Beer is not usually touted as a heath beverage but new research from the University of California suggests that the silicone in beer may be good for bone health. Researchers found that dietary silicone, found in beer, may help to prevent bone thinning and osteoporosis.
According to the National Institution of Health (NIH), dietary silicon may be important for the growth and development of connective tissue and bone. Beer appears to be a major contributor to silicone intake. While it may not be advisable for non-drinkers to start drinking for the silicone, the study suggests that moderate beer drinking may help the bones.
Osteoporosis is a thinning of the bones that ofter occurs with age,
particularly in women. People with osteoporosis often do not realize
they are at risk because the disease has no symptoms in its early
stages. Once the bone tinning is advanced bones can break easily can
even cause people to end up crippled.
"The factors in brewing that influence silicon levels in beer have not been extensively studied" said Charles Bamforth, lead author of the study. "We have examined a wide range of beer styles for their silicon content and have also studied the impact of raw materials and the brewing process on the quantities of silicon that enter wort and beer."
"Beers containing high levels of malted barley and hops are richest in silicon," concludes Dr. Bamforth. "Wheat contains less silicon than barley because it is the husk of the barley that is rich in this element. While most of the silicon remains in the husk during brewing, significant quantities of silicon nonetheless are extracted into wort and much of this survives into beer."
Researchers studied the beer production process and tested 100 commercial beers. The highest amount of silicone was found in light colored beers. So if you are choosing a beer with bone health in mind, a pale beer is preferable to dark beers.
Details of this study are available in the February issue of the Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, published by Wiley-Blackwell on behalf of the Society of Chemical Industry.
Source: EurekAlert:Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture: Research reveals link between berr and bone health 2-Feb-2010.
Written by Christine Hyholm
HULIQ.com
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