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The History of Healthy Beer



By: David Van De Walle

Second-year Brewmaster Student

Beer has been produced throughout history, but not for the same reason we produce beer today.  For much of it's early history, beer - or rather a fermented beverage closely resembling beer - has been consumed in large gatherings.  It was not the social aspect that that brought people together for beer, nor was it the large alcohol percentage that enticed them.  It was actually for health reasons that the consumption of beer began.  People found out long ago that when they consumed beer instead of water, they did not get as sick.  They did not understand the reasons why, but they did not question it, and continued the consumption of beer.  Little did they know that the yeast found in the beer out-competed the other harmful bacteria found in the water.  The yeast also increased the ethanol levels, and decreased the pH to levels that are harmful to other organisms.  The act of fermentation caused the harmful water to become safe to drink with the help of our little friends, yeast.

Beer became an essential component of meals due to its safety.  However, the beer at this time did not reach the levels of alcohol that we see now.  Many of the sugars were still left in the beer post-fermentation which helped make beer a healthy meal and snack, especially to those working in the fields.  The high levels of sugars, vitamins and minerals were able to keep manual labourers working throughout the day, and the alcohol didn’t hurt.

Beer nowadays doesn’t quite have the cultural acceptance as it did throughout history.  It is not consumed for the health benefits - even though it should be - but for the high alcohol levels and the effects that arise from that.  When most people think of beer now, they think of people drinking until they pass out, drunken debauchery, and large beer bellies.  They normally do not think about the high levels of antioxidants, silicone or vitamins and minerals found in the beer.  The antioxidants found in beer help to fight free radicals in your body, some of which can be carcinogenic.  The silicone helps your body produce denser bones, which can help elders fight osteoporosis, and help to reduce injuries when they fall.  The vitamins and minerals found in beer help your body perform many everyday functions and perform bodily maintenance.

There are many more health benefits to drinking beer -this is just scratching the surface - showing that beer is more than a way to introduce ethanol into your body.  The way that beer has been marketed really does not help the positive outlook it gets from the community around it.  Most people just focus on the alcohol in the beer and completely disregard the health factors in the beer.  The most important line between beer being healthy or harmful is moderation.  Just like anything in life, if you overindulge, it can be harmful.


Image: Harding, A. [2015] 8 ways beer is good for you [Blog post] Retrieved from: https://www.everydayhealth.com/pictures/ways-beer-good-you/

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