Beer Belly

EDINBURGH, Scotland - Beer-bellied pint quaffers throughout Britain are toasting a pair of Welsh chemists after the team shattered the age old myth that beer makes you fat.

Results of the research reveal that beer might well be classified as health food because it is devoid of fat, teaming with vitamins and protein, and improves blood circulation. The study, conducted by two scientists in the department of chemistry at the University of Wales, was published in Chemistry magazine.

But the scientists can explain the beer belly phenomenon. Beer bellies are caused not by beer itself but "probably result from the effects of alcohol as an appetite stimulant." The beer belly, they maintain, does not exist - it is simply the product of overeating.

"It is past time to dispel some of the myths about beer," David W. and Jeremy P. say. "When used as part of a balanced diet, beer is beneficial to human health."

Describing beer as a complete food, they contend that beer offers many healthful benefits including dietary fiber; carbohydrates, which are a major source of energy; and iso-a-acid compounds, which have recently been linked to preventing osteoporosis in the elderly. Additionally, beer is low in sodium.

Source: Southern Draft Brew News: October/November '97