Beer may make your bones stronger. AP Photo/Paul Sakuma
Whether you prefer the taste of a hoppy malted brew or an iced fizzy soda, recent research has presented some sobering (and surprising) information.
First, the good news. Beer, enjoyed in moderation -- one or two per day -- may be good for your bones. Researchers at the University of California, Davis found that some beers contain significant amounts of dietary silicon, a key ingredient for bone health.
Beers containing high levels of malted barley and hops contained the most silicon. And the type of silicon found in beer is readily available for use in the body, unlike that found in some foods. The detailed findings of this research are available in the February issue of the Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture.
These findings, in addition to past research, suggest that moderate beer consumption may help combat osteoporosis, a degenerative bone condition. Of course, this is not to say that you should go hog wild drinking beer. Drink more than one or two per day and the benefits go out the window. But it does mean it's okay enjoy a beer or two.
Fortunately, the Oklahoma City area has many places providing great beer, whether it's one of dozens on draft or a homemade microbrew, such as
- TapWerks Ale House & Cafe and the Bricktown Brewery, both in Bricktown;
- Coach's Brewhouse in Norman; and
- the Belle Isle Brewery and BJ's Brewhouse in northern OKC. (BJ's is also in Norman.)
Now the bad news. Just two regular sodas per day may increase a person's risk for pancreatic cancer. Those are the results of a 14-year health study recently published in the journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention.
Of the volunteers in the study, those who drank two or more soft drinks per week had an 87 percent higher risk of developing the disease. People who drank fruit juice did not have the same risk.
The study's authors conceded that people who regularly drank soda often had other unhealthy habits, which might also contribute to risk. But the high sugar levels in soft drinks may increase the level of insulin (created in the pancreas) in the body, which could contribute to pancreatic cancer cell growth.
Further, some researchers believe high sugar intake in general may fuel other forms of cancer, although evidence has been contradictory. With their high sugar content, regular soft drinks have no nutritional value.
For more info: Read the articles on beer and sugary drinks.
To read more OKC Healthy Living articles, including Fiber is your friend for weight loss and beyond, click here.
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