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 Thursday noted 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.
He noted that the most amazing beer and health connection is
something called xanthohumol that inhibits cancer-causing enzymes. “I have
always wondered about theFrench. You see, their diet consist of rich, highly
fatty foods, wine and those cigarettes. Yet, their rate of heart disease is
significantly less than the rest of the world. This has been credited to red
wine and the antioxidants it contains, which helps prevent heart attacks.
Interestingly, beer just has as many antioxidants as red wine,” he said.
Duke also added that beer is a lot safer than the local
bottled water. “If you find yourself
someplace where you are advised not to drink the local water, the local beer is
always a safer bet. It is a lot safer than the local bottled water. So just
follow the rules of beer drinking and you will be fine,” he advised.
Managing Director of Nigerian Breweries Plc, Mr.
NicolaasVervelde also stressed that the objective of the Nigerian Beer
Symposium has been to highlight and share contemporary knowledge on the
wonderful product called beer. Despite the very strong ties between beer and
culture, Vervelde emphasized that the wrong use or abuse of beer can indeed
have undesirable consequences.
Also 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.
0 Comments