A good percentage of women drink beer, however many know
their limitations. It is said that about 75% of women over estimate the calorie
content of beer. They believe it is beer that gave their husbands the abdominal
fat “beer belly”, not knowing that it is their over-feeding of the man.
Nutritionists have maintained that Beer does not contain fat and in fact, has
less calories than wine.
A good number of women, who take beer, also drink it at
social occasions. Some prefer it as a shandy with sweeter drinks like soft
drinks or juices. Because of the resultant sweeter taste, they tend to drink
more.
In a society such as ours, there are different perception
about the widely consumed white foamy liquid – beer
While some of this perception might have dated back decades
it doesn’t necessarily make them true, as a matter of fact recent studies from
around the world are presenting arguments to counter these perceptions
For instance, to what extent is beer is responsible for the
‘beer belly’ condition in some men? Research has shown that beer alone cannot
be responsible for this occurrence. ‘Beer belly’ is caused by too many calories
in an individual’s diet (from over-eating, sugary food and beverages etc) and a
sedentary lifestyle.
More calories are ingested than what is burned. The excess
is stored in the body as fat. Fat is stored more in the belly by men, hence the
prevalence of ‘beer belly’ in men.
This explains why women are not associated with the ‘beer
belly’, it’s purely a consequence of fat stored. Women sure do consume the
alcoholic beverage almost as much as some men. Research and studies have shown
that beer is as suitable for women as much as it is for men. Like so many other
alcoholic options, beer if consumed responsibly and in a defined moderation,
then all the health benefits can be gained. Women who consume beer in
moderation, will benefit from the antioxidants present in beer which serves as
protection against many forms of cancer.
For new mothers, research studies by Koletzko and
Lehner (2000) have revealed that moderate beer consumption may help in the
initiation and success of breastfeeding (Pregnant women are advised to stay
away from beer as no safe level has been established them.) It seems that a
component of beer, perhaps a barley polysaccharide, promotes prolactin
secretion.
The authors further suggest that the relaxing effects of
alcohol and hop components might also have a beneficial impact on
lactogenesis-the onset of milk secretion.
Beer has also be proven to enhance a healthy hydration
process, as 92% of beer is made up of water (though you should never substitute
beer for water.), beer aids in stress relief even for women. Research has also
further shown that there is a low risk of kidney stones in beer drinkers.
With all of this benefits and much more, why would any
woman stay away from beer? Although it’s imperative to take beer in moderation
and do so responsibly.
As a rough guide, The World Health Organization suggests
that 60 grams of alcohol per day should be a maximum. For a beer of 5% alcohol
by volume, which equates to approximately 4% alcohol by weight, this means 1.5
litres or 2 bottles. 2-3 units for women a day and 3-4 units for men a day
To encapsulate all of these for us, Stephen Beaumont
was quoted to say “Anyone can drink beer, but it takes intelligence to enjoy
beer”.
Meanwhile, Professor Bartholomew Okolo, a Professor of
Applied Microbiology and former Vice Chancellor of the University of
Nigeria, Nsukka, who spoke on the social and cultural roles of beer, maintained
that alcoholic drinks are a symbolic vehicle for identifying, describing,
constructing and manipulating cultural values and interpersonal relationships.
“In all cultures, different alcoholic beverages are
classified in terms of their social meaning. Every drink therefore connotes a
symbolic meaning and conveys a message. Thus the choice of alcoholic beverage
to be presented and consumed at certain occasions is rarely a matter of
personal preference,” he said.
Former governor of Cross River State, Mr. Donald Duke has
emphasized that beer plays a significant role in the sustenance of good health
and cultural cohesion.
Duke who was the chairman of the 3rd Nigerian Beer Symposium
held in Lagos on Thursdaynoted that not only is beer low in carbohydrates,
it is as all-natural as orange juice and milk. “You see, beer has no need for
preservatives because of the alcohol and hops- both of which are natural
preservatives. The only processing beer undergoes is the same as with bread-it
is cooked and fermented, filtered and packaged,” he said.
The former governor maintained that it is most astounding
that beer has no fat or cholesterol and when taken in moderation, beer can tilt
high- density lipoprotein levels (HDL) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL)
cholesterol rations in the right direction. “HDL are the good cholesterols that
protect your veins while LDL is the bad kind that builds up in your veins. Beer
actually flushes the system and can boost the HDL by up to 4 percent with just
a single beer a day,” the former governor remarked.
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