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Nutrition experts highlight health benefits of beer

HEALTH and nutrition experts drawn from different universities have said that beer has a lot of health benefits if consumed moderately, discrediting the popular and erroneous impression that the product is injurious to human health.

They said this at the first interactive, educative and passion invoking session with a group of journalists, tagged Media Beer Academy, organized by Nigerian Breweries Plc in Ibadan, Oyo State on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, October 23, 24 and 25, 2014.

The three-day seminar was aimed at disabusing the public mind concerning their perception towards beer.

Speaking at the event, Dr. Olu Malomo, Head of Food Technology Department, The Bells University of Technology, Sango-Otta, Ogun State disagreed with the popular notion that the product is mainly for men.

He argued further that the first brewers of beer couldn’t have been women if it’s exclusively a drink for men. “It’s important to note that modern brewing started in monasteries. Beer was a natural drink brewed from natural ingredients.

“Both men and women benefit from moderate consumption of beer whereas African culture frowns at female consumers of the product, which is not supposed to be so.”

Dr. Malomo stressed that the ability of beer to reduce mortality, cardiovascular diseases and diabetes had been clinically proved.

“Beer is beneficial to mankind in many ways. You can’t drink beer and have diabetes, pot belly and all that. It’s a gross misconception that beer is responsible for a growing belly. It’s fat-free. Beer is very good for both men and women, but must be consumed moderately. No wonder Plato said, “It was a wise man who invented beer.”

Beer contains zero fat, zero cholesterol, low calorie content. And it’s a very rich source of Vitamins B and other minerals needed by the body. Beer has anti-oxidant. Also, against the public impression that beer is purely alcohol, it’s interesting to note that it’s made of more than 90 per cent of water. So, it’s consumption is not in anyway injurious to man’s health, instead it enhances it if consumed moderately.”

This submission was corroborated by another speaker, Professor of Human Nutrition from University of Ibadan, Oyo State, Prof. Tola Atinmo, who also stressed that moderate consumption of beer protects the heart an even cures cancer. He also advised that drinking of beer should go along with eating.

“One of the greatest determinants of health is our consumption culture. We should learn to do things in moderation,” he added.

Also at the Eko Hotel & Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos, on Tuesday, November 3, 2014, at the concluding part of the maiden lecture on beer benefits, Prof. Bankole Omotosho of the University of Stellenbosch, South Africa said beer could prevent diabetes, reduce stomach ulcer and cholesterol level when it’s consumed in moderation.

Omotosho, however, regretted that religion and wrong perception by the public had prevented many people from the medical value in beer consumption.

The university don, therefore, warned against its abuse, advising men to restrict themselves to one or two bottles while the female folks were advised to drink less due to their slower alcohol absorption rate.

“To drink moderately is to drink within the limit set by your health, society and family obligations. Nobody wants to be a nuisance to the society.

“Beer couldn’t have had negative effects when its top four ingredients barley, hops, yeast and water have enormous health advantages,” he concluded.

 

– TADE ASIFAT

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