‘Forbidden’ drink aids a healthy gut?

I’m always telling you about the importance of a healthy gut.

A healthy gut microbiome contains healthy bacteria and immune cells that fight off infectious agents like bacteria and viruses.

It also communicates with the brain through nerves and hormones which helps maintain general health and well-being.

Now, researchers have identified another key to a healthy gut.

It all links back to a popular “forbidden” drink…

Raise your glass for a toast

According to researchers at NOVA University in Lisbon, beer boosts healthy bacteria in the gut that helps fend off diseases and infections.

Now, while I don’t personally recommend beer, may folks enjoy indulging in the beverage.

For those that do, the researchers found that these benefits come from the compounds found in barley, hops, and yeast.

(Plus, even if you’re not a beer drinker, researchers say non-alcoholic beer appears to have the same protective benefits.)

For the study, 19 men between the ages of 23 and 58 consumed one beer with dinner each night for four weeks.

They found improvements in intestinal health in those who consumed both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beer.

What’s more, there was no difference in the participants’ weight, body mass index (BMI), and blood markers for heart health.

Keys to a healthy gut  

While, as I mentioned, I don’t typically recommend beer due to its sugar content,

I couldn’t overlook these findings. (Especially since many of you may enjoy a cold beer during the summer months.)

But this isn’t a green light to relive your college glory days.

Heavy drinking comes with many well-documented risks. That’s why, as always, moderation is key.

I personally believe stopping at two drinks is smart for most people. (If you’re ever feeling “buzzed,” that means you’ve had more than enough.)

Of course, I also don’t recommend you turn solely to alcohol for better gut health. My top recommendation here will always be taking a high-quality probiotic every day. (Even adopting a pet might help, as I discussed earlier this week!)

Just remember, when it comes to probiotics, more isn’t nec­essarily better. The key is diversity of strains rather than quantity.

A good probiotic should also have its own food supply (known as prebiotics) and bacteriocins (or postbiotics) to kill off the bad bugs in your gut.

I’ve always recommended Dr. Ohirra’s probiotics. It features a dozen different strains of friendly flora in just one capsule daily—along with prebiotics, probiotics, and postbiotics.

It’s the only live strain on the market that doesn’t need refrigeration, to boot. I generally recommend taking it twice a day with water on an empty stomach.

For more on how to choose a high-quality probiotic, take a look at my April 2016 Logical Health Alternatives newsletter (“My three-step plan to ensure you’re taking the highest-quality, most effective probiotic”). Not a subscriber? No problem. Click here to become one today!

Until next week,

Dr. Fred

Source:

“Toast to this: A daily glass of beer could make your gut healthier.” Study Finds, 06/15/2022. (studyfinds.org/beer-gut-health/)