Beer: A drink for a healthy brain
This latest medical discovery would have you think twice before calling beer an unhealthy beverage. Here’s why.
From now on, there shall be no more guilt in sipping the world-famous beer-belly-inducing beverage.
Scientists have discovered that a compound found in beers protect brain cells from damage, potentially preventing or slowing down Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and other neurological disorders.
The alcoholic drink owes its sweet flavour to hops, which contain an active compound called xanthohumol. This molecule is loaded with antioxidants, cardiovascular-protecting agents and anticancer properties.
According to the study published in Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, Professor Fang Jianguo and colleagues from Lanzhou University exposed rat neurons to xanthohumol on a petri dish before trying to damage them through oxidative stress. This is the same kind of damage that hinders our brain cells from performing well, in extreme cases leading to the development of certain neurodegenerative disorders. The researchers found that not only did xanthohumol scavenge the damaging molecules, but it also promoted upregulation of certain protective genes, which shield cells from oxidative stress and stress-related diseases such as cancer, neurodegeneration and inflammation.
For the sake of your brain health, hopefull it’s a no-brainer to ask the bartender for a bottle of beer instead of a Mojito!
Natasha Gan
