I’m not a big beer drinker. But I must admit that sometimes there’s nothing more refreshing than an ice-cold beer on a hot summer day.
Besides, as a Marylander, it’s practically a contractual obligation to have a beer with your steamed crabs or crab cakes. They’d kick me out of the club if I didn’t.
So I do indulge in a good lager from time to time.
But it turns out I might want to turn that occasional indulgence into a daily habit. And if you‘re already a beer fan, I’m betting you’ll love today’s news.
It’s time to tell the “don’t drink” nags to take a hike. Because it turns out what many folks call a bad habit is actually great for your gut. And, of course, a happy microbiome means a happy body.
I’ll have more on that beer discovery in just a minute. But first, let’s take a quick look at those belly bugs. And feel free to crack open a cold one while we do.
Maintain good health with a healthy microbiome
Once when I was describing what a microbiome is to a group of folks, I referred to human beings as walking bags of microbes.
It’s a funny image, for sure. But it’s also pretty accurate. After all, we have trillions of the itty-bitty bugs roaming around inside our guts.
But don’t freak out. The majority of those bugs are supposed to be there. In fact, your belly bugs are vital partners in maintaining good health.
And I really do mean partners. Because when your gut flora preserves YOUR health, they’re also assuring their OWN. In other words, if you die, they do too.
So it’s in your gut bug’s own best interests to ensure you stay in tip-top shape. And it’s in your best interest to help keep them healthy too.
And some new research may have just identified a unique and tasty way to do that.
Beer linked to better microbiome diversity
It’s not just having lots of these microorganisms that’s good for your health. Having more types of bacteria is critical too.
In fact, research has shown that folks with a broader variety of gut bacteria also tend to have lower chances of developing chronic diseases such as heart disease and diabetes.
And it turns out that the beer that I mentioned earlier may be able to help with that.
In a new study published in the Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry, researchers report that guys who drank a daily beer had greater diversity in their gut microbes.
For the double-blind study, male volunteers were randomly divided into two groups. They drank either 11 ounces of alcoholic or non-alcoholic lager with dinner for four weeks.
At the end of the trial, both sets of guys had measurable improvements in their microbiome.
They had…
- greater bacterial diversity
- higher levels of fecal alkaline phosphatase
Both changes indicate improvements in the men’s intestinal health. And, of course, that translates into better overall health.
Prior research has connected a healthy microbiome with a reduced risk of diabetes, stroke, and even cancer. And these same bugs have been linked to various benefits, including better mental health, reduced body fat, and a stronger immune system.
Feed your belly bugs for better health
This wasn’t a fluke either. It isn’t the first time we’ve seen a link between beer and a better microbiome.
In a previous cross-over study, men and women who drank non-alcoholic lager for 30 days had significant improvements in the diversity of their gut bacteria.
So if you’re already a beer enthusiast, you can count this as your “excuse” for indulging in a daily dose of your favorite beverage with dinner. (As long as your doctor says it doesn’t interfere with any of your meds, of course.) It will leave you AND your microbiome in a better mood.
But don’t stop there. There are plenty of other ways to boost your belly bugs and supercharge your health. I covered a few of them here in my earlier report on the proper care and feeding of your microbiome.
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