Beer in moderation is 'good for high blood pressure sufferers', say Spanish researchers
Thursday, March 6, 2014 @ 11:02 AM
DRINKING beer could be good for your health – especially if you suffer from high blood pressure, according to Spanish medical investigators.
The Beer and Health Information Centre, working with the Spanish Association for High Blood Pressure and the Spanish League Against Hypertension concluded that the drink can, in moderation, be included as part of a low-salt diet for adults who need to bring their blood pressure down.
Provided it does not suppose any contraindications with hypertension medication – which patients should consult their doctors about – both 'traditional' and alcohol-free beer can actually be good for people with the condition, according to Dr José Antonio García Donaire from the Blood Pressure Unit at Madrid's Hospital Clínico San Carlos.
This is because beer is high in potassium, an essential nutrient for hypertension sufferers, and in the case of women increases 'good' cholesterol, known as HDL-c.
Why this does not have the same effect in men is not yet known, but research by the Spanish team has shown that those who drink beer in moderation – rather than in large quantities – tend to have a lower incidence of Mellitus diabetes and hypertension, have a lower body mass index (BMI, or height-weight ratio), and undertake more physical activity.
Read more at thinkSPAIN.com