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It’s not often {read: never} we talk about alcohol at Virginia Spine Institute, but we had to make an exception for St. Patrick’s Day! Remember the 1920’s Guinness Beer ad that touted “Guinness is Good For You”? It turns out that slogan might have some merit behind it, and as healthcare providers it’s our obligation to provide information that will benefit your body.

5 HEALTH BENEFITS OF GUINNESS BEER

1. HEART HEALTHY

Guinness contains “antioxidant compounds” similar to those found in fruits and vegetables that slow down the deposit of cholesterol on artery walls. This can help reduce blood clots and ultimately the risk of heart attacks.

2. HIGH IRON CONTENT

Guinness has 0.3 milligrams of iron per beer, which is about 3% of an adult’s daily recommendation iron intake. That may not seem like a lot but given that most adults fail to reach the recommended 19 mg/day every little bit helps! Iron is an important component of hemoglobin, the substance in red blood cells that carries oxygen from your lungs to transport it through your body. Guinness was actually once given to post-operative patients and pregnant women for this reason!

3. BETTER BONES

Guinness may promote bone density given the plant hormone phytoestrogen that is found in the beer. This hormone may be the key to building dense bones! In a study of 1,700 women, those that were considered moderate beer drinkers had the highest bone density.

4. BETTER MEMORY

Findings from a new study indicate that mild to moderate alcohol consumption may actually protect against cognitive disorders that come with growing older, like dementia. In a study of 1,200 elderly adults with a variety of age-related mental disorders, those that were mild and moderate drinkers fared the best amongst the group.

Bonus: it was also found that light to moderate consumption lead to less rates of depression and may also help prevent physical disabilities among elderly adults.

5. WEIGHT MANAGEMENT

Research shows that moderate alcohol consumption may have positive results for the waistline. In a study of over 19,000 women over the course of 13 years, the women that drank one or two alcoholic beverages a day were 30% less likely to become obese.

Please note: there’s a common theme among this information – drink MODERATELY. Be responsible and have a great St. Patrick’s Day!