Surprising Health Benefits of Beer
Have you heard before that drinking alcohol is good for you?
How much alcohol do you drink?
Beer drinkers be happy: Your favorite drink may be healthier than you think.
For years, wine drinkers have indulged without feeling guilty, happy in the news that red wine can help protect against heart disease. Recent research shows that beer can also be good for what can give health problems, it can reduce the risk of broken bones and help ward off diabetes and mental problems. It can even increase how long you live, a large study suggests.
However, the key to tapping into beer’s benefits is moderation, meaning just one 350ml beer per day for women and two for men. Heavy drinking increases the threat of liver damage, some cancers, and heart problems. Bingeing on beer can also make you fat, since a 350ml beer has about 150 calories.
Why stronger bones? Beer contains high levels of silicon, which helps with bone health. In a 2009 study at Tufts University and other centers, older men and women who swigged one or two drinks daily had stronger bones, with the greatest benefits found in those who liked beer or wine more. However, having more than two drinks was found to increase risk of fractures (small breaks in bones).
A stronger heart: A 2011 analysis of 16 earlier studies involving more than 200,000 people, done by researchers at Italy’s Fondazion di Ricerca e Cura, found a 31 percent reduced risk of heart disease in those who drank about a pint (about 500ml) of beer daily, while risk surged in those who drank higher amounts of alcohol, whether beer, wine, or spirits.
More than 100 studies also show that moderate drinking reduces the risk of heart attacks and dying from (cardiovascular) heart disease by 25 to 40 percent, Harvard reports. A beer or two a day can help raise levels of HDL, the “good” cholesterol that helps keep arteries from getting blocked.
Guessing meaning from context
Try to guess the meaning of the words in bold and match them with their closest meaning from the choices in the right. The answers are below the table.
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Doing a lot of something at one time |
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Do something like it is an addiction, a big pleasure |
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Not doing something too much |
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Like ‘one shot’ drink something all at one time, opposite of ‘sip’ |
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An important part of something |
A=5, B=1, C=8, D=2, E=6, F=3, G=7, H=4
Some example sentences using the new words to help you to better understand their meaning.
1. For me Toblerone chocolate is one of the most indulgent chocolates I’ve eaten and I like to indulge in it.
2. The government has borrowed more money to ward off an economic crisis.
3. One of the key things to learning a new language is learning new words.
4. Ssangyong tapped into the African market with its first development in Tanzania.
5. My doctor said it is okay to drink in moderation, but binge drinking every Weekend night is not healthy.
6. My friend swigged a bottle of Soju in one shot.
7. The price of gold has surged in the past year.
Some discussion questions using the new words to help you better understand the word meaning and how to use them correctly. Try to use the words in your answer.
1. If you binged on alcohol every Friday night, but you wanted to stop, then what do you think is the key to changing your habit?
2. Do you have any indulgent habits? Can you describe them, or someone else’s habits?
3. Do you agree with the reading that beer can ward off diseases? Why or why not?
4. What is the key part of this reading?
5. How hard do you think it is to tap into the Chinese market? You could think of a product or service you know.
6. How can someone who drinks a lot of alcohol moderate their drinking?
7. Why do you think people binge drink?
8. Do you like swigging alcohol? Why or why not?
9. Do you think that if the price of alcohol surged by 50% it would moderate peoples’ drinking?
ECK Education
