beer contains polyphenols, it is thought to improve the microbiome, which is the collection of bacteria and fungi that live within us.

The NHS advises adults to drink no more than 14 units a week: that’s 14 single glasses of spirits or six pints of beer or a half bottle of wine.

These are micronutrients that occur naturally in plants, and beer is the only source of hops polyphenols in the human diet.

Hops are used almost exclusively by the brewing industry to give beers their distinctive aroma and bitterness, especially in Indian pale beers.

It is thought that the polyphenols may reach the stomach where they can help identify which bacteria are growing.

The researchers said: “Reduced bacterial diversity is linked to diabetes and cardiovascular disease.”

But heavy drinking is incredibly dangerous, with research suggesting that just drinking a glass of wine or a glass of beer each night in middle age can age the brain by two years.

Alcohol abuse is associated with various types of cancer, liver disease, pancreatitis, heart failure, and brain damage.

The NHS recommends that adults drink no more than 14 units a week: six pints of beer or a half bottle of wine.

The research was published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry †

DO YOU DRINK TOO MUCH ALCOHOL? 10 QUESTIONS THAT SHOW YOUR RISK

A common screening tool used by healthcare professionals are the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Tests (AUDIT). The 10-question test was developed in collaboration with the World Health Organization and is considered the gold standard for determining if someone has problems with alcohol abuse.

Test reproduced here with permission from WHO.

To complete it, answer each question and write down the corresponding score.

YOUR SCORE:

0-7: You are in the responsible drinking group and have a low risk of alcohol-related problems.

more than 8: Mention harmful or dangerous consumption.

8-15: Medium risk level. If you drink at your current level, you run the risk of developing problems with your health and life in general, such as work and relationships. Consider reducing (see below for tips).

16-19: Increased risk of alcohol complications. It can be difficult to cut on your own at this level as you may be addicted, so you may need the help of a GP and/or counselor.

20 years and older: Possible addiction. Your alcohol consumption is already causing problems and you could very well become addicted. You should definitely consider quitting gradually or at least reducing your alcohol consumption. You should seek professional help to determine the extent of your addiction and the safest way to quit drinking.

Severe addiction may require doctor-assisted abstinence or detoxification in a hospital or specialist clinic. This is because of the possibility of severe alcohol withdrawal symptoms that require specialist treatment within the first 48 hours.