-
Source: ONE News
Beer drinkers now have a good excuse to order another round -
the brew may help keep bones strong, a study has found.
Researchers from the Department of Food Science & Technology at
the University of California, have found beer is a rich source of
silicon and may help prevent osteoporosis, as dietary silicon is a
key ingredient for increasing bone mineral density.
These were the findings after researchers tested 100 commercial
beers for silicon content and categorized the data according to
beer style and source.
Previous research has suggested beer contained silicon but little
was known about how silicon levels varied with the different types
of beer and malting processes.
"We have examined a wide range of beer styles for their silicon
content and have also studied the impact of raw materials and the
brewing process on the quantities of silicon that enter wort and
beer," researcher Charles Bamforth said in a statement.
The study, published in the Journal of the Science of Food and
Agriculture, found the beers' silicon content ranged from 6.4
milligrams per litre to 56.5 mg per litre.
The average person's silicon intake each day is between 20 and
50 mgs.
The researchers found there was little change in the silicon
content of barley during the malting process as most of the silicon
in barley is in the husk, which is not affected greatly during
malting.
They found pale ales showed the highest silicon content while
non-alcoholic beers, light lagers and wheat beers had the least
silicon.
"Beers containing high levels of malted barley and hops are richest
in silicon," said Bamforth.
"Wheat contains less silicon than barley because it is the husk of
the barley that is rich in this element."
But Bamforth told reporters that the results shouldn't be taken too
serious.
The study examined the beers but it did not look at bone mineral
density or analyze patients' data.
"I would first consider flavour and whether you like it or not," he
told science and technology magazine Discover.
"Choose the beer you enjoy, for goodness sake."
