Research adds weight to the beer drinker's diet

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BEER has been unfairly blamed for increasing the girth of generations of drinkers, an expert in analytical chemistry claims.

The merits of beer have been missed because of its undeserved association with large, pot-bellied men propping up bars. A pint a day could even be the basis of a weight-loss diet, Professor David Williams of the University of Wales, Cardiff, says.

Beer is a "complete food" and its health benefits outweigh its dangers, he says. All the evidence was that those who drink moderate amounts live longer.

The large abdomens developed by some heavy drinkers were not attributable to beer itself but reflected the effect of alcohol as an appetite stimulant and as an anaesthetic. "Alcohol numbs your stomach, so you can't always tell when it is full," Professor Williams says.

For most people even the effect of the appetite stimulus was offset by the carbon dioxide in beer, which encourages drinkers to take small quantities of food with pauses in between. Carbonated drinks also aid digestion by promoting acid production in the stomach and stimulating blood flow.

Beer contains no fat and no sugar, but worthwhile amounts of carbohydrate, protein and vitamins. It is 93 per cent water, providing an important source of the four pints of water a day required by the average person. It is healthier than soft drinks because it does not rot the teeth and contains low levels of additives and other contaminants, which are soaked up by the yeast used in fermentation and then discarded.

Writing in Chemistry in Britain, Professor Williams calls for an end to some of the myths surrounding a beverage which people have made and consumed since about 3500 BC. As well as providing the right nutrition, beer has a relaxing effect that helps to reduce stress.

"When used as part of a balanced diet, beer is beneficial for human health and the infrequent mishap resulting from a little over-indulgence is no reason to brand beer as contrary to our well-being."

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