Beer is an effective remedy for cold and colds
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
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Winter frosts are already in full swing, so it's time to look for recipes for warming drinks, for example ginger tea, mulled wine and punch, which will help survive the cold and ease the symptoms of a beginning cold. But to the list of useful drinks in winter it is worth adding one more, but quite unexpected, because they like to quench their thirst on hot summer days, but not in cold and frosts.
Japanese scientists have discovered that a favorite beer will help cure cold and colds. Researchers from the Medical University of Sapporo found that one of the main ingredients of beer, responsible for its bitter aftertaste - hops - contains a substance called gumulon, which can effectively protect the body from respiratory syncytial virus infection, and also has an anti-inflammatory effect.
"The virus of respiratory syncytial infection can lead to such a dangerous condition as pneumonia, and is also dangerous for toddlers, provoking difficult breathing. However, there is no vaccine against this virus at the moment, "says lead author Dr. Junai Fushimoto.
In winter, the respiratory syncytial infection virus often causes symptoms in the adult population that are similar to those of a cold.
The team of scientists hopes that, probably, soon, it will be possible to create a non-alcoholic drink containing humulone, which could be used not only by adults, but also by children.
This is not the first time that the world has heard about the beneficial properties of beer. Not long ago, Alexis Nazard, commercial director of Heineken, said that beer is not only a natural beverage, but also very healthy. Mr. Nazard explained that beer contains far fewer calories than in a glass of milk, and in addition, beer is one of the few beverages that are natural and "pure", because it includes hops, water, barley and yeast - components , which have a beneficial effect on the human body.
A lot of research has been done that was aimed at revealing the beneficial properties of the foam drink. The results obtained by specialists can not be called unambiguous. Some of them deny any benefit from the use of alcoholic beverages and beer, including some, on the contrary, show that a glass of intoxicant will not only do no harm, but will also have a beneficial effect on the body. In particular, experts from the University of California found that beer is a source of food silicon, which helps fight osteoporosis due to its ability to increase bone density.
And Spanish scientists from the University of Valladolid say that dark beers, such as Guinness, contain iron.
Whatever the conclusions of the scientists, everyone agrees in one thing: excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages can lead to weight gain, dehydration and other health problems.
This is especially true if you take into account the fact that humulon is contained in beer in very small quantities, so that in order for it to have an effect and show antiviral effect, one person should drink at least 30 cans of beer with a volume of 350 milliliters.
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