Beer: The Next Cancer Elixir?

October 28, 2008

While we recently learned that Americans are drinking less beer, perhaps they should reconsider.

Recent studies show that xanthohumol, a chemical found in hops, can inhibit enzymes that trigger cancer as well as help detoxify the body of carcinogens.

In addition, other researchers at Rice University are trying to genetically engineer brewing yeast in order to create beer loaded with resveratrol, a cancer-preventing compound.

Perhaps this could help bring back America's beer drinking traditions. Would you drink beer that was genetically engineered if it had potential health benefits?

Source

16 Comments

gmofree 4 years

Nothing genetically engineered has any 'real' health benefits. Where it might help in one way, it will destroy in another. No, I would never drink this stuff.

oxykisses 4 years

i think almost every time of food or drink out there has some sort of benefit for you. The key is to never have to much of anything even if its good for you so im not surprised at what their research found....and im def a beer girl so ill be drinking to that!

ilanac13 4 years

well that's interesting research to think about. we've heard that drinking wine could be good for us for any number of reasons, but it's nice to know that people aren't forgetting about beer and the good things that you could experience from some of the ingredients in it.

futurespeak 4 years

Resveratrol can help you to lead a long and healthy life so says Dr. Oz. Red wine alone does not supply enough resveratrol to achieve the full range of benefits because one glass of red wine has only about 1mg of resveratrol and you need about 250mg/day. You need to take high potency resveratrol supplements to achieve the results documented in scientific studies.Resveratrol Supplements can also help you control your weight naturally by increasing energy, reducing cravings, and limiting your appetite.According to Wikipedia, Consumer Lab, an independent dietary supplement and over the counter products evaluation organization, published a report on 13 November 2007 on the popular resveratrol supplements. The organization reported that there exists a wide range in quality, dose, and price among the 13 resveratrol products evaluated. The actual amount of resveratrol contained in the different brands range from 2.2mg for Revatrol, which claimed to have 400mg of "Red Wine Grape Complex", to 500mg for Biotivia.com Transmax, which is consistent with the amount claimed on the product's label. Prices per 100mg of resveratrol ranged from less than $.30 for products made by Biotivia.com, jarrow, and country life, to a high of $45.27 for the Revatrol brand.

futurespeak 4 years

yaksmilk 4 years

When I first moved to DC I met a spin doctor who claimed he was personally responsible for the whole "red wine 'might' be healthy" story. I asked him if he thought it was true and he shrugged -- not his job to know but it was great for the grape industry and studies can show whatever you want them to. I love beer but remember that beer is just tasty alcohol ... and alcohol is a sneaky bastard. I'd imagine that beer kills more people than it saves in a given year. Last time I let myself drink a beer (or two) every day for a year, I definitely gained 10 pounds.As far as resveratrol, who knows what the hell it does: Red Wine Pills: Buyer Bewarehttp://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=16304978

yaksmilk 4 years

When I first moved to DC I met a spin doctor who claimed he was personally responsible for the whole "red wine 'might' be healthy" story. I asked him if he thought it was true and he shrugged -- not his job to know but it was great for the grape industry and studies can show whatever you want them to. I love beer but remember that beer is just tasty alcohol ... and alcohol is a sneaky bastard. I'd imagine that beer kills more people than it saves in a given year. Last time I let myself drink a beer (or two) every day for a year, I definitely gained 10 pounds. As far as resveratrol, who knows what the hell it does: Red Wine Pills: Buyer Beware http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=16304978