Ages ago, my favorite brewing company had an ad campaign declaring, "Guinness is Good for You." It turns out they were more right back in 1932 than they realized: aside from providing an energy source and direct contact with God, Guinness (and other beer) may have the same antioxidant benefit of red wine.

University of Western Ontario researchers found that beer and wine provide equal increases in plasma antioxidant activity. It is thought that antioxidants may ward off some diseases like heart disease and cancer.

Biochemistry professor John Trevithick, one of the lead researchers of the study said, "We were very surprised one drink of beer or stout contributed an equal amount of antioxidant benefit as wine, especially since red wine contains about 20 times the amount of polyphenols as beer." It seems that the human body actually absorbs about the same amount from the two different beverages, however.

But don't go through that six pack just yet: the point of diminishing return is at three beers. After that, the alcohol content of the blood is sufficient to counteract the antioxidant effect of the polyphenols. (Polyphenols (aka Polyphenolic Flavonoids) are plant pigments that appear to have antioxidant properties in humans.)

---Nick

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