Does beer have the same benefits as wine when it comes to heart health?

Although red wine typically gets the most attention among alcoholic beverages when it comes to heart health benefits, beer can also do a heart some good when consumed in moderate quantities. One in three adults has some form of heart disease, and what one consumes in food and drink can have a big impact on cardiovascular health.

Moderate consumption of beer can boost one’s HDL, or good cholesterol, and help to lower one’s LDL -- the more dangerous cholesterol component. Beer can also have a positive impact on blood clotting, helping to keep blood flow moving through blood vessels. Interestingly enough, beer consumption -- like other alcoholic drinks -- can reduce the incidence of gallstones, and lower the risk of diabetes type 2 in some patients. One unique health benefit attributed to beer hops is the reduction of kidney stones in men. Beer also contains silicone, which may help support bone mineral density. Beer also has small amounts of selenium and, depending on the color of the beer, contains small amounts of fiber (the darker the beer, the higher the fiber content).

It’s important to understand that most health experts recommend one 12-ounce beer per day for women and two for men when targeting “moderate consumption."

There is no conclusive evidence that any one type of alcoholic drink offers more protection against heart disease than another. Some studies suggest that wine's health benefits are superior to beer and liquor because of certain compounds in red wine, such as resveratrol and flavonoids. But other studies document the same cardiovascular benefits with all three major forms of alcohol.

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Though much attention has been paid to the health benefits of wine, beer has unique nutritional benefits for heart haelth. Beer, especially dark beer, pours up about a gram of soluble fiber in each 12-ounce bottle compared to none in wine.  Research suggests that consuming adequate amounts of soluble fiber-rich foods such as oats, barley, pears, and dried beans, as part of a healthy diet, can help lower the LDL “bad” blood cholesterol levels in the body.   Also, the hops and malt in beer provide polyphenols, which can act as heart-healthy antioxidants, among other things, in your body.  Lastly, any source of alcohol, whether it comes from wine, liquor, or beer increases the level of the HDL “good” cholesterol in your blood.