In news anyone could have told you, it turns out having a few beers is good for you mentally, physically and socially.
Researchers at the University of Murcia in Spain looked at previous alcohol-based studies and found that people who enjoy a non-copious amount of beersies tend to feel better than those that don’t.
“Compared to abstainers, occasional and moderate beer drinkers were associated with better mental and self-perceived health and social support, and were less likely to report mild or severe physical limitations,” they said.
“In contrast, former drinkers were associated with worse indicators of self-perceived health, physical health, mental health, and social support than abstainers.”
Their findings push back on the idea that “the only safe amount of alcohol is zero”. Beer is a low-alcohol beverage (tending to be around 5%) and actually improves the body in a range of areas such as the immune system, cardiovascular system, and the nervous system.
“The health effects of moderate alcohol consumption have been attributed to changes in blood lipid profiles, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and even anti-cancer effects on immune system function,” the study states.
“In addition to these alcohol-related aspects, beer also has its own specific non-alcoholic components, including minerals and vitamins with antioxidant, anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, and anti-viral properties.”
Catching up with your mates is always a great time. As it turns out, science agrees. The benefits of hanging around your friends, drinking beers and chatting shit, has loads of benefits.
“Social deprivation may be associated with harmful lifestyle behaviours and, vice versa, strong social networks, both in quantity and quality, may favour less harmful habits, such as moderate alcohol consumption."
“Alcohol consumption, and especially beer consumption, involves a large social context within meals and a more moderate intake. This could be beneficial not only for mental health but also for physical and emotional health, going some way to explaining the possible health effects of alcohol consumption in people over 40 (in whom social isolation is more prevalent)."
Again, this is about drinking in moderation. So go out and enjoy some beersies with some mates, as long as it’s just a few, you’re doing yourself a huge favour.
